Master David Hume of Godscroft represents Sholto Douglas as possibly the 'first mean man'. He states that tradition points out that this 'dark grey man' turned the tide of battle in favor of King Solvathius in his fight with the rebel Donald Bane in the year 767 A.D.

All we know of Sholto is from tradition, and a manuscript, said to have been seen by the 10th Earl of Angus in the'North of Scotland, in 1595.

But some authorities show that Donald Bane rebelled some four hundred years after Solvathius reigned, so it might be that William of Douglas is Sholto. This is what Sir William Fraser suggests. He also refers to the Freskins of Kerdal, a Laird of Moray, as having for their armorial bearings the 3 stars, and living side by side with the Douglas, might they not be of the family? About 1220, the Bishop of Moray, Brice Douglas, the son of William Douglas, speaks of his Uncle Freskin of Kerdal, and William of Douglas has a son called Freskin. It is therefore suggested that William of Douglas married Freskin of Kerdal's sister.

However, it is all up in the air, and no facts seem to be available as to the origin of William of Douglas, the first of whom we have any record.

In the Chronicles of Lincluden we find it reported that the Douglas's succeeded the M'Dowalls in Galloway, and later on we find the M'Dowalls are the bitter enemies of Bruce and the Douglas's. The M'Dowalls were instrumental in establishing Lincluden Abbey and the Douglas's carried on this support, but subsequently were perhaps the cause of its suppression. However, many of the Douglas's were buried there and records of the tombs are still to be found at Thrive.

WILLIAM OF DOUGLAS

Appears about 1160 A.D. Likely married daughter of Sir Freskin of Kerdal and had six sons. He is succeeded by his eldest son about 1190 A.D. Most of the sons became monks, but we find Andrew, a younger son is father of the Black Knight of Liddesdale and ancestor of the Nortons.

SIR ARCHIBALD OF DOUGLAS

1190 A.D. to 1240-Married daughter of Sir John Crawford from whom he acquired lands in Clydesdale. He also appears to have acquired two properties from the Earl of Fife.

SIR WILLIAM OF DOUGLAS

1240 to 1273. Son of Sir Archibald. Father of Hugh and William Le Hardi. He appears as one of the partisans of King Henry 3rd of England and receives as a gift from Prince Edward I lands in Northumberland.

SIR HUGH OF DOUGLAS

1273 to 1287. Married sister of Sir Hugh of Abernethy. Died without issue. Succeeded by brother William.

SIR WILLIAM "LE HARDI"

1278 to 1302. Married daughter of Alexander the High Steward, mother of "Good" Sir James. He subsequently married Eleanor of Lovain, after carrying her off by armed force from her kinfolk, the La Zouches in Lothian. She was the widow of Lord Groby, and an English heiress with lands in Scotland. He distinguished himself early in life, having his head almost shorn off his shoulder while defending his father's castle in 1267. Later he appears fighting for Scottish freedon, being one of the first to join Wallace in 1297.

His history is very full of life but too lengthy to give here. Blind Harry's writings for further enlightenment. He died a prisoner in the Castle of York, 1302. He is said to have acquired lands in one English and seven Scottish Countries.

SIR JAMES "THE GOOD" (The Black Douglas)

1302 dying King's request, he carried to 1330. It was he who was Robert Bruce's friend and trusted Lieutenant, in the trying times when Bruce gained the throne. At the Bruce's heart to the Holy Landin Melrose Abbey, Scotland.. He was killed in a fight with the Moors, on the way to the Holy Land. The casket with Bruce's heart rests 

This is how the Douglas comes by the bleeding heart, Royal Crowned, which at this period was added to the three stars, on their shield. Sir James was knighted at Bannockburn, before the whole Scottish army by Bruce, but the title he appears not to have used or handed down. He was the hero of seventy battles of which he only lost thirteen. His son William succeeded him.

WILLIAM LORD OF DOUGLAS

1330-1333. A character introduced by Sir William Fraser for the first time and evidence is quite conclusive that he was a son of the "Good" Sir James. Lord William was killed at the battle of Halldon, July 19th, 1335, under the banner of his uncle Archibald. Died without issue. In his armorial bearings for the first time appears the bloody heart and. Royal Crown, whick must kave been introduced immediately on the death of Sir James.

HUGH, LORD OF DOUGLAS

The brother of "Good" Sir James succeeds in 1333, and after eleven years retires to the Church, having resigned in favour of his nephew, William the son of Archibald, who fought at Halidon with William the first Lord.

