Archibald DOUGLAS

1 NAME The /Grim/

2 GIVN The

2 SURN Grim

2 NSFX 3rd Earl Of Douglas

1 _UID 7F8F980846AD456F9CFCC6042064C69394A0

1 _UID E669626F0183E24AACB5C0DF4FFE9A18CF51

Archibald 'The Grim', 3rd Earl of Douglas The illegitimate son of SirJames 'The Good', Archibald has beencalledthemost able statesman andsoldier of his time. Under hisleadershiptheDouglases gained the Lordshipof Galloway and, throughmarriage toJoannaMurray, the family possessionsof the Murrays ofBothwell.Archibald'sdaughter, Mary, married the Duke ofRothsay, Princeof Scotlandwhile hisson and heir, also Archibald, weddedPrincessMargaret, eldestdaughterof Robert III. Archibald was alsoresponsiblefor the constructionofThreave Castle, a long time BlackDouglasStronghold. In 1384,Archibalddefeated the English garrison atLochmabenCastle and in so doingremovedthe last of the English Army inAnnandale.He died at ThreaveCastle in1400.

Archibald 'The Grim', 3rd Earl of Douglas ; Archibald islistedasanillegitimate child of James Lord of Douglas who was killed in1330. ' .. surnamed the 'Grim,' from his swart complexion andsternexpressionofcountenance. Before he succeeded to the earldom hefoughtwithgreatgallantry in the wars of both France and England. In1356heaccompaniedWilliam, Earl of Douglas, to France, and was takenprisoneratthe battleof Poitiers (13th September), but made his escapethroughadexterousstrategem of Sir William Ramsay of Colluthie. In1378heinflicted asignal defeat, near Melrose, of a body of Englishspearmenandarchersunder Sir Thomas Musgrave. Before the battle heknighted onthefield twoof the King's sons, who were under his banner,along withhisown son.The conflict was keenly contested, but wasquicklydecided.Douglas,according to his general custom, as Froissartmentions,when hefound thefight becoming hot, dismounted, and wielding alargetwo-handledsword,made such havoc among the enemy that they gave wayonall sides.Greatnumbers were slain, and Musgrave and his son, withmanyotherknights andsquires, were taken prisoners. After the Earl becametheheadof thefamily, he was regarded as the most powerful subject inthekingdomHewas noted for his courage, firmness, and sagacity, and notlessforhispride. Hume of Godscroft says, 'He was a man nothing inferiortoanyofhis predecessors in any kind of virtue. In piety hewassingularthroughhis whole life, and most religious according tothosetimes! Hefoundedthe Collegiate Church of Bothwell, a part of whichstillremainstoattest its former magnificence. Godscroft affirms that theEarlhadamind free from all ambition, but his conduct in regard tothemarriageofhis daughter Marjory to Daivd, Duke of Rothesay,theheir-apparent tothethrone, shows that he was scarcely entitled tothateulogium. ThePrincewas affianced to the daughter of the Earl ofMarch;but Douglas,jealousof the aggrandisement of a rival noble, by theofferof a muchmoresplendid dowry prevailed upon Albany, the King'sbrother, togetthatcontract set aside, on the plea that the sanction ofthe Estateshadnotbeen given to it, and to wed Rothesay to MarjoryDouglas. Theresultofthis dishonourable transaction was highly injuriousto thehappinessofthe Prince, and the peace of the country.Notwithstanding,theinfluenceof the Earl was on the whole beneficialduring the feeblereignof RobertIII; and when he and the Queen-mother,Anabella Drummond,andthevenerable Bishop Traill of St. Andrews, all died,A.D. 1400,withinashort time of each other, according to Fordun itwascommonlysaidthroughout the kingdom that the glory and honesty ofScotlandwasburiedwith these three noble persons.' The Great HistoricFamilies of Scotland, James Taylor

2 _PREF Y

1 _UID ED9AE7D26491BC47BF995E24DD162F75A97C

1 REFN M3888

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