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THE PREFACE.
v
of the kingdom.—But the fate of the Earl of Douglas, who, in February 1452, was stabbed by the King's own hand, is well known, and need hardly be recapitulated.[1]
William was succeeded in the earldom by his second brother, Sir James, Master of Douglas, who had been educated for the church ; and who, along with the Earl of Ormond, and several other friends and relatives, had accompanied Douglas to the town of Stirling. They immediately rose up in arms to revenge such an atrocious act; and, in contempt of the royal authority, they dragged the safe-conduct which Douglas had received, through the streets, 'at the tail of an ill-favoured spittle-jade, or mare;' speaking 'richt sclanderfully' of the
- ↑ On the Monday before Fastrens-even, 21st February, Douglas having received a safe conduct under the Great Seal, subscribed by all the Lords who at that time were with the King, by which they pledged themselves, "that suppos the King wald brek the band forsaid, that thai suld let it at thair power," he was prevailed on to visit the Court, then held at the Castle of Stirling. "And this samyn Monunday, (in the words of a contemporaneous writer,) he passit to the castell, and spak with the King, that tuke richt wele with him be apperans, and callit him on the morne to the dyner and to the supper, and he come and dynit and sowpit. And thai said, thar was a band betwix the said Erll of Dowglas, and the Erll of Ros, and the Erll of Craufurd. And efter supper, at sevyne houris, the King then beand in the inner chalmer and the said erll, he chargit him to breke the forsaid band. He said he mycht nocht, nor wald nocht. Than the King said, Fals tratour, sen yow will nocht I sall, and stert sodanly till him with ane knyf, and straik him in at the coler, and down in the body. And thai sayd that Pa--
