Michael Matthew Groat PhD's Genealogical Database
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William 'le Hardi' Douglas 5th Lord of Douglas
- Preferred Name: William 'le Hardi' Douglas 5th Lord of Douglas[1] [2] [3] [4]
- Alternate Name: William Le Hardi Douglas 5th Lord Of Douglas
- Gender: M
- Fact: with note: Description: Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Birth: 1243 in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, Scotland at LATI: N5.55 LONG: E3.8333 with note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Hardy,_Lord_of_Douglas
- Burial: JAN 1298 in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, Scotland at LATI: N5.55 LONG: E3.8333 with note:
- Royal House: with note: Description: Douglas
- Occupation: Hanged by the English in the Tower of London.
- Occupation: Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Capture: 1297 in England with note: Description: Rode with William Wallace in the uprising
- FSID: 9S7W-9LY
- Death: 24 JAN 1298 in Wapping, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Greater London, England at LATI: N1.52 LONG: E0.04
- Notes:
=== Life Sketch ===
23rd Great Grandfath
William Douglas was the son of William Longleg, Lord of Douglas and it is supposed by his possible second wife, Constance Battail of Fawdon.[2] He first is recorded at an Assize at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1256, when his father made over a Carucate of land at Warndon, Northumberland to him. Douglas' father William Longleg was Lord of Fawdon, and had as his superior Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, Longleg was acquitted of withholding rents by a jury, Umfraville notwithstanding attacked Fawdon, imprisoned Longleg at Harbottle Castle and made off with some £100 sterling of goods. William Douglas was injured in the fight. Ita quod fere amputaverunt caput ejus – So as to nearly cut off his head.[3]
8th Crusade
Sir William Fraser puts forward a theory that David Hume of Godscroft is mistaken about the William Douglas that went Crusading, and suggests that it is this William Douglas, the son the rather than the father, who accompanied David I Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, and other Scots nobility on the Eighth Crusade in 1270, as recorded by John of Fordun in his Chronica Gentis Scotorum.[4][5][6] Fraser also concedes that there is no existing evidence left to verify this, except the reference in Godscroft's work.
Lord of Douglas
Douglas' father, Longleg died at some point c. 1274 and there is some confusion as to whether his eldest son Hugh predeceased him, however William the Hardy was certainly in possession of his estates by the end of the decade. Douglas was knighted before 1288, when he was called upon by Sir Andrew Moray, to imprison his uncle Sir Hugh de Abernethy at Douglas Castle. Abernethy had been party to the murder of Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife, one of the six Guardians of Scotland. Abernethy died in custody despite attempts by Edward I of England to have him released.
In 1289, Douglas requested the release of certain family charters from Richard, Abbot of Kelso. These charters had been kept at the Priory of Lesmahagow, a daughter house of the Tironensian Abbey of Kelso, for safety. In the receipt for these documents, Douglas styled himself Dominus de Duglas, Lord of Douglas, the first time the title had been recorded.
Marriages
Elizabeth Stewart
Douglas had married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, by whom he had his eldest son James. Elizabeth Stewart appears to have died before the end of 1288, possibly in childbirth.[7]
Eleanor de Lovaine
Later in 1288, William Douglas and a Borders Knight known as John Wishart surrounded the Castle of Fa'side near Tranent. The castle was held by Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby, feudal superior of the barony of Tranent. Within the Castle was Zouche's wife Eleanor, and another Eleanor, recently widowed wife of William de Ferrers of Groby, second son of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. Eleanor Ferrers was the daughter of Matthew de Lovaine, a great grandson himself of Godfrey III, Count of Louvain. King Edward had provided a handsome dowry from her husband's English lands following his death. He had also possessed lands in five counties in Scotland, and Eleanor had come north to collect her rents. Rather than despoliate the land and the castle, Douglas contented himself by abducting Eleanor and removing her to Douglas Castle.