This Archibald, although a great fighter, was called a 'tineman' (loser), which name is later attached to the 4th Earl.

WILLIAM, LORD OF DOUGLAS, FIRST EARL OF DOUGLAS

Succeeded in 1344. Was made Earl in 1358, and Earl of Mar in 1373.

William returned to Scotland shortly before the Battle of Durham, when Scotland was in sore need of a strong man. Like Good Sir James he drove the English out of his own country of Galloway and then out of all Scotland with the aid of his fellow countrymen. He is one of those who treated for the release of King David in 1551. It was not he, but William the Knight of Liddesdale who entered into traitorous negotiations with the English at this time, and this may be the reason that the Earl subsequently killed his Uncle, the Knight of Liddesdale, who had been his Godfather and tutor. Some also lay this crime, if it was a crime, to a jealous quarrel over the Countess. But there was no Countess at this time. A few years later the Earl married Margaret, sister of the Earl of Mar, and a Countess in her own right.

Fordoun says that it was in revenge for the death of Sir Alex Ramsey and Sir David Berkley that this deed was committed, which is likely, as the King shortly after gave the lands of Liddesdale to the Earl. Sir William Fraser states that the Knight of Liddesdale, called the "Flower of Chivalry" showed as the least satisfactory of all the Black Douglas's.

The Earl fought at Poitiers and was knighted by King John of France.

On the death of King David II, 1370-1, he is said to have been a contender for the Scottish crown against the Stewarts, claimxng on his descent from the Comyns and Baliols. But Sir William Fraser discourages this belief. HoWever, shortly after a contract of marriage was arranged between Princess Isabel, daughter of King Robert II, and the Earl's eldest son Archibald.

Thomas, Earl of Mar, died in 1573 and this Earldom passed to the Doug'las through his wife, Margaret, sister of Thomas of Mar. This was the senior Earldom of Scotland. Earl William died in 1584, leaving two sons, James and George, who both married daughters of Robert II.

(See tales of a Grandfather, by Scott, Chapter XVI) 

SECOND EARL, JAMES OF DOUGLAS

"The Dead Douglas", (so-called on account of winning Otterburn after his death) 1584-1588. Married Euphemia, daughter of Robert II.Came to power in a whirl of fighting. France being hard pressed by the English, sent an army into Scotland to attack England from the north, with the help of the Scots, and thus draw pressure from France.

Earl James, being the greatest soldier in Scotland, at this time, was in charge of the Scottish army. When the English appeared in such numbers and so well equipped with archers and horses, Earl James persuaded the French Admiral de Vienne, the most celebrated French soldier of his day, to fight in Scottish border style. So they returned and all cattle and food stuff was carried with them, so that the farther the English came the farther they got from supplies, and found nothing at hand to replenish their larders. Meanwhile Douglas slipped around the English and swept into England and ravished their country, carrying away quantities of booty. However, after having worn the English down the armies finally met - but not until the French were also worn out, and had gone home - at Otterburn.

The Battle of Otterburn was fought in 1388, and it is said to be the most fierce of all Scottish battles. Here the 2nd. Earl fell, but his last words were to keep his condition unknown to his men and to avenge his death. The Scots were still encouraged by the cry of "A Douglas" "A DouglaS", kept up by the Scottish knights, swept through the English. Percy was taken captive and most of his followers were killed.

(For a history of this, see "Tales of a Grandfather." Chapter XVI by Scott.)

Earl James died childless and the title of Mar reverted to the Stewarts.

THIRD EARL, ARCHIBALD

"The Grim" 1388-1401. Natural son of "Good" Sir James.

"Even One" - says Scott, in the Fair Maid of Perth, "who had never seen Archibald, Earl of Douglas, must have known him by his swarthy complexion, his gigantic frame, and his air of courage, firmness, and sagacity, united with indomitable pride."

Sir William Fraser questions the right of Archibald to the title. He suggested it should have gone to George, the 1st Earl of Angus, who was a son of Earl William and Margaret, the brother of the 2nd Earl, James. However, on the fall of the 9th Earl the lands pass to the Angus branch. Archibald married the heiress of Bothwell, Jean, daughter of Thomas Moray. He was appointed Warden of the Marches and Justiciar o~ the Borders, and was noted for his great physical strength and courage. He is said to have used a sword, which the ordinary man could, with difficulty, lift, andno man could withstand his strokes.

His eldest son he married to the Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert III and his only daughter to the heir apparent of Scotland. He endowed a hospital and college attached to Lindluden Abbey, and subsequently suppressed the convent of Lincluded, driving out the nuns for misconduct.

