The history of the houses of Douglas and Angus written by Master David Hume ...

Of SHOLTO DOUGLAS the first that bare the name of DOUGLAS, and of whom all that beare that name are descended.

TOuching the original of this illustrious Family and Name of Douglas, we must not looke for an exact and infallible demonstration; things of this nature are not capable of it. Great Antiqui∣ty is commonly accompanied with much incertainty, and the originalls even of Cities, Countries and Nati∣ons, are grounded (for the most part) upon no surer foundation, then conje∣cturall proofs, whose beginnings are more easily known, and better re∣membred then those of private fami∣lies. In such cases we use to take that for truth which comes neerest to it amongst diverse narrations; and must rest on that which is most proba∣ble and apparent. Quis rem tam veterem pro certo affirmet? sayes the Hi∣storian in a matter not unlike. And we will say with the same Authour, Cura non deesset, si qua ad verum via inquirentem ferret: nunc famae standum est,* 1.1 ubi certam derogat vetustas fidem. The beginning of our Nation, yea of both Nations (Scots and English) such as they now are, or of those that were before (Picts and Brittans) is not yet sufficiently cleared: neither is it as yet fully known from what people they are sprung, or how they got their name of Scots, English, Picts & Britans; although the learned have bestow∣ed their pains, andimploied their pens on this subject, to the wearying, but not satisfying of the Reader. As for Scotland, M^r Cambden grants so much, and mocks those that have laboured in it: yet hath he himself bestowed his time and pains to as small purpose in behalf of his countrey-men the Brittans: Neither hath he done any thing, save that by his fruitles attempt (notwithstanding all his bragging) he hath made it appear, that to go about it is but to labour in vain; he himself (after all his travell) remain∣ing no lesse Sceptick, (and to use his own words) Scotizing, then others.

And even Rome it self (the mistresse of the world) though the noon-tide of her Empire be clear and bright, like the Sunne in her strength, yet how misty is the morning and dawning thereof. Darknesse triumphs over the reigns and triumphs of her first kings; which are covered over with such uncertain obscuritie, or rather drowned in so profound and deep night of darknesse, that all her children (though they have beaten their brains, and spent much lamp-oyl in searching of it) could never clear their mothers nativity, or vindicate their father Romulus birth from the fable of the incestuous vestall, nor his nursing from being beholding to a she Wolf. Detur haec venia Antiquitati, ut miscendo humana divinis primordia urbium* 1.2 augustiora faciat. If he had said, that Writers must have leave to be ob∣scure or uncertain in setting down the originall of Cities, it could not well have been denied him; but for men to invent, and to thrust their in∣tentions upon others to be beleeved, because they know not what else to say Detur haec venia nobis, to beleeve no more then is pro∣bable. Neither will that serve his turn, Jam hoc gentes humanae pati∣antur aequo animo, ut imperium patiuntur. They may command our bo∣dies, who cannot command our soules, or our belief; and now we have shaken off the yoake of the one, and so we do reject the other. There is no lesse uncertainty in Plutarches Theseus and Numa. Wherefore we must be contented in the originall of a private family with what others are forced to content themselves in the beginnings of Cities, Nations, Kingdomes, and Empires; which are like to some rivers, whose streams and outlets are known, but their springs cannot be found out, as they report of Nilus. Yet this our Narration doth better deserve credit, then those of Romulus, Numa, Theseus, &c. seeing it contains nothing that is impossible, nothing that is fabulous or incredible: for here are neither gods for their fathers, nor ravening beasts their nurses. And albeit that the Chronicle of our Countrie now extant makes no mention of their beginning, yet what we find there doth rather confirm then confute our deduction thereof. And indeed it is no wonder that they are silent in this point; If we consider how Edward the first of England (surnamed Longshanks) whom his countrey men terme (Scotorum malleus) the hammer of the Scots, because that he deceiving the trust, and abusing the power of Arbitratour which was given him to decide the right to the Crown of Scotland between Bruce & Balioll, did so handle the matter, that setting the together by the ears, after they had well beaten and battered each other, he himself fell upon them both, and so hammered and bruised them, that he did thereby over-run all the low and plain champion Countrey. If we then consider, I say, how he had to make the Scots malleable and pli∣able to his unlimited ambition, after he had thus cut off the flowre of the Scottish Nobility, destroyed also all the lawes of the realm, both civil and ecclesiasticall, burnt the publike Registers, together with private Monu∣ments, Evidents, Charters, and Rights of lands; we shall have greater cause to wonder: that any thing escaped so powerfull a King, intending the full conquest of the Countrey; and who had so jealous an eye over any thing that might encourage his new vassals to rebells, then that we have no more left us. Nay although he had not done this of set purpose,

