The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The occasion of the War was this, HENRY the eighth, King of England, had a great desire to have spoken with our King, and in that point travelled so long, till that he gat a full promise made to his Ambassador, Lord William Howard: The place of meeting was appointed York, which the King of England kept with such solemnity and preparations, as never for such a purpose was seen in England before. Great brute of that journey, and some preparation for the same was made in Scotland: But in the end, by persuasion of the Cardinal David Beton, and by others of his faction, that journey was stayed, and the Kings promise falsified. Whereupon were sharp Letters of reproach sent unto the King, and also unto his Council. King Henry frustrate returneth to London, and after his indignation declared, began to fortify with men his frontiers toward Scotland. There was sent to the borders, Sir Robert Bows, the Earle of Angus, and his brother, Sir George Douglas. Upon what other trifling questions (as for the debatable land and such) the War brake up, we omit to write. The principal occasion was the falsifying of the promises before made. Our King perceiving that War would rise, asked the Prelates and Churchmen, what support they would make to the sustaining of the same: for rather would he yet satisfy the desire of his Uncle▪ then he would hazard war where he saw not his force able to resist. They promised mountains of gold (as Satan their father did to Christ Jesus if he would worship him) for rather would they have gone to hell, then he should have met with King Henry, for then thought they, Farewell our Kingdom of Abbots, Monks, &c. And farewell, thought the Cardinal,¹ his credit and glory in France. In the end, they promised fifty thousand crowns by year, to be well paid so long as the War lasted: and further, That their servants and other that appertained to them, and were exempted from common service, should nevertheless serve in time of necessity. These vain promises lifted up in pride the heart of the unhappy king, and so begins the War. The Realm was Quartered, and men were laid in Jedburgh and Kelso: All men (fools we mean) bragged of victory, and in very deed the beginning gave us a fair show: For at the first Warden Read which was made on Saint Bartholomew's day, in the year of our Lord, 1542.

The occasion of the Warre was this, HENRY the eighth, King of England, had a great desire to have spoken with our King, and in that point travelled so long, till that he gat a full promise made to his Ambassadour, Lord William Howard: The place of meeting was appointed Yorke, which the King of England kept with such solemnitie and preparations, as never for such a purpose was seene in England before. Great brute of that journey, and some preparation for the same was made in Scotland: But in the end, by perswasion of the Cardinall David Beton, and by others of his faction, that journey was stayed, and the Kings promise falsified. Whereupon were sharp Letters of reproach sent unto the King, and also unto his counsell. King Henry frustrate returneth to London, and after his indignation declared, began to fortifie with men his frontiers toward Scotland. There was sent to the borders, Sir Robert Bowes, the Earle of Angus, and his brother, Sir George Dowglas. Upon what other trifling questions (as for the debetable land and such) the Warre brake up, we omit to write. The principall occasion was the falsifying of the promises before made. Our King perceiving that Warre would rise, asked the Prelats and Churchmen, what support they would make to the sustaining of the same: for rather would he yet satisfie the desire of his Uncle then he would hazard warre where he saw not his force able to resist. They promised mountains of gold (as Satan their father did to Christ Jesus if he would worship him) for rather would they have gone to hell, then he should have met with King Henry, for then thought they, Farewell our Kingdom of Abbots, Monks, &c. And farewell, thought the Cardinall,