¶ By the queen.  
❧ A Proclamation declaring the untruth of certain malicious reports devised and publisshed in the realm of Scotlande.  
THE queens majesty of this realm of england, understanding that there are publicshed sundry matters lately in Scotlande, contrary to all truth and meaning of the said queen, as it appeareth maliciously devised to blemish the honour and sincerity of her majesty, and to bring Thearl of Murrey in hatred with his own friends being native good scottish men: hath thought it good to let it be openly notified to all persons, both Englishe and scottish that are disposed to hear the truth, that howsoever it be said or written by any person of what state soever the same be, that any secret practise hath ben made betwixt her majesty & Thearl of Murrey, whereby it should be convented & accorded that the queen of Scottes son should be delivered into her majesties hands, to be nourished in england as she should think good, and that the castles of edinburgh and Stryueling should be in Englishe mens keeping, and that the castle of Dumbretton should be besieged and taken, and rendered to her majesties behoof, and that Thearl of Murrey should be declared legittime to succeed to the crown of Scotlande after the decease of the young prince or king without barns, and in that case Thearl of Murrey should aclowledge to hold the realm of Scotland in fee of her majesty as queen of england: Her majesty as she is and by Gods grace intendeth during her life to be a prince of honour, and a maintayner of truth, doth in the word of a queen, let all persons to know, that all and every these foresaid things above specified, are altogether false and untrue, and are devised by persons of inere malice and rancour, being disposed to nourish factions and discords, and hating the good quietness and concord betwixt the two realms of england and Scotlande. For this her majesty likewise assureth all persons, that as of these vntruethes and falshoods there was never convention nor accord betwixt her majesty and the said earl, nor betwixt him and any her ministers to her majesties knowledge: So was there not at all any convention or pact, either by word or writing, made betwixt her majesty and the said earl, for any thing, since his last coming into this realm, although it is true that some motions haue ben made, as well by Thearl of Lennox and the lady his wife, being, as it is known, parentes to the late murdered father of the prince, as by others, that if hereafter it should be scene that the said prince could not continue in safety in Scotlande from thattemptes of the murtherers of his father, and other his mortal enemies, that then he might be nourished in england under the custody of such as now haue the charge of him, and are known to haue most tender care of him. But hereof was there never any maner of convention or accord, neither yet was there heard by her majesty any word of the earl of Murrey, or of any in his company, to allow of any removing of the same prince out of Scotlande, or out of the charge of them that now haue the custody of him. And likewise her majesty assureth all maner of persons, that she esteemeth all other reports false, that are said also to be made of any league and intelligence betwixt the earl of Murrey and the earl of Hertforde, with other such like improbable false devises and slanders. All which her majesty would haue to be of all honest persons both Englishe and scottish that love truth and hate falsehood, to be esteemed for false, and to haue ben seditiously and maliciously invented, devised, and publisshed. Finally, this her majesty willeth all persons to understand, that in this cause between the queen of Scottes and her son, there hath lacked no good meaning, nor yet doth, to haue had the same well ended with quietness for the whole nation of Scotlande, and without any prejudice to the crown of Scotlande, or to the dignity thereof: The let and impediment of which good end, her majesty would all persons to understand, not to haue come of her or her counsel, as hereafter shall more manifestly appear.  
given at Hampton Court the xxii. of january. 1568. the xi. year of her majesties reign. God save the queen.   

❧ Imprinted at London in Powles churchyard by richard jug and John Cawood, Printers to the queens majesty.   

Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.