History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

HOUSE OF DOUGLAS. 20 1 "
King's tifAsf and had so handled the matter, that he was no
whit regarded, nor was there any account made of hin. He
was not admitted to the managing of any business of the com-
monwealth, or any public place or oflice therein} Ciichton
and Livingston, the one made protector or governor, the Q-
ther chancellor, did all according to their pleasure.
Our writers ssy, that the reason hereof was, because the no-
bility envied the greatness of Douglas, who was suspected,
and too much even for Kings. Kow pertinently either they
write so, or the parliament thought so, I refer it to be judged
by the indifferent. He was far iVontt the crown, to which he
never pretended title, his predtcc-c ;>. 3 bad quit all pretension,
title, claim, or interest thereto, Li the time of King Robert II.
he that did claim it, and gave over, and all his posterity after
him, had ever behaved themselves modestly, they had submit-
ted themselves to al! government, even to be ruled by them
who were but governors only (Robert and Muidcch) and not
Kings, as obediently in every thing,. as any of the meanest of
the nobility, and had never given occasion of any suspicion to
any man, nor taken upon them any thing beyond or above
the rest, unless it were they took greater pains in defence of
the liberty of the country, in which they spent their lives un-
der their Kings. And this same man, in the late King's time
had behaved himself most humbly, going to prison once or
twice, and obeying his sovereign in all things, without the least
show of discontentedness, far le?s of opposition. So that what-
ever hard opinion either the King had taken of him, or any
man had put into the King's head, hath been without his de-
serving; who if he had been that way disposed, how easily
might he have troubled the governor and the whole country?
But suppose they did suspect, and were jealous of his great-
ness, though without a cause, what moved them to neglect
and pass by the rest of the ancient nobility? Was there none
of them fit for those places? Where was the Earl of March, a
valiant man, and of an ancient stock? Where was the Earl of
Angus, the Earl of Cavils, and divers others? They will say,
that Crichton and Livingston were wise men; but were they