Ayrshire > Volume 2

THE EARLDOM OF GLENCAIRN 297
and his son, " the old fox and his cub," and Glencairn
attempted to explain away his supineness by alleging
the difficulties of his position, but without avail. In
their rage and disappointment the English authorities
refused to believe his word, and he found himself in a
very critical position, distrusted by both Courts and in
danger of utterly falling between two stools. He marched
with the Scottish force that went south and encountered
the English at Collingham ; but when a small body of
the English sallied out against the vanguard of the Scots
army he joined Angus in disgraceful flight — no doubt
with an ulterior end in view. The time, however, had
gone by for any more temporising, and there was little
or no hope of playing the English game any longer
with success. A charge of treason was hanging over
their heads ; so Angus and Glencairn found it politic to
adhere to the cause of the Queen Regent and to offer her
their loyal support ogainst the threatened English
ascendancy. By this means they induced Parliament
to absolve them from the charge of treason.
The fourth Earl died in 1547. He had many strong
point? of character. It is permissible to suggest that
the double game he played, alternating between the
Scottish interest and the English, was dictated in some
measure by his zeal for the cause of the Reformation on
the one hand, and his determination on the other to
conserve his own interest — not by any means an
uncommon position for the Scottish nobility to take in
these days of danger and uncertainty. He was twice
married ; first, to Catherine, second daughter of William,
Lord Borthwick, by whom he had no issue ; and second,
to Margaret (or Elizabeth), daughter and heiress of
John Campbell of West Loudoun, by whom he had five
sons and a daughter. His second son, Andrew, was
the ancestor of the Cuninghames of Corsehill, Baronets ;
his third son, Hugh, of the Cuninghames of Carlung ;
his fourth son, Robert, of the Cuninghames of Mont-
greenan ; and the fifth, William, Bishop of Argyll, of
the Marquis of Connynghame in Ireland.