西元1544年，葡萄牙人發現了台灣，取名為Formosa 。西元1626 至 1642年，西班牙人在北台灣的基隆﹝社寮島（和平島）之聖薩爾瓦多堡Fort San Salvador in 1626﹞和淡水﹝紅毛城, Fort San Domigo in 1629﹞建立殖民地，與南台灣安平港的荷蘭人殖民地對抗，以保護自己本國人及葡萄牙人的貿易與船隻。1641年，安平港的荷蘭人感覺北部的西班牙人如芒刺在背，乃決定以武力從西班牙人手中奪取北台灣。安平港的荷蘭總督Paulus Traudenius 首先以禮貌性的措詞向北台灣的西班牙總督下達哀的美敦書﹝即：最後通牒Ultimatum﹞：

執事先生，

我有榮幸通知您，我已接掌一個相當大的海軍和陸軍武力的指揮權，以使我得以用一般文明的或其它手段，取得目前由您閣下擔任總督一職的轄地-位在基隆港外小島上的Santissima Trinidad （即：和平島）堡，成為它的主人。

按照基督教國家的習慣，應在採取敵意行動之前，先將己方意圖告知對方，現在我就要求你投降。若您閣下願意“出借一隻耳朵”傾聽我方提議的投降條件，並將Santissima Trinidad 堡及其他堡壘交給我，閣下您及您的部隊將在誠信原則下按戰爭的習慣與慣例被對待，但若您閣下對我的命令假裝耳聾，我除了訴諸武力外別無他法。希望閣下您仔細考慮這封信的內容，並避免無謂的殺戮和流血，並且我相信閣下您立即地以寥寥數語即可將您的意圖回覆給我。

願上帝保佑您閣下未來多年

閣下您的朋友

PAULUS TRAUDENIUS﹝筆者註：荷蘭信仰基督新教Protestant﹞

Sir,
I have the honor to communicate to you that I have received the command of a considerable naval and military force with the view of making me master by civil means or otherwise of the fortress Santissima Trinidad in the isle of Ke-lung of which your Excellency is the Governor.
In accordance with the usages of Christian nations to make known their intentions before commencing hostilities, I now summon your Excellency to surrender. If your Excellency is disposed to lend an ear to the terms of capitulation which we offer and make delivery to me of the fortress of Santissima Trinidad and other citadels, your Excellency and your troops will be treated in good faith according to the usages and customs of war, but if your Excellency feigns to be deaf to this command there will be no other remedy than recourse to arms. I hope that your Excellency will give careful consideration to the contents of this letter and avoid the useless effusion of blood, and I trust that without delay and in a few words you will make known to me your intentions.
May God protect your Excellency many years,
The Friend of your Excellency,
PAULUS TRAUDENIUS

西班牙總督無意輕易讓步，以相同的語調回覆以：

執事先生，我確已收到您8月26日的來信，且有榮幸覆告您，作為一個好的基督徒想到他當初在國王面前所作的宣誓，我不能也不會按照閣下您的要求交出城堡要塞，因為我和我的駐軍部隊已決心防衛它。我已習於面對強大的敵軍，而且我曾在Flanders﹝包括荷蘭西南部的中世紀國家﹞和其他國家打過無數次戰役，因此，我乞求您不要麻煩再寫類似內容的信給我。讓你我各自盡可能防衛自己。我們是西班牙基督徒﹝按：西班牙是天主教國家﹞，而且我們相信，上帝﹝是站在我們這一邊﹞是我們的保護者﹝筆者註：呵呵呵！真有趣！﹞。

願上帝憐憫你﹝筆者註：呵呵呵！真有趣！﹞

1641.9.6寫於我們的主要塞聖薩爾瓦多堡

GONSALO PORTILIS

Sir; I have duly received your communication of August 26th, and in response I have the honor to point out to you that as becomes a good Christian who recalls the oath he has made before his king, I cannot and will not surrender the forts demanded by your Excellency, as I and my garrison have determined to defend them. I am accustomed to find myself before great armies, and I have engaged in numerous battles in Flanders as well as other countries, and so I beg of you not to take the trouble of writing me further letters of like tenor. May each one defend himself as best he can. We are Spanish Christians and God in whom we trust is our protector.
May the Lord have mercy on you.
Written in our principal fortress San Salvador the 6th of September 1641.
GONSALO PORTILIS