A general history of Scotland together with a particular history of the Houses of Douglas and Angus / written by Master David Hume of Godscroft.

Of William Lord of Niddisdale (sonne naturall to this foresaid Archbald Lord of Galloway) commonly called The black DOUGLAS.

THis William Lord of Niddisdale (sonne naturall to Archbald Lord of Galloway) is (if any else) worthy, who should be spoken of by himselfe being highly commended by Writers, who say that he was the prime and principall of the youth of Scotland, that he was a man accomplished with all abilities of body and minde, straight and tall of stature, not overcharged with flesh, but big of bone, a mighty personage, valiant, courteous, amiable, merrie, faithfull and pleasant in company and converse, of such extraordinary strength, that whomsoever he strooke with Sword or Mace, he fell to the ground, were he never so well arm∣ed: he was also wise and sober. At one time having but 800. in his com∣pany, he fought against 3000. English, of which he slew 200. and tooke 500. prisoners. This is he that is commonly called The bla•…•…ke Douglas, because he was of a blacke and swart complexion. His first vassallage of note was at the inroad made by Robert Earle of •…•…ife, and James Earl Dou∣glas, when they burnt Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Northumber land. In this expedition he is said to have gained great reputation, for (beside many other exploits not expressed) he with other two only made great havocke of the enemies at the burning of the Suburbs of Carlile (who offered to hinder him from passing the bridge by slaying some, and turning over others into the river. Some say that he slew with his owne hands three of the most valiant of the English, of which one was a chiefe Commander: afterwards, when the same Towne was besieged, the ene∣mies having made a sally, whilest he repulsed them, and followed too ea∣gerly, he was engaged too farre in the midst of his enemies, and taken prisoner. As he was led along toward the Towne by foure men (having beene before disarmed, and his weapons taken from him, he strooke two of them to the ground with his fists, and the other two betaking them∣selves to flight, he returned safe to his company. Hereupon his name was terrible to the English, especially the common sort, who did ordina∣rily astright and skare their children, when they would not be quiet, by saying, The blacke Douglas comes, the blacke Douglas will get thee.

These his vertues moved Robert the second to savour him so farre, as to bestow his daughter on him, though he knew him to be a bastard. The Ladies name was Giles (or Egidia) and she was a mirrour of rare and singular beautie, so that whithersoever she went, she drew the eyes of all men towards her with admiration. The chiefe noble youths of the land did sute her in marriage, but the King preferred our William of Niddis∣dale for his worth before them all. Bocce writeth that the King of France having heard of the fame of her beautie, sent a painter into Scotland pri∣vately, who having drawne her portraiture truly, and shewed it to the King, he was so enamoured thereof, that incontinent he dispatched Em∣bassadours to desire her in marriage; but all too late, for she was mar∣ried

(before their coming) to Niddisdale. The King gave him and his heires to be begotten by him with his daughter, the Lordship of Niddis∣dale, lying nearest unto Galloway, with the Office of Warden of that Border, and Sheriffeship of Dumfrees, with the Office of Justice, and Chamberlaine, with a pension of three hundred pound sterling by yeare out of the great Customes of certaine Burrowes designed to that effect. He had by this Lady a daughter, who was married to Henry Sinclaire Earle of Orkney, who bare to him a sonne called William, afterward Earle of Orkney. This daughter of his (married to Orkney) was named Giles (after her mother) as appeareth by a note that is extant of the descent of the Sinclairs. Her husband is called Henry Sinclaire, and his titles are, Knight of the Cockle, of the Garter, and Prince of Orkney. This note calleth William Douglas, Lord of Niddisdale, Prince of Danskine, Duke of Spruce. Sir William Sinclaire, sonne to Henry and Giles, is called Knight of the Golden Fleece, and of the Cockle, Prince of Orkney, Duke of Holdenburgh, Earle of Cathnes, Lord Sinclaire, Lord of Niddisdale, with the valleyes of Neth, Sheriffe of Dumfrees, Great Admirall of Scotland, Warden of the Marches, Great Justice Generall, Baron of Erkfoord, Caverton, Cowsland, Rosseline, Pentland, Harbarshire, Di∣sart, Newbrough in Buchan; Titles to wearie a Spaniard: which I have set downe to recreate the Reader, either by seeing his greatnesse, or to laugh at the vanitie of the Writer: and yet he hath forgotten one of his titles, which is, Chancellour of Scotland, as Buchanan calls him, and á confirmation given him by King James the second in the yeare 1456. A∣pril 29. wherein he calls him his Chancellour and Cousin. This confir∣mation is of the Earledome of Cathnes united into one Baronie, and his lands of Orkney in compensation of his claime and title to the Lordship of Niddisdale, Offices and Pensions whatsoever that were given to Willi∣am Douglas (his Grandfather by his Mother) by contract of marriage with Giles Stuart (daughter to K. Robert by his wife Elizabeth Moore) as is at length therein contained.

