William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton
Encyclopedia
William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton (died 1606) 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 assassination in January 1570. Sir William's cousin was another Regent of Scotland James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
, and was closely associated with him in his career, the two men being occasionally confused in the histories. He was well known for being the owner of Loch Leven Castle
, where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned after losing the Battle of Carberry Hill
and forced to abdicate
in favor of her infant son James VI. His wife was Agnes Leslie, daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes
, by whom he had eleven children.
The title Earl of Morton
was declared forfeit in 1581 when the 4th earl was attainted; that same year it was granted to John Maxwell, 7th Lord Maxwell, a grandson of the 3rd earl. In 1586 the attainder was reversed and the title returned to the 4th earl's family. By the 4th earl's will Douglas succeeded in 1588 to the earldom of Morton, on the death of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
.
In June 1567, Queen Mary was imprisoned in Sir William's castle of Lochleven. Lady Agnes became the Queen's chief female companion during her ten and a half months of imprisonment, accompanying her throughout the day and often sleeping in her bedchamber. It was following the birth of Agnes's child when she was recovering from her pregnancy, thus providing Queen Mary with greater liberty, that Mary chose to escape from Lochleven with the aid of Sir William's brother George and a young orphaned cousin named William Douglas who also lived at the castle and may or may not have been the earl's illegitimate son. When Sir William learned of his royal captive's escape, he was so distressed that he attempted to stab himself with his own dagger.
(born after 1541-died ca. 1606), a Scottish noblewoman, being the daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes
as well as a direct descendant of King James II
in her maternal line. The contract for their marriage was signed on 19 August 1554. The couple made their home at Lochleven Castle, which was a fortress situated on an island in the middle of the loch
, and where his widowed mother also resided.
Sir William and Agnes together had eleven children:
Agnes's seven daughters were said to have been so beautiful that they were known as "the pearls of Lochleven".
In 1586, the earldom of Morton which had been forfeited in 1581 following the execution and attainder of the 4th Earl of Morton for being one of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
's murderers, returned to the Douglas family. In 1588, upon the death of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Morton
, Sir William became the 6th Earl of Morton. From that time onward Agnes was styled the Countess of Morton. Sir William received the charter for the earldom on 20 July 1589.
William died sometime around the year 1606, which was the same year his wife died. Among their numerous descendants are included Diana, Princess of Wales
and Camilla Parker-Bowles.
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Margaret Erskine
Lady Margaret Erskine was a mistress of King James V of Scotland.She was a daughter of John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine and Margaret Campbell.James V had a number of mistresses in his time, but some accounts describe her as his favourite...
, a former mistress of James V of Scotland
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
. 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 assassination in January 1570. Sir William's cousin was another Regent of Scotland 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 was closely associated with him in his career, the two men being occasionally confused in the histories. He was well known for being the owner of Loch Leven Castle
Loch Leven Castle
Loch Leven Castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland. Possibly built around 1300, the castle was the location military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence...
, where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned after losing the Battle of Carberry Hill
Battle of Carberry Hill
The Battle of Carberry Hill took place on the 15th June 1567, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, a few miles east of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. It was part of the ongoing civil war that surrounded Mary, Queen of Scots and the ever changing sides that opposed her and supported her.-The conflict:In May of...
and forced to abdicate
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
in favor of her infant son James VI. His wife was Agnes Leslie, 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...
, by whom he had eleven children.
The title 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....
was declared forfeit in 1581 when the 4th earl was attainted; that same year it was granted to John Maxwell, 7th Lord Maxwell, a grandson of the 3rd earl. In 1586 the attainder was reversed and the title returned to the 4th earl's family. By the 4th earl's will Douglas succeeded in 1588 to the earldom of Morton, on the death of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus and 5th Earl of Morton 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 June 1567, Queen Mary was imprisoned in Sir William's castle of Lochleven. Lady Agnes became the Queen's chief female companion during her ten and a half months of imprisonment, accompanying her throughout the day and often sleeping in her bedchamber. It was following the birth of Agnes's child when she was recovering from her pregnancy, thus providing Queen Mary with greater liberty, that Mary chose to escape from Lochleven with the aid of Sir William's brother George and a young orphaned cousin named William Douglas who also lived at the castle and may or may not have been the earl's illegitimate son. When Sir William learned of his royal captive's escape, he was so distressed that he attempted to stab himself with his own dagger.
