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 opponents met them by similar tactics, so that the king was obliged to cancel the order for the trial and remit the case to a commission. The result was a proposed ‘act of oblivion,’ by which the remembrance of the conspiracy was to be consigned to oblivion on condition that the earls either renounced their religion or went into exile within a stated time. They declined to entertain the proposal, and were condemned on the original charge and forfeited.

Meanwhile, the earls were secure in Strathbogie, the centre of Huntly's country. One day a ship arrived at Aberdeen, whose passengers were seized by the townspeople. They were catholic messengers to Huntly. The three earls at once took arms, made a descent on the town, and obtained the release of the prisoners and the restitution of their property. James VI immediately despatched the Earl of Argyll with a strong force to inflict chastisement. Argyll was defeated at Glenlivet in September 1594, but James, at the head of another expedition, overthrew Huntly's castle, destroyed his lands, and forced him to sue for peace, which was granted to Huntly and Errol on condition of their going abroad.

Angus was not present at Glenlivet or the conflict with the king in person. He had by arrangement with Francis, earl of Bothwell, gone south to attempt a diversion, but, saving a feint at the capturing of Edinburgh, their efforts were futile. For a time Douglas lurked in concealment among his vassals in the north. Then negotiations were set on foot to obtain terms of agreement for him similar to those granted to his partners, and these were so far successful that he was about to leave the country also, when Huntly and Errol secretly returned, and the earl remained. On behalf of all three application was then made for their reconciliation to both kirk and state. They made open confession of their apostasy, professed their belief in the presbyterian polity and their resolution to abide therein, receiving the communion and taking oath to be good justiciars. The people of Aberdeen, among whom the reconciliation took place publicly in June 1597, testified their joy by acclamations at the market cross and drinking the healths of the earls. Shortly afterwards Angus was appointed royal lieutenant over the whole borders, where he did much good service.

In less than a year after his reconciliation Angus was once more threatened with excommunication. A minister was appointed by the kirk to reside with him, but after several years' instruction in this way the earl still proved ‘obstinat and obdurat,’ and the threat was fulfilled in 1608. He was then warded in Glasgow, but obtained permission to retire to France. On his way thither in 1609 he passed through London and asked the favour of a few last words with King James, who now reigned in England, but his request was refused, and at the age of fifty-five he returned to Paris, feeling himself both ‘auld and seakly.’ He resided in the neighbourhood of the abbey of St. Germain-des-Prés, where he applied himself assiduously to works of devotion and piety, and dying on 3 March 1611, was buried in that abbey. His son William, first marquis of Douglas, erected there a magnificent monument to his memory, consisting of a sarcophagus of black marble, on which reposes an effigy of the earl, clad in armour, in white marble. An engraving is given in Bouillart's ‘Histoire de l'Abbaye de St. Germain-des-Prés.’ It was this earl who, at the request of James VI, originated the purpose of writing a history of the Douglas family, which Hume of Godscroft carried out.

[Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland; Calderwood's History; Pitcairn's Criminal Trials; Fraser's Douglas Book.] 

DOUGLAS, WILLIAM, first  (d. 1640), eldest son of Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig, by his wife Mary, eldest daughter of John, lord Fleming, entered into possession of the family estates in 1615, on the death of his father. In 1617 he entertained James I at Drumlanrig, and was by him created viscount of Drumlanrig, lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibberis. Charters were granted him of the barony of Torthorwald 8 Jan. 1622, and of the town of Hawick 16 May 1623. When Charles I went to Scotland to be crowned in 1633, he advanced the viscount to the title of Earl of Queensberry. In 1638 he had a charter of the baronies of Sanquhar and Cumnock, in the counties of Dumfries and Ayr. He died 8 March 1640. By his wife Isabel, fourth daughter of Mark, earl of Lothian, he was the father of four sons, the eldest of whom succeeded to his honours, and of two daughters.

[Douglas and Wood's Peerage of Scotland, ii. 379; Crawford's Peerage.] 

DOUGLAS, WILLIAM, military commander. [See, 1617-1645.]

DOUGLAS, WILLIAM, seventh or eighth (1582–1650), lord high treasurer of Scotland, was the only son of Robert Douglas, eldest son of Sir William Douglas of Lochleven, sixth or seventh earl