About the time of the field at Otterburne, because some Irishmen that adhered to England had roaved upon the coasts of Galloway, and carri∣ed away store of booty and spoile, the Lord of Niddisdale to be revenged thereof, gathered together a competent number of men, by the aid of his brother in-law Robert Earle of Fife, and by licence from the King pro∣viding himselfe of Ships and vessels, passed the seas into Ireland, and be∣sieged Carlinfoord, a rich Towne in those parts. The Townesmen fear∣ing their Towne should be taken by assault, obtained a truce for certaine dayes, promising to give him a summe of money to have their Towne sa∣ved. But in the meane time they assembled some 500. men through the help of a neighbour Towne called Dundalke, and joyning with them, they divided themselves into two squadrons or companies: the one of which invaded Robert Stuart of Disdier, who conducted the Earle of Fifes men, and was gone abroad to bring in some prey: the other assailed the Lord of Niddisdale, who lay still before the Towne. Notwithstanding of this unexpected sally, they were received with such courage and va∣lour, that at last they were put to flight; and immediately Niddisdale

gave an hard assault to the Towne, and carried it: having taken and rifled it sufficiently, he set it on fire, and burnt it to ashes. Others write, that at his first landing the Citizens hearing it was the Lord Niddisdale (whose name was so fearfully spread over all those quarters) not only rendred the Town to him, but also received him with great triumph, as if he had been their King or Prince; and that hereupon he used them courteously. But when his men were in great security, scattered and separated, as fearing no hurt or danger, and some at their Ships, some sent with Robert Stuart of Disdier to spoile the Countrey about, which stood out against him, and to furnish his ships and the towne; so that there remained not with the Lord Niddisdale above 200. men when they set upon him, as before we have said; and being beaten, the Towne was sackt and burnt. Then they tooke 60. ships, which they found in divers Havens and Creeks, and la∣ded 15. of them with such spoile as they had gotten, and burnt the rest. Then returning homeward, they spoiled the Isle of Man, which lay in their way. He landed at Loch-rien, which divides a part of Galloway from Carrict, and hearing there of the roade into England, he hasted him hither with all diligence.

But truce being made for certaine yeares with England, that he might not languish in idlenesse, he passed into Spruce, from whence he heard that an Army was to be sent against the Infidels. There hee gave such proofe of his vertue and valour, that hee was chosen Admirall of the whole Fleet, which was very faire and great, esteemed to consist of 250. saile, and was there created Duke of Spruce, and Prince of Danskin. But there arose dissention hetwixt him and the Lord Clifford an Englishman, upon an old emulation, and present envie of his new preferment, at which Clifford grudged. Wherefore being challenged to the field by Clifford, he accepted it gladly: but the other weighing with himselfe what a hazzard he was like to runne by fighting with such a man of such incomparable valour, found meanes (before the day of the combat came) to make him away by hired Assasines and Brigands, who murthered him in the night on the bridge of Danskin. The Manuscript seemeth to say that combat was not taken on there and then, but long before, while they were both at home; and that Niddisdale before the day passing to Paris to provide armour fit for him (or on whatsoever occasion else) Clifford gave it out that he had fled the combat; but when he saw that he was returned be∣fore the day appointed, fearing to match with his well knowne strength and valour, would have shifted the fight with many frivolous excuses. Now there being assembled and met together at that time brave Knights from all the parts of Christendome, Clifford partly for envie of the ho∣nour conferred upon his adversary, and partly remembring their old de∣bates, but chiefly because of this disgrace and infamie, of being put to this necessitie of refusing to fight with him, hee caused mercenarie cut∣throats to lie in wait for him, who as he happened to walke through the streets, and view the walls of the Towne, set upon him, and murdered him, not without great difficultie: by which losse that enterprise against the Infidels was disturbed and dashed.

We told before how he is stiled Prince of Danskin, and Duke of Spruce,

in the Monuments of the Sinclairs, of whom one had married his daugh∣ter: sure it is, by the report of many eye-witnesses, that there was a gate in Dansick on which the Coat of the Douglasses was carved and graven in stone, which decaying, and being of late re-edified, this monument of him is perished. The common opinion is, that Dansick having beene ta∣ken by Infidels, was regained by Scottishmen, and therefore it is that the Scots have such priviledges there: and there is a part of the Town which they call little Scotland, which is inhabited almost with Scottishmen. All which must be referred (most apparently) to the Lord Niddisdale, and to this time, and doth testifie in some measure he hath surpassed the quality and condition of a private man, or of a stranger in those parts, seeing he acquired the title of Prince and Duke, whereof we can affirme no more then hath beene said. This fell out about the yeare 1389. or 1390. about the death of King Robert the second.

Notes

• He is called the blacke Douglas.
• He marries the Kings daughter E∣gidia.
• His daughter married to the Earle of Ork∣ney.
• He goes into Ireland.
• He takes and burnes Calin∣foord.
• He returnes out of Ireland
• He is made Admirall.
• He is mur∣thered by the Lord Clifford.