The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The Governor and Cardinal seeing then the thing that they could not, or at least they would not believe before, after they had made a brag to fight, fled as fast as horse could carry them; so that after, they approached not within twenty miles of the danger. The Earle of Angus, and Sir George Douglas were that night freed of Ward ⟨p. 46⟩(they were in Blackness) The said Sir George in merriness, said, I thank King Henry, and my gentle Masters of England. The English Army betwixt one and two of the clock entered into Leith, found the Tables covered, the dinners prepared, such abundance of wine and victuals, besides the other substance, that the like riches within the like bounds was not to be found neither in Scotland nor England. Upon Monday the fifth of May, came to them from Berwick and the borders, two thousand Horse-men, who being somewhat reposed, the Army upon the Wednesday marched toward the Town of Edinburgh, spoiled and burnt the same, and so did they the Palace of Halyrud-house. ¹The Horse-men took the House of Craigmiller, and gat great spoils therein; for it being judged the strongest House near the Town, after the Castle of Edinburgh, and all men sought to save their moveables therein. But the stoutness of the Laird gave it over, without shot of Hack but, and for his reward was caused to march upon his feet to London: He is now Captain of Dumbar, and Provost of Edinburgh. The English-men seeing no resistance, hurled by force of men Cannons upon the street, to the Butter throne, and above, and hazarded a shot against the fore-entry of the Castle; but that was to their own pains; For they lying without Trench or Gabion, were exposed to the force of the whole Ordnance of the said Castle, which shot, and that not all in vain, for the Wheel and Axletree of one of the English Cannons was broken, and some of their men slain, and so they left with small honour, that enterprise taken rather of rashness, than of any advised counsel. When the most part of the day they had spoiled and burnt, towards the night they returned to Leith, and upon the morrow returned to Edinburgh, and executed the rest of Gods judgements for that time. And so when they had consumed both the Towns, they laded the Ships with the spoils thereof, and they by Land returned to Berwick, using the Country, for the most part, at their own pleasure.

The Governour and Cardinall seeing then the thing that they could not, or at least they would not believe before, after they had made a brag to fight, fled as fast as horse could carry them; so that after, they approached not within twenty miles of the danger. The Earle of Angus, and Sir George Dowglas were that night freed of Ward