and with intention to root out all memorialls of Nobility out of the minds of the Scots, and to embase their spirits, by concealing from them their descent and qualities; yet even the common chance and accidents of war were enough to excuse this defect: for the Lord Douglas lands lying in the south parts of Scotland, hard upon the borders of England, this cala∣mity did chiefly afflict him, so that his houses were burnt, his castles razed, himself taken prisoner, and so all monuments of his originall lost or de∣stroyed. Let us remember also, besides all this, the quality and condition of those times, in which there was great scarsity of Writers, and learned men able to preserve the memory of things by their pens, all being set on war, unlesse it were some few cloystred Monks and Friers, who were both carelesse and illiterate droans. Notwithstanding all this, as no destru∣ction is so generall, and so far spread, but something doth escape the fury of it; and though all monuments had been defaced, yet some men being preserved, what was written in their minds and memories remain∣ing unblotted out, they remembred what they had heard from their pre∣decessours, and delivered it to posterity from age to age. By which means we have (as it were) some boords or planks preserved out of this ship∣wrack, which may perhaps keep us from being lost in this deepth of Antiquity, if it do not bring us safe to land.

According then to the constant and generall tradition of men, thus was their originall. During the reigne of Solvathius King of Scotland, one Donald Bane (that is, Donald the white, or fair) having possest himself of all the western Ilands (called Ebudes, or Hebrides) and intitling himself King thereof, aspired to set the crown of Scotland also upon his head. For effectuating whereof, he gathered a great army; wherein he confided so much, that he set foot on the nearest continent of Scotland, to wit, the province of Kintyre and Lorne. The Kings Lievetenants Duchal and Culen, governours of Athole and Argyle make head against him with such forces as they could assemble on the sudden. Donald trusting to the number of his men did bid them battell, and so prevailed at first, that he made the Kings army to give ground, and had now almost gained the day, and withall the Kingdome, that lay at stake both in his own conceit, and the estimation of his enemies. In the mean time a certain Noble man, disdaining to see so bad a cause have so good successe, out of his love to his Prince, and desire of honour, accompanied with his sons and follow∣ers, made an onset upon these prevailing rebels with such courage and resolution, that he brought them to a stand; and then heartning the dis∣couraged fliers both by word and example, he turnes the chace, and in stead of victory they got a defeat; for Donalds men being over∣thrown and fled, he himself was slain. This fact was so much the more noted, as the danger had been great, and the victory unexpe∣cted. Therefore the King being desirous to know of his Lievetenants the particulars of the fight, and inquiring for the Author of so valiant an act, the Nobleman being there in person, answer was made unto the King in the Irish tongue (which was then onely in use) Sholto Du glasse, that is to say, Behold yonder black, gray man, pointing at him with the finger, and designing him by his colour and complexion, without more ceremony or

addition of titles of honour. The King considering his service and merits in preserving his Crowne, and delighted with that homely designation, rewarded him royally with many great Lands, and imposed upon him∣selfe the name of Douglas, which hath continued with his posterity untill this day. And from him the Shire and County vvhich he got, is called stil Douglasdale, the River that vvatereth it, Douglas River, the Castle which he built therein, Douglasse castle. This narration, besides that it is gene∣rally received, and continued as a truth delivered from hand to hand, is al∣so confirmed by a certain manuscript of great antiquity, extant in our dayes in the hands of one Alexander Mackduffe of Tillysaul, who dwelt at Moore alehouse near Straboguie. There (at his dwelling house) William Earle of Angus (who died at Paris 1616) being confined to the North (in the year 1595) did see and peruse it. Neither doth this relation crosse or disagree with any thing set down in our Histories: for although they do not mention this man, nor his fact, yet they all speak of this usurper, and of his attempt and overthrow in the dayes of Solvathius (about the year 767.) Hollinshed and Beetius affirm, that this Donald was Captain or Governour of the Isle of Tyre. Some do call him Bane mack Donalde, but Buchana•…•… calleth him expressely Donaldus Banus, an easie errour in so great affinity of name. There is another of the same name called likewise Do∣nald Bane, who did also usurp the title of the Kingdome, and was in like manner defeated in the reigne of King Edgar (in the year 1000) but that being 333. years after this, and not much lesse after the Emperour Charles Le maigne, in whose time they had now propagated and spread them∣selves in Italy (as shall be shewed anone) It cannot agree either with this History of our Sholto, or with that Donald whom he defeated; this last seeming to be rightlier named Mack Donald, as descended, and come of the former, who was Donalde: wherefore there is nothing here either fa∣bulous, or monstrous; nothing incredible or contrary to it self or to rea∣son; but all things very harmoniously answering one unto another; our tradition with the manuscript, and both of these agreeing with our owne and forreign Histories. And thus concerning Sholto Douglas the root, and originall of the name and family.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Liv. lib. 7. d•…•… lacu Curtio.
• * 1.2

  Livius.