At the beginning of 1544 the relationship between England and Scotland began to worsen as it had done so many times before. The Scots reneged on the treaties which drove Henry VIII into a fury. His response was swift and brutal. He directed the commander-in-chief of the English army, the Earl of Hertford to "... put all to fyre and sworde, burne Edinborough town... it may remayn forever a perpetuel memory of the vengeance of God... for their Scots faulsehode and disloyailtye... over throwe the castle, sack Holyrod house".