Douglas book > Angus memoirs

GOES TO ENGLAND, 1489. S7
duties of a Lord Auditor and a Lord of Council. 1 He further occupied him-
self during this period in arranging the marriage of his eldest son, George,
Master of Angus, with a daughter of Lord Drummond, and in providing the
Master with possessory rights over Tantallon and a large portion of the
Douglas and Angus estates. Other documents relating to these lands were
granted at this time, including a commission appointing John, Lord Glamis,
Lord Drummond, and others, bailies over the regality of Kirriemuir. 2
As already stated, the Earl of Angus did not hold his office of guardian
very long. His last appearance under that title is on 29th April 1489, and
he seems to have betaken himself for a time to England, under a safe-conduct
dated about two months previously, and renewed at a later date. The Earl's
reasons for so doing can only be surmised, but may perhaps be explained
by events which about this date took place in the west of Scotland. The
tranquillity which had prevailed during the early part of King James the
Fourth's reign was interrupted by rumours of disaffection in the north and
west, and messengers were sent in hot haste to summon a host to besiege
Dumbarton, which was in the keeping of the Earl of Lennox, and which,
with his castle of Crookston, he had fortified against the king, while Lord
Lyle held his castle of Duchal, in the county of Eenfrew. In the beginning
of April 1489 these two lords were summoned to surrender, and on refusal,
the king, with the authority of Parliament, laid siege to Dumbarton towards
1 The records of the Lords of Council and adherence to the late king], for which Sir
Lords Auditors show that Angus occasion- William Knollys, preceptor of Torphichen,
ally appeared at the bar as well as on the was security. Angus alleged that he wrong-
bench. The dispute with Fothringham of ously withheld the sum, and warrants were
Powrie as to Balmure still continued. The issued to compel payment. [Acta Audi-
Earl had also a protest to make as to the torum, p. 119 ; Acta Dominorum Concilii,
heirs of Thomas Sempil of Eliotstown. The pp. 119, 120.]
king had granted to the Earl the sum due as 2 Vol. iii. of this work, pp. 121, 124 ;
composition by William, Lord Ruthven [a Registrum Magni Sigilli, vol. ii. > T os. 1S27,
sum amounting to £100. probably exacted for 1S28.