Agnews of Lochnaw

I 6 I 3] SIR JOHN m'dowall. 245
daughter and co-heir of Andrew, Lord Jedburgh. This lady was
nearly related to King James' favourite, Sir Bobert Ker, Earl of
Somerset ; and through this connection Garthland was well re-
ceived at court, where he was knighted. There was considerable
rivalry between the houses of Garlies and Garthland at that
period for the title of Galloway, by which both claimed to be
ennobled. Sir Alexander Stewart having been gazetted Lord
Garlies, Sir John M'Dowall appeared to be on the point of
succeeding, when his hopes were blighted, and his money lost
(as a bribe in these days was essential in all court intrigues), by
the fall and disgrace of Somerset.
" It is related," says Crawford, " with great confidence, as a
truth not to be questioned, that at this time (1613) he had view
of being brought into the peerage, and affected to have had the
title he was to be advanced to from the country of Galloway,
upon a claim, he no doubt thought he had a good right to, as
being lineally descended of the ancient lords of Galloway. But
while Sir John M'Dowall's affair was in dependence, the story
of Sir Thomas Overbury's murder broke out, in which foul affair
both the Earl of Somerset and the Countess being too deeply
engaged and privy thereto, the earl not only lost his court
friends, but both he and his wife were condemned to die.
" This calamity, as it ruined the credit of the Earl of Somer-
set with the king, so it broke all the measures his friends had in
view of raising themselves to places either of honour or of trust ;
and among others, his friend Sir John M'Dowall was baulked of
his title of honour, which, by the interest of the Duke of Lennox,
was conferred on Lord Garlies, who had been his rival about it ;
who, at the same time, was his brother-in-law.
"After the fall of the Earl of Somerset, Sir John M'Dowall
retired from court and lived in great splendour in the country,
and in a general respect from everybody near him."
The Sheriff, in his advancing years, was surrounded by a
large group of grandchildren ; his eldest son alone having at
this time ten sons and daughters ; amongst these was his daugh-
ter Eosina's only son, who afterwards succeeded as Lord Kirk-