Reaction to the abduction
Eleanor – apparently not averse to the rough charms of her kidnapper – and Douglas were wed soon afterwards. King Edward was not so charmed and ordered the Sheriff of Northumberland to seize all Douglas possessions in that county and to apprehend Douglas and Wishart if the chance arose. Edward also demanded that the Guardians of Scotland immediately arrest Douglas and deliver him and Eleanor to his pleasure. The Guardians did not respond. Douglas was connected to two of the Guardians: James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland was his brother-in-law, and Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan was a brother-in-law of Eleanor de Lovaine. Furthermore, the Guardians may not have reacted well to the peremptory nature of the English king's request.
First Imprisonment
However, Douglas seems to have fallen into the hands of the English monarch in early 1290 and was confined at Knaresborough Castle. His imprisonment does not appear to have been unduly harsh, he was released by the spring of 1290 when his wife Eleanor posted bail for his release with four manucaptors in May 1290, these four knights, all her cousins, were John Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, Nicholas de Segrave, 1st Baron Segrave, William de Rye and Robert Bardulf. He was in favour with Edward again and he and Wishart had their Northumbrian lands restored to them.[8] Eleanor Douglas was fined £100 sterling, and by way of payment had some of her manors in Essex and Herefordshire taken by the crown in 1296.
Build up to War
Douglas' seal is on the Treaty of Salisbury approving the putative marriage between Margaret, Maid of Norway with Edward of Caernarfon, and was amongst those nobles that hammered out the deal that would become the Treaty of Birgham. At Norham, in June 1291, the Guardians accepted King Edward as Lord Paramount of Scotland. Whilst the negotiations were progressing, regarding the choice of the next King of Scots, Edward was staying with Sir Walter de Lindsay at Thurston Manor, near Innerwick, when William Douglas paid an oath of fealty to him in the chapel there. By the end of 1291, Douglas had fallen again into disfavour and had his lands of Douglasdale forfeited to the English King. Edward appointed his own creatures as baronial officers and made one Master Eustace de Bikerton, Parson of St. Bride's Kirk, the spiritual home and burying ground of the Douglases. John Balliol was declared King of Scots on 17 November 1292, and called his first parliament on 10 February 1293. Douglas along with Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick, Aonghus Mór mac Domhnaill, Lord of Islay, John, Earl of Caithness failed to attend and were proclaimed defaulters. Douglas attended the second parliament of King John, but was imprisoned again for failing to comply with royal officers enforcing a judgement against him, and imprisoning said officers in Douglas Castle. Whilst in prison Douglas was duty bound to be at his lands in Essex, in order to provide service for Edward, his failure cost him £20 sterling in fines.
Siege of Berwick
Upset at the humiliations heaped upon John Balliol and the ineffectiveness of his rule, a new Guardianship was created in 1295. These men concluded a treaty at Paris and ratified it at Dunfermline between the Kingdoms of Scotland, France and Norway, that would become known as the Auld Alliance. Douglas siding with his countrymen, was appointed Governor of Berwick upon Tweed, the most important commercial centre in Scotland at the time. When the Guardians threw down the Gauntlet to Edward, he arrived at the walls of Berwick with 5000 Cavalry and 30,000 Infantry. There followed one of the most brutal episodes in British history, the Sack of Berwick. The English army took the town by storm on Good Friday 1296 and gave no quarter to the inhabitants. The slaughter lasted for two days and the estimated death toll was between 7,500 and 8,500 men women and children. Appalled and after a resolute defence, the garrison of Berwick Castle under the leadership of William Douglas, gave themselves up to the mercy of King Edward. The garrison were freed and were allowed to march out of the castle with their arms, but Douglas was imprisoned and the last of his estates in Essex forfeit. (Douglas’ two-year-old son Hugh had been taken into ward by the Sheriff of Essex at Stebbing, one of the forfeited properties)
Ragman Roll
Douglas was imprisoned in the Hog's Tower at Berwick castle and stayed there until gaining his freedom by appending his seal to the Ragman Roll, in common with the majority of the Scots nobility. Within days of his swearing his new oath of Fealty to Edward, Douglas was restored to his lands in Scotland, but not those in England. To add salt to the wound, Douglas' Land at Fawdon and others in Northumberland were made over to his old foe Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, Douglas had no reluctance in joining the patriotic party.
