Douglas book > Angus memoirs

IMPRISONED IN EDINBURGH, 1590. 375
Francis, Earl of Bothwell, had taken part in Huntly's insurrection, and
for so doing was brought to trial and forfeited. The Earl of Angus was
chancellor of the assize which convicted him, and, after the trial, he pro-
tested in Parliament that the forfeiture should not be to his prejudice in
respect of the lordship of Bothwell. Before being brought to trial the for-
feited Earl was imprisoned in the castle of Tantallon, lent for the purpose
by Angus at the king's request, but he was afterwards incarcerated in
Edinburgh Castle. 1
On the departure of King James to bring home his Danish bride, the
Earl of Angus was appointed with others to make his residence in Edinburgh
for every alternate fifteen days until the king's return. It was thus secured
that the government would be carried on by the Privy Council during the
king's absence. 2 About the same time he received a commission of justi-
ciary in Douglasdale for seven years. 3 When the king returned, Angus was
present at the coronation of Queen Anne of Denmark, and carried the sword
of state before her majesty. 4
About the middle of July 1590, the Earl of Angus was imprisoned by the
king for a fortnight. Mr. Alexander Lindsay, the favourite of King James,
afterwards Lord Spynie, had attempted the arrest of one of the Earl's servants,
which the Earl resisted, as Lindsay could produce no warrant from the king.
On account of the tumult which was thus raised at the door of the Tolbooth
James ordered the Earl's imprisonment. He was liberated, however, before the
1st of August. 5 A few days later he attended the meeting of the General
1 Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, 4 Calderwood, vol. v. p. 96.
vol. iii. pp. 537, 538. Register of the Privy 5 Thorpe's Calendar of State Papers, vol. ii.
Council, vol. iv. p. 389 ; 2d June 1589. pp. 579, 580. In a letter to Thomas, Lord
Boyd, dated 2d August 1590, the Earl refers
- Ibid. p. 425. ' ,. ,
to an action then pending between himself
3 Original Commission, dated 2d October and the king, the nature of which is not dis-
1589, in Douglas Charter-chest. closed. [Vol. iv. of this work, p. 242.]