DOUGLAS, FAMILY OF

famous in Scot. history, dates from XII. cent. Sir James, ‘The Good’, 1286-1330, commanded part of Bruce’s army at Bannock burn, 1314; he d. in Spain while carrying Bruce’s heart to Palestine. The 1st Earl of D. was William, cr. 1358. The 2nd earl, James, who was slain at Otter burn, 1388, left no legitimate s., and the earldom went to Archibald, ‘The Grim,’ natural s. of Sir James, ‘The Good.’ His s., Archibald, became 4th earl, 1372-1424; fought in France, and was slain at Verneuil. Archibald, 5th earl, d. in 1439,.and his s., William, 6th earl, a mere boy, was murdered along with his bro. in Edinburgh Castle, 1440. This incident—the ‘Black Dinner of the Doug lases’—broke the family’s power, and its lands were forfeited. The D. lands proper fell to James, ‘The Gro ,’ 7th earl. His s. William, 8th earl, restored the power of the ‘Black Doug lases,’ and James II., alarmed at the strength of the family, treacherously murdered William at Stirling, 1452. His bro., James, 9th, and last, earl, took arms to avenge William’s death; was unsucce ful. The title died in 1857.