The Umfravilles' latterly forfeited Earldom of Angus was granted in 1389 to Douglas' great-grandson, George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus.
Uprising of William Wallace
Following the Battle of Dunbar, a large section of the Scots nobility were languishing in prison in England. The countryside was fomenting and there was talk of a new champion for the Scots people, William Wallace of Elderslie had started his campaign. Douglas was summoned to attend King Edward in London on 7 July 1297, with fifty other barons to accompany him on an expedition to Flanders to aid Guy of Dampierre, Count of Flanders against Philip le Bel King of France. Douglas refused and joined company with Wallace. Most Scots magnates thought that Wallace was beneath their dignity, but Douglas had no such compunction. He was the first nobleman to join with Sir William Wallace in 1297 in rebellion; combining forces at Sanquhar, Durisdeer and later Scone Abbey where the two liberated the English treasury. With that booty Wallace financed further rebellion. Wallace joined his forces with that of Sir Andrew Moray and together they led the patriot army in the Battle at Stirling Bridge fought on 11 September 1297. They were joined by other patriots such as Robert Wishart Bishop of Glasgow, and the Morays of Bothwell, with a contingent of Douglases at the national muster at Irvine, North Ayrshire.
Bruce raid on Douglas Castle
When Edward heard of Douglas' supposed treason he commanded the future King of Scots Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, then governor of Carlisle for the English to take retribution. Bruce swept into Douglasdale at the king's order. However, young Bruce, who was twenty-two years old at the time, stated, "I must join my own people and the nation in which I was born."
Death of Sir William "Le Hardi" Douglas
Sir William 'Le Hardi' of Douglas was the son of Sir William of Douglas. He died in 1298 at London, England, as a prisoner.
Citations
1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geo
Marriages and Children of William "Le Hardi" Douglas
Issue
William the Hardy was twice married and had three sons
By Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland:
Sir James Douglas
By Eleanor de Lovaine of Groby, d
William "le Hardi", third from his namesake William de Duglas, was a prominent baron at the time of William Wallace. He is most notable for being the first Lord to join Wallace in his revolt against E
The first nobleman to join with Sir William Wallace
Uprising of William Wallace
Following the Battle of Dunbar, a large section of the Scots nobility were languishing in prison in England. The countryside was fomenting and there was talk of a new champ
Biography
William Douglas "the Bold" was a Scottish Crusader in 1270, a knight and nobleman, who held the castle of Berwick-upon-Tweed as constable for the Scottish crown under the Guardians of Scotland during
Sir William Douglas "le Hardi" (the Bold), Lord of Douglas (1255-January 24, 1298)
Sir William Douglas "le Hardi" (the Bold), Lord of Douglas (1255-January 24, 1298) was a Scottish nobleman and warlord.
«b»Early life«/b»
William Douglas was the son of William Longleg, Lord of Dougl
My Maternal 19th. Great Scottish Grandfather, Sir William Le Hardi "The Bold", Douglas, 5th. Lord of Douglas
Name: Sir William Le Hardi Douglas, 5th. Lord Of Douglas
Born: 1243 in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, Scotland
First wife
Married: 1276 in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland to Lady Elizabeth Stewart, of Cr
My Maternal 19th. Great English Grandmother, Alianore Eleanor de Lovaine, of Croby
Name: Alianore Eleanor de Lovaine, daughter of Matthew II de Louvaine, of Little Easton, was 30 and her mother, Helisant Perche, was 18.
Born: 1267, in Derbyshire, England
Married: 28 January 1289 in
=== AKA ===
"le Hardi", "the Bold", "Le Hardi", "Knight William /Douglas/", "William /Douglas/", "of Hermiston", "William the /Hardy/", "Lord of Douglas", ""the Hardy"", ""The Hardy"", "of hermiston", "12527", "friend of William Wallace"
=== 1 _UID 4C456B7E9103D611828100606E3BD45C ===
1 _UID 4C456B7E9103D611828100606E3BD45C31D1
=== r. Sir William Ferrers, of Groby, b. ca. ===
r. Sir William Ferrers, of Groby, b. ca. 1240, d. 24 Jan. 1298/9; m. (1) Anne (possibly dau. of Sir Hugh le Despenser), m. (2) Eleanor Levain. ["60 Colonists" line 58-30.]
