Douglas book > Angus memoirs

ATTEMPTS TO SAVE MORTON, 1581. 335
which he continued to attend at intervals until the end of December. He
was present and refused to vote when his uncle was accused and committed
to ward. 1
The first act of Angus, after Morton was warded in the castle of Edin-
burgh, was to present a petition to the king in council, for the custody of his
uncle's houses and property during his imprisonment, or until his trial.
This was granted, and Angus made up an inventory of his uncle's effects. 2
He then devised stronger measures for Morton's relief. The late regent's two
natural sons and several other Douglases were ordered to leave Edinburgh,
but Angus and the Laird of Lochleven were excepted, it is said, at the
express desire of the king. 3 Angus tried to secure that his uncle would not
be transferred from Edinburgh, but failing in that, he assembled a force of
about two thousand horsemen at Dalkeith, with the view of rescuing Morton
on his way from Edinburgh to Dumbarton Castle. He lay in wait at the
Braid Crags to attack Morton's escort, but fearing that if he came to blows
his uncle's life would be taken, he ultimately allowed them to pass unharmed,
and returned to Dalkeith. A day or two after Morton's departure for Dum-
barton, Angus received a visit from his father-in-law, the Earl of Eothes, who
advised submission to the king. He refused to yield, unless hostages were
granted for his safety, but this was denied. 4
The Earl made this stipulation because, as he told his father-in-law, the
destruction of his family was resolved upon, and events soon justified his
words. He did, indeed, soon afterwards go to Edinburgh, and was well
received by the king ; but on his return to Dalkeith Angus took precaution
1 Register of Privy Council, vol. iii. pp. 303- 2 Calderwood, pp. 4S3, 484.
359, passim; Calderwood, vol. iii. p. 4S1 ; 3 17th January 15S0-81. Register of Privy
Letter of Sir R. Bowes to Burghley, 7th Council, vol. iii. p. 348 ; Calderwood, vol. iii.
January 1581 ; Tytler, vol. vi. Appendix, p. 484.
No. xiii. 4 Ibid. pp. 484, 485 ; vol. viii. p. 211.