the higher figure represents the price ruling at the date of the ordinance, the lower figure is the price to which return was to be made from and after some date fixed thereby. A simple glance at the tables will show how futile and foredoomed was every such attempt to rule and compel the exchanges. For the explanation of these tables it will be sufficient to give the dates of the Netherlands ordinances, premising that up to 1586 the series was applicable to the whole Netherlands, but that from that date there is a separate series for the Seven United Provinces, and for the Spanish Netherlands. Netherlands Plakkaats. 27th July 1572. 7th February 1573. 22nd June 1574 (countenances the rise of prices over those of 1572 only until the end of the year). 3rd December 1575. 19th April 1576 (for Holland and Zealand, and to continue for only six months, when, by the ordinance of 25th October of the same year, a considerably lower limit was prescribed). 1579. In this year no less than four plakkaats were issued, with the object of enforcing a reduction of prices, but in vain, and the last of the four, issued on the 19th December, was obliged to recognise some portion of the rise of prices which it was attempted to counteract. 9th October 1581. In less than a year the effect of the strenuous attempt in 1579 had been completely swept away, and a further advance had to be recognised. From 1586 the series of proclamations divides into two, as has been said, owing to the revolt and establishment of the United Netherlands. The one set, relating to the Spanish Netherlands, includes proclamations of 30th April 1590, again recognising provisionally a further advance, and renewed on 15th December 1593, 21st October 1594, 16th November 1599, 23rd June 1602 (with some slight alterations), 30th December 1605, attempting to restrain a farther advance, 30th June 1607, 13th May 1609, 30th September 1610, 22nd March 1611, again recognising the inevitable advance. The last named remained in force until 21st May 1618, with the exception of not being applicable in Volkenburg, Dalen, and Limburg, where the abnormal height to which monies had risen necessitated a special ordinance (4th March 1616), lowering the price to the limit of 22nd March 1611, by five separate three-monthly steps or intervals. [Sidenote: THE PLAKKAATS OF THE UNITED PROVINCES] The second and separate series of monetary ordinances issuing from their High Mightinesses, the States-General of the United Provinces, is remarkably parallel to the above. It begins with the ordinance of 2nd September 1594: "In view of the rising price of gold and silver," it says, a "lessening of that price to the limit of 1586 is ordered at three intervals, 15th September 1594, 10th November, 10th January 1595."