=== William the Hardy Douglas Fourth Laird of Douglas ===
wikitree
=== SORLEY'S PEDIGREES (GS NUMBER Q929.242 S ===
SORLEY'S PEDIGREES (GS NUMBER Q929.242 SO68) P.22, 45, 46; BANK'S DORMANT AND EXTINCT BARONAGE (GS NUMBER 942 D22BAN) VOL 3 P.240; EDMONDSON'S BARONAGIUM, VOL 4 P.201, 361; ANCESTRAL FILE, LDS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY;
=== William Douglas was also married to a Mr ===
William Douglas was also married to a Mrs. Dudley because David M. Douglas, my GGGrandfather had a half brother named John Dudley.
===
SURNAME: Also shown as De Ferrers
GIV ===
SURNAME: Also shown as De Ferrers
GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as Sir Knight William
BIRTH: Also shown as Born Of, Groby, L, England.
BIRTH RITE: Also shown as Christening 13 Jan 1932
DEATH: Also shown as Died Bef 20 Dec 1287
=== Inherited the manor of Groby in Leicest ===
Inherited the manor of Groby in Leicester from his mother . He assumed the arms of the family of de Quincy.
=== Royal Ancestry Biography ===
“Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial & Medieval Families,” Douglas Richardson (2013):
“WILLIAM DE FERRERS, Knt., of Groby (in Ratby), Leicestershire, Woodham Ferris, Stebbing, and Fairstead, Essex, Ware, Hertfordshire, Newbottle, Northamptonshire, Constable of Scotland, 2nd son, born about 1240. In 1251 his father gave him the manor and advowson of Woodham, the manor of Stebbing, the capital messuage at Chiche (now St. Osyth), and lands in Fairstead, Essex, to hold in tail general, by the service of five knights' fees. Between four and five years later, before he was of age, he had livery of these lands; subsequently he exchanged them with his mother for lands in Scotland and Galloway, but he again had entry therein, with her consent, 16 days before her death in Feb. 1280/1. About 1260 his brother, Robert de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, gave him the manor of Bolton (in Great Bolton), Lancashire, together with all his lands in the wapentake of Leyland, Lancashire, including the manors of Bispham, Bolton, Bretherton, Charnock (in Chamock Richard), Chorley, Duxbury, Heath Chamock, Mawdesley, Shevington, and Welch Whittle, Lancashire. He married (1st) in 1270 ANNE DURWARD, widow of Colban of Fife, Knt., 8th Earl of Fife (died 1270), and daughter and co-heiress of Alan Durward, Knt., of Coull and Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, Lintrathen, Angus, Lundin, Fife, Reedie (in Airlie), Forfarshire, Urquhart, Moray, etc., Usher of the King of Scots, Justiciar of Scotland, by Marjory, illegitimate daughter of Alexander II, King of Scots [see SCOTLAND 5.i for her ancestry]. They had one son, William, Knt. [1st Lord Ferrers of Groby]. He was summoned for military service from 18 March 1263/4 to 14 March 1282/3. He was among the prisoners taken after the conflict at Northampton 5 or 6 April 1264, and was committed by Edward the king's son to the custody of Roger de Leybourne. Roger demanded an excessive ransom, threatening to take him to Ireland if he did not pay it; on 5 Jan. 1264/5 Roger was ordered to release him and let him come to the king. William was admitted to the king's presence and pardoned all trespasses committed by him up to 11 July 1266. Sometime before 1272 he gave to Charley Priory, Leicestershire 5-1/2 acres near their sheepfold, for the purpose of enlarging the courtyard of the priory; he likewise gave the same priory 30 acres of land in the Milne-leghs by Charley, Leicestershire. His wife, Anne, was co-heiress in 1275 to her father, by which she inherited the baronies of Coull, O'Neill, and Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire. In 1275-6 Adam de Holand claimed and recovered 16 acres in Buxton, Lancashire of William de Ferrers. In 1277-8 Henry de Asteleg' arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against him and others touching a tenement in Chorley, Lancashire. In the same period, William son of Henry de Holecroft arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against him and others touching common of pasture in Chorley, Lancashire. In May 1280 the king permitted William