The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

And yet in this mean time she was not ashamed to set out a Proclamation in this form:

A Proclamation set forth by the Queen Regent, to blind the vulgar People. ¹Forasmuch as We understand that certain seditious persons have of malice invented and blown abroad divers rumours and evil brutes, intending thereby to stir up the hearts of the people, and so to stop all manner of reconciliations betwixt us and our subjects being of the number of the Congregation, and consequently to kindle and nourish a continual strife and division within this Realm, to the manifest subversion of the whole State thereof; And amongst other purposes, have maliciously devised for that effect, and have persuaded too many, That We have violated the Appointment lately taken, in so far as any more French men since came in, and that we do mind to draw in great Forces of men of War forth of France, to suppress the Liberty of this Realm, oppress the inhabitants thereof, and make up strangers with their lands & goods. Which reports are all (God knoweth) most vain, feigned, and untrue: For it is of truth, That nothing hath been done on our part since the said Appointment, whereby it may be alleged that any part thereof contravened; nor yet was at that time any thing commoved or concluded to stop the sending in of French-men, as may clearly appear by inspection of the said Appointment, which the Bearer hereof hath present to show. ⟨p. 173⟩Whatsoever number of men of War be arrived, We have such regard to Our honour, and quietness of this Realm, that in case in the room of every French-man that is in Scotland, there were an hundred at our command, yet should not for that any jot that is promised be broken, or any alteration made by our provocation,² but the said Proclamation truly and surely should be observed in every point. If the said Congregation will in like manner faithfully keep their part thereof: Nor yet mean we to trouble any man in the peaceable possession of their goods, & rooms: Nor yet to enrich the Crown, and far less any strangers, with your substance; for Our dearest son and daughter the King and Queen, are by Gods provision placed in the room where all men of judgement may well consider they have no need of any mans goods. And for Our Self, we seeking nothing but dutiful obedience unto them,