Douglas book > Angus memoirs

364 ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, EIGHTH EARL OF ANGUS, ETC.
habit of body ; his visage somewhat swarthy, but pleasant to look upon. His
face was small, his countenance grave and staid, while his limbs were well
proportioned and finely shaped. His constitution was weak, and not able to
bear much fatigue, but his courage and resolution were of a high order. 1
All the writers of the period who refer to the history of this Earl describe
his personal character in pleasing terms. Godscroft speaks of his liberal and
bountiful disposition, of his uprightness and truthfulness, and of his truly
pious and godly life, his humanity and sweet courtesy, which made him so
popular and well-beloved that there were none who did not lament his
untimely death. 2 Mr. James Melville speaks of the Earl as "fellon well
myndit, godlie, devot, wyse and grave," and describes his attention to religious
exercises. 3 " The king," says Calderwood, " was wount commounlie to call
him ' The minister's king ;' " and, according to the same writer, Angus was
" more religious nor anie of his predecessors, yea, nor anie of all the erles in
the countrie, niuche beloved of the godlie." 4 A recent historian refers to this
Earl as " the most patriotic, pious, and intelligent of the Scottish nobility,
whose modest and unassuming disposition and retired habits prevented him
from taking that lead in public affairs to which he was entitled by his rank,
and which those who best knew his worth and talents were most anxious
that he should not have declined." 5
The Earl's debts were not in themselves large, train, young men of good families who waited
being chiefly servants' wages, but he charged upon him. These each received a year's
himself with upwards of £1000 due by his salary at the Earl's death, and he left £2000
uncle Morton. Among other items appear to be divided among them and his other
£100 due to Mr. John Craig, M.D., for medical servants.
attendance immediately before the Earl's ' Godscroft, collated with MS. Part II. p.
death, while the apothecary's bill for drugs 248. 2 Ibid. p. 249.
" imployit on his lordship" for six months 3 Diary, Bannatyne Club edition, pp. 127,
previous, amounted to £241, 3s. 4d. The 128. 4 Calderwood, vol. iv. p. 680.
Earl had a considerable number of what are 6 Dr. M'Crie's Life of Andrew Melville,
described as "gentlemen servitors" in his p. 113.