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THE EARLDOM OF
MENTEITH.
INTRODUCTION.
page 23
In consequence of the advanced age of his father, Robert II., and the physical
infirmity of his brother, the Earl of Carrick,
afterwards Robert III., the Estates deemed it necessary in 1388 to appoint the
Earl of Fife and Menteith Guardian of the Kingdom, and he was virtually its
ruler thenceforth to the end of his life. In the year 1398 he was created Duke
of Albany, at the same time that the King's eldest son, the Earl of Carrick
and Athole, was made Duke of Rothesay. Albany was crafty and ambitious, but he
was possessed of great administrative ability, and his pacific policy secured
for Scotland under his sway a happy exemption from those wars which for
many years had exhausted the resources of the country and retarded all social
improvement. His administration was undoubtedly popular; the people regarded him
as their friend, the nobles were friendly to him, and his liberality to the
Church procured for him the grateful eulogies of the clergy. Wyntoun, the Prior
of St. Serf's, in his 'Metrical Chronicle,' descants in glowing terms on the
Regent's goodly person and lofty stature; his strength, wisdom, chastity,
sobriety, and affability; his piety, hatred of Lollards and heretics, and
liberality to the Church. He has, however, in various ways received scant
justice at the hands of the later historians of Scotland, and has long lain
under the evil repute of having been accessory to the murder of his nephew, the
dissolute and ill-fated Duke of Rothesay. Sir Walter Scott's romance of the
'Fair Maid of Perth' has contributed not a little to deepen the unfavourable
impression formed of Albany's conduct in this matter. Lord Hailes, after quoting
the remission drawn up under the royal seal granted to Robert, Duke of Albany,
and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, for the part they took in the apprehension of
the prince, says—
THE DOUGLASES.
INTRODUCTION.
page 38
At the encounter between the small body of men accompanying the King and the
MacDougals of Lorn, at Dalry in Strathfillan, Douglas was wounded, and Bruce
freed himself only by his great personal strength and skill in the use of his
weapons from a simultaneous attack made upon him by three of the followers of
the Lord of Lorn. It was Douglas who discovered the small leaky boat in which
the remnant of Bruce's followers were ferried, two at a time, over Loch Lomond.
He spent the subsequent winter with the King on the island of Rachrin. On the
approach of spring he made a successful descent on the island of Arran, and
succeeded in capturing a large quantity of provisions, clothing, and arms.
Shortly after, while Bruce was engaged in an effort to wrest his patrimonial
domains in Carrick from the English, Sir James repaired
secretly into Douglasdale, which was held by Lord Clifford, surprised the
English garrison on Palm Sunday (1306-7), took possession of Douglas Castle,
destroyed all the provisions, staved the casks of wine and other liquors, put
his prisoners to the sword, flung their dead bodies on the stores which
he had heaped up in a huge pile, and then set fire to the castle. This shocking
deed, which we may hope has been exaggerated by tradition, was no doubt intended
to revenge the atrocious cruelties which Edward had perpetrated on Bruce's
brothers and adherents, and especially the death of Douglas's faithful follower,
Dickson, who was killed in a conflict in the church. It was long commemorated in
the traditions of the country by the name of the 'Douglas larder.' Sir James
continued for some time after this exploit to lurk among the fastnesses of
Douglasdale, for 'he loved better,' he said, 'to hear the lark sing than the
mouse squeak.'
THE DOUGLASES.
INTRODUCTION.
page 63
Although the Earl had now been deprived of the office of Lieutenant-General of
the Kingdom, James, unwilling to come to an open rupture with his too-powerful
subject, appointed him Warden of the West and Middle Marches, and confirmed to
him and his descendants, by deed of entail, the earldoms of Wigton and Douglas.
But these acts of kindness, which he probably regarded as indications of
weakness and fear, only emboldened the Earl to set at defiance both the
restraints of law and the authority of his sovereign. He attempted to
assassinate his old enemy Crichton, who had been restored to the Chancellorship;
he hanged Sir John Herries of Terregles, who had refused to become his ally, in
contempt of a positive order of the King requiring his release; and he beheaded
Maclellan of Bomby, in circumstances shockingly cruel and aggravating.With an evident view to an open insurrection against the royal
authority, 'he sought and persuaded all men under his opinion and servitude, and
in special the gentlemen of Galloway, with Coile, Carrick,
and Cunninghame, and all other parties that were near adjacent unto him,
desyreing them daylie to ride and goe with him as his own household and
servantis, and to assist him in all thingis whatsomevir he had to doe, whether
it was ryght or wrong, with the King or against him.'
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