Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
Encyclopedia
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus and 5th Earl of Morton (1555–1588) was the son of David, 7th earl
. He succeeded to the title and estates in 1558, being brought up by his uncle, James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
, a Presbyterian.
In 1573 he was made a Privy Councillor
and Sheriff of Berwickshire
; in 1574 Lieutenant-General in Scotland; in 1577 Warden of the West Marches and Steward of Fife
; and in 1578 Lieutenant-General of the realm.
He gave a strong support to Morton during the attack upon the latter, made a vain attempt to rescue him, and was declared guilty of high treason on June 2, 1581. He then entered into correspondence with the English government
for an invasion of Scotland to rescue Morton, and on the latter's execution in June went to London
, where he was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth
.
After the Raid of Ruthven
in 1582 Angus returned to Scotland and was reconciled to King James, but soon afterwards the king shook off the control of the Earls of Mar and Gowrie, and Angus was again banished from Court.
In 1584 he joined the rebellion of Mar and Glamis, but the movement failed, and the insurgents fled to Berwick-upon-Tweed
. Later they took up residence at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which became a centre of Presbyterianism and of projects against the Scottish government, encouraged by Elizabeth, who regarded the banished lords as friends of the English and antagonists of the French interest.
In February 1585 they came to London, and cleared themselves of the accusation of plotting against James's life. A plan was then prepared for their restoration and for the overthrow of James Stewart, Earl of Arran
. In October they invaded Scotland and gained an easy victory over Arran, captured Stirling Castle
with the King in November, and secured from him the restoration of their estates, and the control of the government.
In 1586 Angus was appointed Warden of the Marches and Lieutenant-General on the Border, and performed good services in restoring order; but he was unable to overcome the king's hostility to the establishment of Presbyterian government.
In January 1586 he was granted the Earldom of Morton with the lands entailed upon him by his uncle; this made him 5th Earl of Morton
.
He died on 4 August 1588 at Smeaton, near East Linton
, Haddingtonshire.
According to the 1591 tract, Newes from Scotland, Declaring the Damnable life and death of Doctor Fian, a notable Sorcerer who was burned at Edenbrough in Ianuary last, Angus's death by witchcraft
was confessed to by the apprehended Barbara Naper after her accusation by Geillis Duncane, also imprisoned for witchcraft.
He was married three times: (1) 13 June 1573 Mary Erskine, a daughter of the 1st Earl of Mar
; (2) 25 December 1575 (divorced 1587) Margaret, a daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes
;(3) 29 July 1587 Jean, a daughter of John Lyons, 8th Lord Glamis, with whom he had a daughter Margaret, who died young.
He was succeeded in the Earldom of Angus by his cousin William
, a descendant of the 5th earl.
A closer line of the Douglas family to the former Earls of Morton inherited the Earldom of Morton.
(For the Morton title, see James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
and William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton
.)
David Douglas, 7th Earl of Angus
David Douglas, 7th Earl of Angus was the son of George Douglas of Pittendreich and Elizabeth Douglas of the Pittendriech family.David married Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of John Hamilton of Samuelston, sometimes called 'Clydesdale John,' who was a brother of Regent Arran...
. He succeeded to the title and estates in 1558, being brought up by his uncle, James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, jure uxoris 4th Earl of Morton was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four, since he did manage to win the civil war which had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of...
, a Presbyterian.
In 1573 he was made a Privy Councillor
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
and Sheriff of Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
; in 1574 Lieutenant-General in Scotland; in 1577 Warden of the West Marches and Steward of Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
; and in 1578 Lieutenant-General of the realm.
He gave a strong support to Morton during the attack upon the latter, made a vain attempt to rescue him, and was declared guilty of high treason on June 2, 1581. He then entered into correspondence with the English government
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for an invasion of Scotland to rescue Morton, and on the latter's execution in June went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
.
After the Raid of Ruthven
Raid of Ruthven
The Raid of Ruthven was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted King James VI of Scotland. He was seized while staying at the castle of Ruthven , and kept under...
in 1582 Angus returned to Scotland and was reconciled to King James, but soon afterwards the king shook off the control of the Earls of Mar and Gowrie, and Angus was again banished from Court.
In 1584 he joined the rebellion of Mar and Glamis, but the movement failed, and the insurgents fled to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
. Later they took up residence at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which became a centre of Presbyterianism and of projects against the Scottish government, encouraged by Elizabeth, who regarded the banished lords as friends of the English and antagonists of the French interest.
In February 1585 they came to London, and cleared themselves of the accusation of plotting against James's life. A plan was then prepared for their restoration and for the overthrow of James Stewart, Earl of Arran
James Stewart, Earl of Arran
Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran...
. In October they invaded Scotland and gained an easy victory over Arran, captured Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
with the King in November, and secured from him the restoration of their estates, and the control of the government.
In 1586 Angus was appointed Warden of the Marches and Lieutenant-General on the Border, and performed good services in restoring order; but he was unable to overcome the king's hostility to the establishment of Presbyterian government.
In January 1586 he was granted the Earldom of Morton with the lands entailed upon him by his uncle; this made him 5th Earl of Morton
Earl of Morton
The title Earl of Morton was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1458 for James Douglas of Dalkeith. Along with it, the title Lord Aberdour was granted. This latter title is the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Morton....
.
He died on 4 August 1588 at Smeaton, near East Linton
East Linton
East Linton is a town in East Lothian, Scotland, situated on the River Tyne and A199 road five miles east of Haddington, with a population of 1,774...
, Haddingtonshire.
According to the 1591 tract, Newes from Scotland, Declaring the Damnable life and death of Doctor Fian, a notable Sorcerer who was burned at Edenbrough in Ianuary last, Angus's death by witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
was confessed to by the apprehended Barbara Naper after her accusation by Geillis Duncane, also imprisoned for witchcraft.
He was married three times: (1) 13 June 1573 Mary Erskine, a daughter of the 1st Earl of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
; (2) 25 December 1575 (divorced 1587) Margaret, a daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes
George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes
George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes was a Scottish nobleman and diplomat.George became Earl of Rothes after his father's death at the Battle of Flodden. The title had previously been possesed by his uncle, William Leslie, the 2nd Earl...
;(3) 29 July 1587 Jean, a daughter of John Lyons, 8th Lord Glamis, with whom he had a daughter Margaret, who died young.
He was succeeded in the Earldom of Angus by his cousin William
William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman and zealous supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.He was the eldest son of Sir Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie, Knt., by his spouse Agnes, daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal, and upon the death of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of...
, a descendant of the 5th earl.
A closer line of the Douglas family to the former Earls of Morton inherited the Earldom of Morton.
(For the Morton title, see James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, jure uxoris 4th Earl of Morton was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four, since he did manage to win the civil war which had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of...
and William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton
William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton
William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton was the son of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven and Margaret Erskine, a former mistress of James V of Scotland. Sir William's half-brother from his mother's liaison with the king was James Stewart, Earl of Moray, Regent of Scotland from 1567 until his...
.)
Sources
- Balfour Paul, Sir JamesJames Balfour PaulSir James Balfour Paul, KCVO was the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the officer responsible for heraldry in Scotland, from 1890 until the end of 1926....
-Scots Peerage IX vols. Edinburgh 1906. http://www.archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun03pauluoft#page/132/mode/2up - Burke, Messrs. John and John Bernard, The Royal Families of England, Scotland, and Wales, with their Descendants, etc., volumer 2, London, 1851, pedigree CLXXVII.