Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus

Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus (1489 – 1557) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of George, Master of Angus, who was killed at Flodden, and grandson of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus, whom he succeeded on his death.

Alliance with and exile in England

Angus, having fortified himself in Tantallon, was attainted and his lands confiscated. Repeated attempts of James to subdue the fortress failed, and on one occasion Angus captured the royal artillery, but at length it was given up as a condition of the truce between England and Scotland, and in May 1529 Angus took refuge with Henry, obtained a pension and took an oath of allegiance, Henry engaging to make his restoration a condition of peace.

Related Topics:
Tantallon - 1529

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Angus had been chiefly guided in his intrigues with England by his brother, Sir George Douglas of Pittendriech, Master of Angus (died 1552), a far cleverer diplomat than himself. His life and lands were also declared forfeit, as were those of his uncle, Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie (died 1535), who had been a friend of James and was known by the nickname of Greysteel. These took refuge in exile.

Related Topics:
Sir George Douglas of Pittendriech, Master of Angus - 1552 - Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie - 1535

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James avenged himself on such Douglases as lay within his power. Angus's third sister Janet, Lady Glamis, was summoned to answer the charge of communicating with her brothers, and on her failure to appear her estates were forfeited. In 1537 she was tried for conspiring against the king's life. She was found guilty and burnt on the Castle Hill, Edinburgh, on the 17th of July 1537. Her innocence has been generally assumed, but Tytler (History of Scotland, iv. pp. 433, 434) considered her guilty.

Related Topics:
Janet, Lady Glamis - 1537 - Castle Hill - Tytler

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Angus remained in England till 1542, joining in the attacks upon his countrymen on the border, while James refused all demands from Henry VIII. for his restoration, and kept firm to his policy of suppressing and extirpating the Douglas faction.

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