The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The Contract at Berwick. JAMES, Duke of Chattellarault, Earle of Arran, Lord Hamilton, and others of the Council, Nobility, and principal States of Scotland; To all and sundry whose knowledge these presents shall come, Greeting. We have well considered, and are fully persuaded, in what danger, desolation, and misery, the long enmity with the Kingdom of England hath brought our Country heretofore: how wealthy and flourishing it shall become, if those two Kingdoms, as they are joined in one Island by Creation of the World, so they may be knit in a constant and assured friendship. The considerations grounded upon a most infallible Trueth, ought no less to have moved our Progenitors and for fathers then us. But the present danger hanging over our heads, by the unjust dealing of those, of whom we have always best deserved, hath caused us to weigh them more earnestly then they did. The misbehaviour of the French Monsieurs, I had almost said Monsters, here, hath of late years been so great. The oppressions and cruelty of the Soldiers, the tyranny and ambition of their Superiors and Rulers, so grievous to the people, the violent subversion of our liberty, and conquest of the land, whereat they have by most crafty and subtle means continually pressed, hath been, I say, so intolerable to us all, that at last when we could not obtain redress by humble suits, and earnest supplications presented to the Queen Dowager, who both for duties sake, and place, she doth occupy, ought to have been most careful of our state, we have been by very necessity constrained, not only to assay our own Forces, but also to implore the Queens Majesty of Englands aide and support, which her Majesty hath most willingly granted, upon certain conditions specified in a Treaty past at Berwick, betwixt the Duke of Norfolk, Lieutenant to her Majesty, on the one part, and certain our Commissioners on the other part, whereof the Tenor followeth. At Berwick the 27 day of February, the year of our Lord God 1559 years▪ It is appointed, and finally Contracted, betwixt the noble and mighty, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, Earle Marshall of England, and Lieutenant to the Queens Majesty of the said Realm, in the Name and behalf of her Highness on the one part;

The Contract at Barwick. JAMES, Duke of Chattellarault, Earle of Arrane, Lord Hamilton, and others of the Councell, Nobility, and principall States of Scotland; To all and sundry whose knowledge these presents shall come, Greeting. We have well considered, and are fully perswaded, in what danger, desolation, and misery, the long enmity with the Kingdom of England hath brought our Countrey heretofore: how wealthie and flourishing it shall become, if those two Kingdoms, as they are joyned in one Island by Creation of the World, so they may be knit in a constant and assured friendship. The considerations grounded upon a most infallible Trueth, ought no lesse to have moved our Progenitours and for fathers then us. But the present danger hanging over our heads, by the unjust dealing of those, of whom we have alwayes best deserved, hath caused us to weigh them more earnestly then they did. The misbehaviour of the French Monsieurs, I had almost said Monsters, here, hath of late yeers been so great. The oppressions and crueltie of the Souldiers, the tyrannie and ambition of their Superiours and Rulers, so grievous to the people, the violent subversion of our liberty, and conquest of the land, whereat they have by most crafty and subtill means continually pressed, hath been, I say, so intollerable to us all, that at last when we could not obtain redresse by humble suits, and earnest supplications presented to the Queen Dowager, who both for duties sake, and place, she doth occupie, ought to have been most carefull of our state, we have been by very necessitie constrained, not onely to assay our own Forces, but also to implore the Queens Majestie of Englands aide and support, which her Majestie hath most willingly granted, upon certain conditions specified in a Treaty past at Barwick, betwixt the Duke of Norfolk, Lieutenant to her Majestie, on the one part, and certain our Commissioners on the other part, whereof the Tenour followeth. At Barwick the 27 day of February, the yeer of our Lord God 1559 yeers It is appointed, and finally Contracted, betwixt the noble and mighty, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, Earle Marshall of England, and Lieutenant to the Queens Majestie of the said Realm, in the Name and behalf of her Highnesse on the one part;