Douglas book > Angus memoirs

RAID OF J ED WOOD FOREST, 1519. 191
Kilspindie, his uncle, was appointed to the civic chair, 1 and Arran was not
permitted to enter the city, though the same restriction does not appear to
have been laid on the nobles who adhered to him. An attempt by him
personally to force an entrance was repulsed with bloodshed. Afterwards,
in January 1519-20, a dispute arose between Angus and Andrew Ker of
Ferniehirst, about the holding of courts upon the lands of Jedburgh Forest,
Ker claiming the right to do so as hereditary bailie. The matter would
probably have been amicably arranged, had not Sir James Hamilton, Arran's
natural sou, gone to Ker's assistance with four hundred Merse men. On his
way, near Kelso, Hamilton was attacked by the Laird of Cessford, then warden
of the Middle Marches, or, according to some, by Sir John Somerville of
Cambusnethan, whereupon Hamilton's followers from the Merse deserted
him, and before he could reach the shelter of Home Castle, several of the
few personal retainers he had with him were slain. This affray was known
as the "Eaid of Jedwood Forest." Lesley adds that on the following day
Ker of Ferniehirst kept his court at the principal messuage of the Forest as
bailie to the Earl of Angus, while Angus held his own court upon another
part of the lands three miles distant. 2
A more serious conflict took place between Angus and Arran in the High
Street of Edinburgh on the last day of April 1520. A convention of the
Estates had been appointed for the 29th of that month at Edinburgh, but the
Hamiltons declared they could not trust themselves in that town so long as
the uncle of Angus was provost. To avoid the appearance of impeding
public business, and in obedience to a command from the absent regent, that
in the interests of peace neither a Hamilton nor a Douglas should be elected
provost, Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie demitted office. Angus also with-
drew many of his retainers from the town to allay the alarm of his opponents.
1 The Earl's brother, William, was about this time appointed Prior of Coldingham. [Letters
and Papers, etc., vol. iii. No. 480.] - Lesley, p. 115 ; Godscroft, ed. 1644, p. 244.