When Archibald married Jean, daughter of Lord Thomas Moray of Bothwell, the three mulleta of Moray were added to the Douglas shield.He died in 1401, and was succeeded by his son.

Duke of Touraine and FOURTH EARL, ARCHIBALD OF DOUGLAS

1401, called "The Tineman" or loser, (although the name, perhaps, should more properly be applied to Archibald the Warden, who fought at Halidon).

He was wounded and taken prisoner at Homildon, 1402, and in 1403 in battle with the English he felled the King to the ground but was again wounded and captured. When the English tried to persuade their King to take the life of Douglas, he refused on account of the generosity of Douglas in sparing his life in battle that day. (See Lincluden, p. S8)

Archibald went to France, where he was created Duke of Tourane, and fought at Verneuil with 10,000 Scots, where he was killed in 1424.

He was a great patron of the church, and did a great deal for Lincluden Abbey and College. He married Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert III, a woman of beautiful character and appearance. She died about 1440, and her tomb is is Lincludin Abbey.

Douglas joined with Hotspur in rebellion against Henry iV, and Shakespeare puts these words in Henry's mouth, in his address to the Earl after his capture;

"Renowned Douglas, whose high deeds, Whose hot incursions, and great name in arms, Holds from all soldiers chief majority, And military capital, Through all the kingdoms that acknowledge Christ."

These chiefs were defeated at the battle of Shrewsbury 1402. When the King was urged to take the life of Douglas Shakespeare puts in his mouth,

"Brother, John of Lancaster, Go to the Douglas, and deliver him Up to his pleasure ransomeless and free; His valour shown upon our crests today; Hath taught us how to cherish such high deeds Even in the bosom of our adversaries."

Nevertheless, the Douglas is said to have paid heavy ransom.

Duke of Touraine and FIFTH EARL, ARCHIBALD OF DOUGLAS and Lord of Galloway. 1424-1439. Son of Fourth Earl of Douglas,

Fought in the French wars. Little is known of the Earl. Died of fever 1439. He held Galloway in fee under his mother the princess who outlived him. He was a thorough Douglas, and very kind and indulgent toward his mother. He was succeeded by his son.

Duke of Touraine and SIXTH EARL, WILLIAM OF DOUGLAS

1439-1441. Son of the fifth Earl. This young man, although curbed by his grandmother, came into power at the age of 16. His was the pomp of a royal court creating his own knights, sending embassies to France, and keeping a train of one thousand horses. He became a mennaceto the Scottish Court, and being a cousin of the Young King James II, a lot of jealousy was arouse against him. In 1440 his enemies, the Regents of the young King, enticed him to Stifling Castle after he had set at defiance their orders, and at a feast a black bu11's head was served, which was the signal of death. The Douglas and his young brother James, were siezed and after a hasty trial were executed in the court-yard.

(Histories state this deed as being carried out in Edinbough Castle, but I am assured by several authorities, and by the fact that the body of one Douglas in full armour has been found in Stifling, that I am correct in stating that Stirling was the place of execution.)

This left only remaining the mother and daughter of the family, and the title reverted the Grand Uncle of the 6th Earl. Title of Duke of Touraine died with Earl William.

SEVENTH EARL, JAMES OF DOUGLAS

"The Gross" 1441-1443. Formerly Earl of Avondale, and second son of third Earl Archibald, the "Grim". (He was one of those who joined in the execution of the sixth Earl, William.) He died in 1443, leaving two sons.

EIGHTH EARL, WILLIAM 1443-1453

Divorced first wife, Janet, and marries in 1449 under Charter from the Crown, under seal, the sister of the sixth Earl, "The Fair Maid of Galloway", Lady Margaret Douglas. (See Scott's Castle Dangerous.) The Galloway estates are added to his domain. This chap was a fair stamp of Douglas. Quarrelling with King James II, the King stabbed him to death, in Stifling Castle in 14S3. He and a number of nobles had entered into a conspiracy against James, which resulted in the Earl's murder. He leaves no heir and the title passes to his brother.

NINTH EARL, JAMES OF DOUGLAS

1453-1488. In 1454 raised open warfare against King James, over the murder of his two predecessors. After being defeated, he fled to England where he found favour at Court, and was created Knight of the Garter. He engaged in an attack on Scotland in 1484, with the exiled Duke of Albany; being captured, he was brought before King James III who spared his life on the condition that he retire to a cloister, where he died in 1488. The last of the Black Douglas line. The Ninth Earl's title and lands were confiscated to the crown in 1454.