❧ A proclamation set fourth by the king and queens majesties, against Thomas Stafforde, and others traitors his adherents.  
WHere as Thomas Stafforde, and others malicious and evil disposed subiectes his adherents, having conspired to perpetrate dyvers heinous treasons against the most royal persons of their majesties, and thereupon fearing to receive just punishment for his and their deserts, fled into the partes of beyond the seas, and there remaining for a time, haue, persisting in their said malice, devised & attempted dyvers times to stir seditions and rebellions within this realm, to the great disturbance of the quietness, peace, and tranquillitie therof, by sending hither into the realm, diuers books, letters, and writings, both printed and written, farced and filled full of untruths, and seditious and most false surmises, of things said to be done and devised by the king our sovereign lord and his servants, which were never imagined or thought. And to show their utter malice with more effect, the same Stafforde did lately, with certain of his said complices unnatural English men, & some strangers, entre into this realm, and by stealth took their maiestyes castle of Scarborough, in the county of york, and set out a shameful proclamation, wherein he trayterousely calleth, nameth, & affirmeth our said sovereign Lady that queens highnes, to be vnryghtful and most unworthy queen, and that the kings majesty our said sovereign lord, hath induced and brought into this realm the number of. xii. M. strangers and spaniards, and that into the said spaniards hands. xii, the strongest holds of this realm be delivered. In which proclamation also the said traitor Stafforde, did name and take himself to be protector and governor of this realm by these most false and unnatural means myndynge to 'allure the good subiectes of their majesties, to withdraw their duty of allegiance from their said majesties, and to adhere to him the said Stafford, to their confusion. Albeit the said Stafforde and other traitors his complices, be by the help of God, and diligence of the earl of Westmerland and other noble men and gentlemen, good subiectes of those parties, repressed, apprehended, and forth coming, to receive just punishment according to their deserts, and that it may be well thought, that no wise nor honest man thinketh, or can justly gather any cause to think that the kings majesty mindeth any other thing unto the queens majesty and the realm, but onely to be careful, and studious of all things, tending to the benefit, surety, honor, and defence of the same, and in this part most louinglye and daily bestoweth the great travail of his royal person, besides the large expenses of his goods & treasure, yet to thintent none of their said loving subiectes should by simplicity be seduced and deceived through the deuelysh devises of the aforesaid, or any other like traitors, their majesties of their great clemency and tender zeal towards their said subiectes, haue thought good to warn and admonysh them of the premisses, exhorting and charging them, to give no ear or credite to the said false proclamations and bruytes, set out or spread by the said traitors, or hereafter to be set out by any others, whereby they shal the better avoid the dangers which they may otherwise incur by adhearynge or resorting unto the said traitors, and that also their said loving subiectes do use themselves quietly without stir or rising, till they be commanded in the name of their majesties, by the lieutenant of the county where the said subiectes dwell or inhabit, or by the sheriff or such Iustices as shal haue authority from their highnesses in that behalf to raise and levy them. And that the said subiectes, and every of them, shal endeavour themselves to apprchend and take, and before the same lieutenant, sheriff, or Iustices of the peace of the said county, bring all and every such person or persons as they suspect, or know to be of the company of the said traitors, or to favour and aid them, and all such other also as shall procure the people unlawfully to stir, or shal sediciousely, or maliciously, spread or tel any seditious news concerning the doings of the said traitors or otherwise. straightly charging and commaundinge all Iustices of peace, Mayers, Sheriffes, bailiffs, Constables, and al other their majesties officers and ministers, to se this proclamation put in execution, as their majesties specially trust them, and as the said officers and ministers will answer to the contrary at their uttermost perils.  
¶ given at our Palace of Westminster the last day of april. God save the king and the queen.   

Excusum Londini in aedibus johannis Cawodi, Typographi Regiae maiestatis.  
Cum privilegio ad Imprimendum solum. Anno. 1557.