Marriage and children
On 26 November 1554 he married Lady Agnes Leslie, Countess of MortonAgnes Leslie, Countess of Morton
Agnes Leslie, Countess of Morton was a Scottish noblewoman, being the daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes as well as a direct descendant of King James II in her maternal line...
(born after 1541-died ca. 1606), a Scottish noblewoman, being the 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...
as well as a direct descendant of King James II
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
in her maternal line. The contract for their marriage was signed on 19 August 1554. The couple made their home at Lochleven Castle, which was a fortress situated on an island in the middle of the loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
, and where his widowed mother also resided.
Sir William and Agnes together had eleven children:
- Christian Douglas of Morton, married firstly Laurence of Oliphant, by whom she had issue; she married secondly Alexander, 1st Earl of Home.
- Robert Douglas, Master of Morton (killed by pirates in March 1585), married Jean Lyon of Glamis, by whom he had two sons, including William Douglas, 7th Earl of MortonWilliam Douglas, 7th Earl of MortonWilliam Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton was a grandson of the 6th Earl of Morton. He was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, and a zealous Royalist, who, on the outbreak of the Great Rebellion in 1642, provided £100,000 for the cause by selling his Dalkeith estates to the Earl of Buccleuch...
. - James Douglas, Commendator of Melrose, married firstly Mary Kerr, by whom he had issue; secondly Helen Scott, by whom he had issue; and thirdly Jean Anstruther, by whom he had issue.
- Sir Archibald Douglas of Kilmour (died 1649), married Barbara Forbes (born 31 January 1560), by whom he had one son.
- Sir George Douglas of Kirkness (died December 1609), married Margaret Forrester.
- Euphemia Douglas of Morton, married Sir Thomas Lyon of Auldbar, Master of GlamisThomas Lyon (of Auldbar)Sir Thomas Lyon, Master of Glammis was a Scottish nobleman and official, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.-Master of Glamis:...
. - Lady Agnes Douglas, Countess of ArgyllAgnes Douglas, Countess of ArgyllAgnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll was a Scottish noblewoman and the first wife of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. She was the mother of three of his children, including his heir, Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, the de facto head of the government in Scotland throughout most of...
(1574- 3 May 1607), on 24 July 1592 married as his first wife Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 7th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll , also called "Gillesbuig Grumach", was a Scottish politician and military leader.-Biography:...
, the son of Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll and Agnes Keith, by whom she had one son and two daughters. - Elizabeth Douglas of Morton, married Francis Hay, 9th Earl of ErrollFrancis Hay, 9th Earl of ErrollFrancis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll , Scottish nobleman, was the son of Andrew, 8th earl, and of Lady Jean Hay, daughter of William, 6th earl...
, by whom she had issue. - Jean Douglas of Morton.
- Mary Douglas of Morton, married Sir Walter Ogilvy, 1st Lord Ogilvy of Deskford, by whom she had issue.
- Margaret Douglas of Morton, married Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss.
Agnes's seven daughters were said to have been so beautiful that they were known as "the pearls of Lochleven".
In 1586, the earldom of Morton which had been forfeited in 1581 following the execution and attainder of the 4th Earl of Morton for being one of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stewart or Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany , styled Lord Darnley before 1565, was king consort of Scotland and murdered at Kirk o'Field...
's murderers, returned to the Douglas family. In 1588, upon the death of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Morton
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus and 5th Earl of Morton 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....
, Sir William became the 6th Earl of Morton. From that time onward Agnes was styled the Countess of Morton. Sir William received the charter for the earldom on 20 July 1589.
William died sometime around the year 1606, which was the same year his wife died. Among their numerous descendants are included Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and Camilla Parker-Bowles.
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