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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: MOL-MOS |
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MORTON, JAMES DOUGLAS, 4TH EARL OF (c. 1525-1581) , Scottish statesman, was the second son of Sir George Douglas of Pittendriech. Before 1543 he married Elizabeth (d. 1574), daughter of James Douglas, 3rd earl
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The ensuing execution of these men, the bravest and the ablest Scotsmen of that age, put an end to the last chance of Mary's restoration by native support. But while all seemed to favour Morton, there were under-currents which combined to procure his fall. The Presbyterian clergy were alienated by his leaning to Episcopacy, and all parties in the divided Church by his seizure of its estates. Andrew Melville
Knox , was more decided than Knox against any departure from the Presbyterian model, and refused to bewon by a place in his household. The powerful earl of Argyll and Atholl, a Stuart and Roman Catholic, united with Alexander Erskine, governor of Stirling, who now had the custody of the young king, and others in a league which received so much support that Morton bent before the storm and offered to resign. He surrendered the castle of Edinburgh, the palace of Holyrood, and the royal treasures, retiring to Lochleven, where he busied him-self in laying out gardens. But his ambition could not deny itself another stroke for power. Aided by the young earl of Mar, he got possession of Stirling Castle and the person of the' king. Civil war was avoided only by the influence of Sir Robert Bowes, the English ambassador . A nominal reconciliation was effected, and a parliament at Stirling introduced a new government. Morton, who secured an indemnity, was president of the council, but Atholl remained a privy councillor in an enlarged council with the representatives of both parties. Shortly after-wards Atholl died of poison, it was said, and suspicion pointed to Morton. His return to power was brief, and the only important event was the prosecution of the two Hamiltons, who still supported Mary and saved their lives by flight to England. The final fall of Morton came from an opposite quarter. In September 1579 Esme Stuart, the king's cousin
confession that Bothwell had revealed to him the design, although he denied participation in its execution. He was executed by the maidena guillotine he had himself brought from Englandon the 2nd of June 1581.The attainted earldom of Morton passed by charter at his death to a grandson of the 3rd earl, John, 7th Lord Maxwell (1553-1593), who had previously claimed the title. In 1586, however, the attain-der was rescinded in favour of Archibald Douglas, 8th earl of Angus (q.v.), a nephew of the 4th earl. Various earls of Morton have now to be distinguished. Sir William Douglas (d. 1606), who ranks as 6th or 7th earl of Morton, was the 4th earl's near kinsman, being the son of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven (d. 1547), and was closely associated with him in his career, the two men being occasionally confused in the histories. He was the custodian at Lochleven Castle of Queen Mary. By the 4th earl's will he succeeded in 1588 to the earldom of Morton, on the death of Archibald, 8th earl of Angus; but Lord Maxwell's title of Morton, which had been revoked in 1585, was revived in 1587 and 1592, so that both men were in possession, and a conflict arose. Sir William Douglas was succeeded by his grandson William (1582-1649), known as 7th or 8th earl of Morton, lord high treasurer of Scotland, a zealous Royalist, who on the outbreak of the Great Rebellion provided 100,000 for the cause by selling his Dalkeith estates to the Buccleuch family; and though John, 8th Lord Maxwell (c. 1586-1613), also claimed the earldom, he was attainted in 1609 and his rights then failed, his titles and estates being restored in 1618 to his brother Robert, with the title of earl of Nithsdale (162o) in lieu of Morton. Among later earls of Morton mention may be made of James (1702-1768), 14th earl (or, as sometimes numbered, 16th), who became president of the Royal Society (1764), and wasa distinguished patron of science, and particularly of astronomy. In 1746 he visited France, and was imprisoned in the Bastille, probably as a Jacobite. The present earl of Morton is his descendant. End of Article: MORTON, JAMES DOUGLAS, 4TH EARL OF (c. 1525-1581) If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
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