The King
The King
Edinburgh, March 20, 1566
Forasmuch as divers seditious and wicked persons have maliciously sowed rumours, bruits, and privy whisperings against the lieges of our Realm, slanderously and irreverently backbiting the King’s Majesty, as that the late conspiracy and cruel murder committed in presence of the Queen’s Majesty, and treasonable detaining of her Majesty’s most noble person in captivity, was done at his commandment, by his counsel, assistance, and approbation, his Grace, for the removing of the evil opinion which the good subjects may be induced to conceive through such false reports and seditious rumours, hath, as well to the Queen’s Majesty, as in the presence of the Lords of Secret Council, plainly declared upon his honour, fidelity, and the word of a Prince, that he never knew of any part of the said treasonable conspiracy whereof he is slanderously and falsely traduced, nor never counselled, commanded, consented, assisted, or approved the same. Thus far only his Highness oversaw himself into, that at the enticement and persuasion of the said late conspirators, his Grace, without the Queen’s Majesty’s advice and knowledge, consented to the bringing home out of England of the Earls of Murray, Glencairn, Rothes, and other persons being there, with whom her Highness was offended; which he hath in no wise denied; and this is the simple, sincere, and plain truth to all and sundry to whom it offers, be it made known and manifest by these presents.
Reference
Ellis H; Original Letters Illustrative of British History. 1st Series, Vol II (London, 1824-46)