Douglas book > Angus memoirs

SUPPRESSION OF BORDER RAIDS, 1528. 233
dale. His extradition was demanded, but Angus was unable to comply with
the request, although he was in turn entreated, offered a reward, and
threatened if compliance was not made. Lisle escaped into that part of the
border country known as the Debateable Land, and neither Scottish nor
English wardens could reach him. He finally gave himself up to the
English. 1 Early in the year 1528, Angus undertook another expedition
against the Armstrongs, but, failing to get the assistance of the Kers, as they
had entered into a bond of assurance with that clan, he returned and issued
letters proclaiming the Armstrongs rebels. These were sent to Lord Max-
well, warden of the West Marches, who refused to execute them within his
wardenry, whereupon Angus assembled his own power and once more
appeared in arms against the Armstrongs. He was at Jedburgh for the
purpose of carrying out the letters himself, on 2d April 1528, but whether
he did so or not does not appear. Possibly the marriage of the queen to
Henry Stewart, their retreat to Stirling Castle, and its investment by the
king, recalled him to the metropolis. 2
1 Vol. iv. of this work, pp. 117-125. besieged by Lord Erskine at the king's com-
2 State Papers, Henry viii., vol. iv. mand. Stirling Castle was a more likely place
p. 490. Lesley says that on 27th March for Queen Margaret to betake herself to than
the king besieged his mother and Henry Edinburgh. Pinkerton quotes this incident
Stewart in the castle of Edinburgh. The from Lesley, and not seeing its connection
queen on ascertaining that the king was pre- with the queen's marriage to Stewart, which
sent in person, at once opened the gates, and he dates about two years earlier, suggests
on her knees entreated his favour for herself that the queen took refuge in the castle of
and her husband. She refused to rise until Edinburgh on account of some attempted
her request was granted, and the writer adds extortion by Angus on her jointure lands,
that they were both warded in the castle [Vol. ii. p. 289.] Tytler, who follows Pinker-
during the king's pleasure. [History, p. 140.] ton too closely in this, as in many other points
According to a letter from Lord Dacre to of his history, adopts his view, and embellishes
Wolsey, it was the castle of Stirling, and not the simple narrative with supposititious in-
Edinburgh, to which the queen and Stewart cidents, taking occasion to indulge in one
betook themselves, and in which they were of these periods of "virtuous indignation"
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