Douglas book > Angus memoirs

RECONCILIATION WITH THE HAMILTONS. 353
of both. 1 The banished lords made their defence through Mr. John Colvill,
whom they despatched to the English Court. 2 It is unnecessary to detail
the negotiations between the kingdoms, but that the Master of Gray, who
at this time entered on his peculiar career, and was Arran's agent in
England, directed his efforts against the exiles, is evident from the fact that
they were requested to leave Newcastle and proceed to Cambridge. 3
Angus and his fellows had no reason to fear for their personal safety in
England, as, notwithstanding the activity of their enemies, they were in
high favour with Queen Elizabeth, who wrote strongly to James on their
behalf. She also wrote to the lords themselves expressing her goodwill, and
her hope that, though her mediation had not hitherto been successful, the
king might yet be brought to favour them. She recommended them to be
reconciled to Lords John and Claude Hamilton, also fugitives from Scotland, 4
and an agreement was afterwards satisfactorily concluded with Lord John,
though his brother, who had made peace with Arran, and re-entered Scotland,
held back. Lord John Hamilton joined with Angus, Mar, and Glamis in a
letter to Sir Francis Walsingham, and also in the instructions given to Mr.
1 Calderwood, vol. iv. pp. 172, 174 ; Cf. received a gun with which to do the deed,
pp. 171-188, where an account of the negotia- and was to receive other weapons. He was
tions is given. Arran, it would appear, did not to take his own time and way to carry out
confine his hatred of Angus to words. In the murder at Newcastle, or any other place
November 15S5 a Borderer confessed to Lord most convenient. [Examination of Jock
Scrope, English Warden of the West Marches, Graham of Peertree before Lord Scrope, given
that in the previous August he had various at length in Calderwood, vol. iv. pp. 239,
interviews with the Earls of Montrose and 240 ; Original in Douglas Charter-chest.]
Vol. iv. of this work, pp. 181, 1S2.
Arran, and afterwards with them and King
James, who promised him a reward if he
would kill Angus, Mar, and another Erskine. 3 Calderwood, vol. iv. pp. 241, 246.
The man replied he had nothing to do with 4 Letter to King James, 3d October, and
Mar or the other, but he would be willing to to Angus, etc., ]0th October 1584 ; vol. iv.
slay Angus, on account of a blood feud. He of this work, pp. 2S-31.
VOL. II. 2 Y