Douglas book > Angus memoirs

342 ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, EIGHTH EARL OF ANGUS, ETC.
in October, during the sitting of a convention of Estates, but as the forfeiture
still subsisted against him, he could not take his seat in Council. It was
at this time that Arran was committed to ward, and on the other hand Angus
became bound not to pursue either Lennox or Arran for the death of his
uncle Morton, nor to claim his uncle's estates. 1 A formal reconciliation of
the king and the Earl seems to have taken place about the end of November,
when the Earl entertained his sovereign and attendant nobles at dinner.
A week or two later Angus was able to pay the last token of respect to his
uncle, whose head was taken down from the Tolbooth, wrapped in a fine
cloth and buried beside his body. 2
The Earl of Angus, during the administration of the Euthven Raiders,
does not appear in the records of the Privy Council or Conventions of Estates.
This was, no doubt, because he had not been fully restored to his estates,
though reconciled to the king. As the Earl did not appear prominently in
public affairs, there is less need to detail the history of the period, but the
few references to him may be noted. These seem to show that though
an outsider, he was consulted, and exercised some influence on events.
Godscroft, whose sketch of this period is very meagre, states that Angus
would fain have lived privately, but was frequently appealed to for advice
and aid, while his relationship to Mar, Gowrie, Glamis, and the other leading-
nobles, drew him into their councils and company. 3 Calderwood records
interviews between these nobles, Angus, and the ministers, with whom
1 Calderwood, vol. iii. p. 689 ; Godscroft 8th December [Pitcairn's Criminal Trials,
[ms. Part II. p. 226] says that Angus "kissed vol. i. p. 116 note]. The burial took place
hands" on 26th October. A precept was on 10th December 1582, the Laird of Car-
issued to the Chancellor on 1st November michael carrying the ghastly relic in its cover -
15S2, for letters of rehabilitation in favour ing, and "shedding tears abundantlie by
of the Earl : vol. iii. of this work, p. 282. the way."
2 Calderwood, vol. iii. p. 692. The king's 3 Godscroft, ed. 1644, p. 368; MS. Part n.
warrant for taking down the head was dated p. 227.