Douglas book > Angus memoirs

232 ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, SIXTH EARL OF ANGUS.
prisoners to Edinburgh as pledges for the good behaviour of the rest. As the
Armstrongs did not desist from their depredations these prisoners were also
hanged shortly afterwards, and a stronger force of six thousand men, led by
the king and the Earls of Angus and Arran, marched to Jedburgh, where the
chiefs of the border families gave their bonds for the maintenance of order. 1
At a council held in August of this year, at which the Archbishop
of St. Andrews was present, Angus was named Chancellor, and the Bishop
of Aberdeen was appointed to assist him therein. As Chancellor Angus
appears in crown charters witnessed by him from this date. 2
Since the unsuccessful efforts of the Earl of Lennox to remove James
from the guardianship of the Earl of Angus, the young King of Scots gives
no indication of any impatience of the Earl's rule. Perfect harmony seems to
have existed between them notwithstanding the influence of the queen-
mother which was still being exerted against Angus and in favour of
France. Towards the close of the year the Duke of Albany was threatening
to return to Scotland, and, pretending he had the consent of James, asked
a safe-conduct from Henry to make his journey through England. The
rumour alarmed James, who wrote to Henry to refuse his consent, and also
to Albany to wait until he was sent for, as his coming would not be for the
welfare of Scotland, and he had not authorised any one to ask him to come.
Angus also wrote on the subject, and Albany's intention was frustrated. 3
Much correspondence passed at this time between Angus and the
English wardens, and also between the Courts of England and Scotland,
respecting Sir William Lisle, an Englishman, who with his sons had escaped
from Newcastle prison, and taken refuge among the Armstrongs in Liddes-
1 Lesley, pp.136, 139; Letters and Papers, vol. iv. No. 3370 ; Registrars Magni Sigilli,
etc., Henry viii., vol. iv. Nos. 2964, 4186 ; vol. iii. Nos. 486-589, passim.
Buchanan, vol. ii. p. 298. 3 Letters and Papers, etc., Henry viii.,
vol. iv. Nos. 3394, 3773-3778; vol. iv. of
2 Letters and Papers, etc., Henry viii., this work, pp. 121-123.