mander. By nature mild, he learnt the art of pointed speech, yet retained the power of keeping and making friends. A turn of dry humour, derived from his grandfather ‘Bell-the-Cat,’ came out prominently in old age. He was conscious of some of his defects, and in passing the tomb of James, the seventh earl, at Douglas, was wont to say, ‘Shame for thee, we took all our fairness [of complexion] and feebleness from thee.’ But he had inherited also qualities of his more vigorous ancestors, their courage and adroitness. It is not possible to deny that he played a double part towards Henry VIII, and did not decide to aid his countrymen until their cause was gaining, but his conduct when he became a patriot did much to restore the popularity his house had lost. It required rare ability and wisdom to preserve the fortunes, and indeed the life, of a leading noble in the age of Henry VIII and James V; and Angus stands, not indeed in the first, but high in the second rank of the men of his time and country.
[Besides the family histories, which became more trustworthy in the life of this earl, Godscroft for characteristic anecdotes, Sir W. Fraser for documents, the contemporary histories of England and Scotland throw much light on the life of Angus. Of modern historians, Miss Strickland's Lives of Mary Tudor and Lady Margaret Douglas, and Brewer's Henry VIII are specially valuable.]
DOUGLAS, ARCHIBALD (fl. 1568), parson of Glasgow, younger brother of William Douglas of Whittingham, and grandson of John, second earl of Morton, was parson of Douglas prior to 13 Nov. 1565, when he was appointed an extraordinary lord of session in the place of Adam Bothwell [q. v.], bishop of Orkney. With his kinsman, James, fourth earl of Morton, he was concerned in the murder of Rizzio in March 1566. Douglas fled to France, but a few months afterwards, through the intervention of the French king, he was allowed to return to Scotland, where he successfully negotiated the pardons of the other conspirators. There seems to be but little doubt that he took part in the plot for the murder of Darnley in the following year, but no proceedings were taken against him at that time. On 2 June 1568 Douglas was appointed an ordinary lord of session in the place of John Lesley, bishop of Ross. In September 1570 he was sent to the Earl of Sussex to congratulate him on his victory, and ‘to talk of the stabilitie of the king and regents auctoritie’ (Historie and Life of King James the Sext, 1825, p. 64). Some time before this Douglas had been presented by the regent, Murray, to the parsonage of Glasgow. He had, however, been refused letters testimonial by the commissioner, whose decision was confirmed by the general assembly in March 1570. Further objections were raised against his appointment by the kirk of Glasgow, but he was at length allowed possession on 23 Jan. 1572. A quaint account of his examination for the benefice is recorded in Bannatyne's ‘Journal’ (1806, pp. 311–13), where it is stated that ‘when he had gottin the psalme buike, after luking, and casting ower the leives thereof a space, he desyrit sum minister to mak the prayer for him; “for,” said he, “I am not vsed to pray.”’ Having been detected in sending money to the queen's party, then holding the castle of Edinburgh, Douglas was ‘tane and send to Stirveling to be kept’ on 14 April 1572, and at the same time ‘also it is reported that he suld have betrayed the lord of Mortoun’ (ib. pp. 334–5). According to another account ‘the person was wairdit in the castell of Lochlevin’ (Historie and Life of King James the Sext, p. 101). But this is probably incorrect, as on 25 Nov. 1572 a commission was appointed for the trial of Douglas ‘now remaining in ward within the castell of Stirveling.’ He was restored to his place on the bench on 11 Nov. 1578, the king having commanded him ‘to await and mak residence in his ordinar place of ye sessioune.’ On 31 Dec. 1580 Douglas and the Earl of Morton were accused before the council by Captain James Stewart, who was shortly afterwards created the Earl of Arran, of ‘heigh treason and foreknawlege of the king's murthour’ (ib. pp. 180–1). Hearing of Morton's commitment, Douglas fled from Moreham Castle to England. He was degraded from the bench on 26 April 1581, and a decree of forfeiture was pronounced against him on 28 Nov. following (Acta Parl. iii. 193, 196–204). Though Elizabeth refused to send him back at the request of James's ministers, Douglas was for some time detained in a kind of custody. He, however, gained Elizabeth's favour by disclosing his transactions with Mary, and through the influence of Patrick, master of Gray, and Randolph, the English ambassador, he was at length enabled to return to Scotland. On 1 May 1586 an act of rehabilitation was passed under the great seal restoring Douglas, but at the same time containing a provision that if he should be found guilty of the murder the act should have no effect. On 21 May he received a pardon for all crimes and treasons committed by him, except the murder of Darnley, and five days after, on 26 May, he was tried for that murder. It was charged in the indictment that both
