Douglas book > Angus memoirs

HIS DEATH, AND TESTAMENT, 1588. 363
to have been consumption. 1 Godscroft states that the Earl's interest in
church and state continued to the last, and he never was tired of referring
to what then engaged all men's thoughts, the sailing of the great Spanish
Armada, which, at the time of the Earl's death, was actually in the English
Channel, though this was not known in Scotland. The Earl's body was buried
in Abernethy, his heart being conveyed to Douglas and interred there, by his
own direction. 2 After an interval he was succeeded in the estates of Douglas
and Angus by his kinsman, William Douglas of Glenbervie, while the earldom
and lands of Morton went, by virtue of an entail, to the Laird of Lochleven.
It was, however, the Earl's hope at his death, that he would be succeeded
by a son of his own, as his wife was then enceinte, and in his will he made
provision accordingly. If the Countess bore a son, James Douglas, fiar of
Spott — a son of the Eegent Morton — was to act as his tutor for the earl-
dom of Morton, while James Douglas of Torthorwald — a nephew of Morton
— was to be tutor for the earldom of Angus. If a daughter was born, the
Countess was nominated tutrix, as the estates passed to heirs-male. 3
According to Godscroft, the eighth Earl of Angus was tall, and of a spare
1 Godscroft [MS. Part n. pp. 24S, 253] and the event of his death to God. Pitcairn's
C'alderwood [vol. iv. p. 6S0] refer to the Criminal Trials, vol. i. pp. 216, 230-247.
Earl's sickness as "an infirmitie and flux," a 2 Godscroft, edition 1644, p. 432.
" consuming disease," and speak of his body 3 The Earl's last will and testament, with
pining and melting away with sweats. His accompanying inventory, is recorded in the
illness was attributed to witchcraft, and one Record of Testaments for the Commissariot
woman was apprehended on the charge of of Edinburgh, vol. xx. His will is dated two
bewitching him, but she was afterwards days before his death. The amount of money
liberated, as no one prosecuted. Agnes and goods in his own possession at his decease
Sampson, a famous witch, who was after- are estimated at £370S, 13s. 4d., jewels,
wards accused and burned, confessed to body clothes, plate, etc., being valued at
melting his image in wax before a fire, not £666, 13s. 4d. The debts due to the Earl,
knowing that the Earl of Angus was the including rents, etc., raised the sum to £9538,
victim. He himself seems to have been 8s. Id., but the debts due by him reduced the
superior to these superstitions, and referred amount of his property to £437S, lis. 5d.