❧ By the queen.  
¶ A proclamation of the queens majesties pardon granted to certain of her subiectes upon the west borders, having offended by Leonard Dacres abusing of them, in a rebellion lately stirred by him.  
THe queens majesty being informed, that in a late rebellion attempted by Leonard Dacres in Cumberlande, within the west Mardenry upon the frontiers of Scotland, the great number of her subiectes that came to him, were abused and falsely alured to aid him, partly for defence of his possession which he had gotten of certain houses whereunto he pretended title, though against the order of the laws of the realm, and partly to withstand certain incursions that he vntruely pretended, should be shortly made into those borders by the outlaws of Scotland, and the Rebelles lately fled out of england: And now sense the said Leonarde Dacres contrary to his false persuasions, hath manifestly declared himself by his traitorous acts, to haue assembled this power only to make a new rebellion against her majesty and the crown of this realm: The multitude of her said poor subiectes which were by such false and traitorous devices alured to come to him in force and arms, without knowledge of his traitorous intents, haue most lamentably acknowledged and confessed their errors, and with clamours and outcryinges haue accursed the said Leonarde Dacres, as a most wicked and pernicious traitor, making most pitiful intercessions, by means of her majesties right trusty and well-beloved cousin the lord of Hunsdon, governor of the town of berwick, and lord warden of the east marches toward Scotlande, that they might be received to her majesties mercy, and haue their pardons, with full intent to be hereafter during their lives, more careful how to be abused, in like maner to assemble and arm themselves vpon provocation of any private subject, having no office nor authority under her majesty, as in deed the said Leonarde Dacres had none. hereupon her majesty being specially moved by the information of her said cousin the Lord of Hunsoon, and also of the lord scroop her warden vpon the same west borders, as well of the abuse and errors of her said subiectes, as of their repentanuce( amongst whom, to her majesties great comfort, no gentleman of blood and estimation hath ben as yet found to haue offended) hath ben pleased to extend her mercy in this sort following. That it shalbe lawful for all her said subiectes, which in this rebellion were in company with the said Leonarde Dacres, or any wise attending or assysting him the xix. and xx. of the last month of February, to return to their habitations and dwelling places, and immediately assoon as they may, to give knowledge to the Lord Warden of the said west marches, or to the sheriff of any of the shires where their habitations were before their offences, or to such inferior officers as they shall appoint for that purpose. And there vpon her majesty willeth and commandeth, that no maner of officer or other person, shall molest them in their persons, goods, chattelles, or lands, for their assystyng and aiding of the said Leonard Dacres in his said treason: so as every such person after notice given to the said lord warden, sheriff, or their ministers, shall by the direction of them, submit themselves to such orders as by them shalbe notified, for recognition of their offences: and so consequently every of them shall haue and enjoy their full pardons from her majesty, whensoever they shall sue for the same in the chancery.  
provided always that this her majesties pardon shall not extend by any construction to the said Leonarde Dacres, nor any of his brethren, nor to any that did before offend in the late rebellion with the two earls of northumberland& Westmerlande, nor to any Iustices of Peace, Constables, Ryues, bailiffs of Cownes, or land Seriantes: nor to any that at the publication of this Proclamation shalbe in prison detained for this rebellion: nor to any persons that shall be by the lord warden of the west borders, thought for their wilful and contemptuous behaviour in this rebellion, or for lack of their due repentance unworthy of this mercy: so as the names of the said persons so to be thought unworthy, be in writing set up to be red& openly seen at the market cross of carlisle, or other market towns in the said Mardenry, the day of the publication hereof.  
And because the vnworthynesse of the said traitor Leonard Dacres, may in some part the more appear to such as be ignorant thereof, her majesty is content it be understand, that as the hath ben by the goodness of her nature abused by the two late earls of northumberland and Westmerlande, so was she even in the beginning of the said earls rebellion contented, vpon suit made by the said Leonarde Dacres( notwithstanding she had heard that he had ben the summer before secretly conversant with the said earls) to admit him at Windsor to her presence: where being privately with herself, he made offers of his service against the said earls, being then proclaimed traytors, and most earnestly requested her majesty therein to commit trust to him, as to a most faithful subject and servant, using many kind of speeches, not without assuraunces by oaths to provoke her majesty not only to offer him her favour, but to commit to him charge to repair into the place where he now committed this treason, and there to join with her warden in service against the said rebelles. According whereunto he departed in all hast, and as hath ben since discovered to her majesty, did then immediately in his journey coming near the rebels, renew his former conspiracies by secret comforting the said rebels, with promises of aid of men and money, using for more credite the names of princes ambassadors: and after that conspired with them by letters and messages, under colour of gathering of force for service of her majesty, to haue traytorouslye destroyed the lord scroop in the field,& to haue taken the city and castle of carlisle,& there to haue murdered the bishop. And not being able to compass the same as he desired, seeing the two earls forced to flee the realm, he sent messages and letters of his own hand( which are extant to be seen) to certain in Scotlande, requiring favour to be shewed to the said earls, and promising( assoon as he could find time) to show himself an open friend to them,& so did he manifestly& traitorously perform the same, by fortifiyng the castle of Nawarde with men, munition, and victual, by assemblyng the queens majesties subiectes with firing of Beacons, and in the end finding his power increased with a great number of Scottes, did enter into the plain field, against the queens majesties power under the conduct of the lord of Hunsdon, which when he would haue vanquished( as he certainly accounted that he might by reason of his great numbers) he was forced like a traitor to flee, and all his own power vanquished by the iustice of almighty God, assisting her majesties Wardens of her East& Middle marches, being in number far inferiors, but in the goodness of the cause far superiors, and of them through Gods goodness very few hurt: whereof it is good for all persons to take example, and to beware howe they shall follow the lewd persuasions of any other in causes unjust against their sovereign Lady, being by almighty God( as is manifestly seen) ordained to be the superior and vanquisher of all wicked persons, and their attempts.  
given at the queens majesties honor of Hampton court the fourth day of march. 1569. in the twelfth year of her majesties reign.  
God save the queen.   

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

Cum privilegio Regia Maiestatis.