Douglas book > Angus memoirs

154 SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS OF PITTENDRIECB.
formed to waylay and seize the ambassador there, 1 and Sadler remained in Tantallon
Castle until Douglas returned from his fruitless errand in December. He was then
escorted to the Borders, as the Earl of Angus had been charged under pain of treason
to put him forth of Tantallon.' 2 In the meantime, Lord Somerville had been arrested
by the Scots, and as the documents found on him implicated Sir George Douglas,
Arran proceeded to lay siege to the castle of Pinkie or Inveresk, which belonged to
Douglas, and also to Dalkeith, which was held by James, Master of Morton, the second
son of Sir George. Both places surrendered after slight resistance. 3 The Laird of
Brunstane informed Sadler that Arran was determined to put out of the realm, or else
imprison, all who were desirous of the peace with England, and had that night begun
by taking three of the principal friends of Sir George Douglas out of their beds
at Edinburgh. 4
In January following, Sir George Douglas was warded in Edinburgh Castle as a
pledge for the loyalty of his brother, the Earl of Angus, and to secure the allegiance of
Sir George himself, James, Master of Morton, was also compelled to enter himself
as a hostage. 5 According to Knox, Sir George Douglas was afterwards transferred
to Blackness Castle, and was there joined by his brother, the Earl of Angus, who had
been arrested by the Earl of Arran during the siege of Glasgow in April. They
remained in captivity until the invasion of the Earl of Hertford, when he brought
up the Firth of Forth the large English fleet which attacked and destroyed Edinburgh.
But for this timely arrival, says the same historian, they had both likely been executed.
He represents Sir George as exclaiming merrily on his release, " I thank King Hary,
and my gentill maisteris of England." 6 It accords with this that Douglas was at
liberty while Hertford's army lay at Leith, and he himself refers his deliverance to this
1 Knox's Works, Laing's edition, vol. i. " Oh, fled Oliver? Is Oliver tane ? "
p. 88. This plot was concocted by Oliver 3 Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 30 ; State
Sinclair of Pitcairn, who was a favourite of Papers, Henry vm., vol. v. p. 348.
King James the Fifth, and by him had been 3 Sadler's State Papers, vol. i. pp. 320,
appointed governor of Tantallon. He is beat 327, 334.
known, however, as of Solway Moss notoriety. * Letter dated 7th November 1543, The
The defeat of the Scots there was greatly due Hamilton Papers in Miscellany of the Mait-
to the mutiny which broke out on his at- land Club, vol. iv. p. 86.
tempting to supersede Lord Maxwell in the '» State Papers, Henry viii., vol. v. pp. 355-
eommand of the army, and it was concerning 369.
him that King James the Fifth raved on his 6 Knox's Works, Laiug's edition, vol. i.
deathbed, continually repeating the words, pp. Ill, 120.