to retain the manor of Groby (in Ratby), Leicestershire, of which his mother had enfeoffed him, for a fine of 40 marks. In 1280-1 Henry le Fevre arraigned an assize against him touching a fosse levied in Chorley, Lancashire. In 1280-1 he arraigned an assize of novel disseisin against John de Roselis touching a tenement in Newbotde, Northamptonshire. He was with the king in the army of Wales in 1282. He was summoned to attend the king at Shrewsbury 28 June 1283, by writ directed Willelmo de Ferrariis. He was summoned to a military council 14 June 1287. He married (2nd) ELEANOR DE LOVAINE, daughter of Matthew de Lovaine, Knt., of Little Easton, Essex, by his wife, Muriel. SIR WILLIAM DE FERRERS died shortly before 20 Dec. 1287. In 1288 custody of his lands was granted to Nicholas de Segrave [the younger] for a fine of 100 marks and £160 per annum. His widow, Eleanor, subsequently journeyed to Scotland with the view of obtaining possession of the jointure to which she was entitled from the lands held by her deceased husband in Scotland. She was abducted by WILLIAM DE DOUGLAS, Knt., nicknamed The Hardy, of Douglas, Lanarkshire, Faudon, Northumberland, etc., from the manor of Ellen la Zouche at Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland shortly before 28 Jan. 1288/9, on which date the Sheriff of Northumberland was ordered to take his lands into the king's hand and arrest and imprison him. Douglas was imprisoned in Leeds Castle, Kent, but was released 15 May 1290. Upon the payment of a fine of £100, the marriage of Eleanor was granted to him 18 Feb. 1290/1, which marriage soon afterwards took place, she becoming his second wife. They had two sons, Hugh [clerk] and Archibald, Knt. He is first mentioned in 1256, when his father, William de Douglas, Knt., declared before a court that he had provided him lands in Warndon, Northumberland, with two guardians, as he was then under age. In 1267 he was severely wounded in defense of his father's house at Faudon, Northumberland. In 1288 he imprisoned Hugh de Abernethy, Knt., in his castle of Douglas, who was one of the assassins of Duncan, Earl of Fife. In 1291 he was commanded by King Edward I of England to release the prisoner to William de St. Clare. The same year he and other Scottish magnates did homage to King Edward I as Lord Paramount of Scotland. He was one of the barons who disregarded the summons calling upon them to attend the first Parliament held by John de Balliol as King of Scotland 10 Feb. 1292. Shortly afterwards he refused to pay part of his mother's jointure, in consequence of which she proceeded against him before the justiciaries and obtained a judgment, appointing her to be infeft in certain lands, and awarding her 140 marks in damages. When the officers of the king proceeded to Douglas to execute this decree, he seized them and confined them for a night. He was arraigned before the king's second Parliament held at Sterling 3 August 1293. He pleaded that the officers were wrong in levying the damages so soon. He was, nevertheless, found guilty, and committed to prison, but soon released. In October 1295 he was appointed Governor of Berwick Castle when that place was besieged by King Edward I of England. The town having been taken by storm 30 March, he capitulated the same day on security for life and limb. After swearing fealty to the English monarch 10 June 1296, his lands in the shires of Fife, Edinburgh, Berwick, Dumfries, and Wigtown were restored to him by special favor; his manor of Fawdon, Northumberland, however, was made over to Gilbert de Umfreville, Earl of Angus. His submission was of short duration, however, for he soon joined Wallace in the spring of 1297, in consequence of which Robert de Brus laid waste his lands in Douglasdale, and carried his wife and family captive into Annandale. He obtained possession of Sanquhar Castle by stratagem, in which place he was besieged until relieved by Wallace. He was one of the leaders of the Scottish host, when in the neighborhood of Irvine, it found itself in the presence of the English army under the command of Percy 9 July 1297. He was one of the chief negotiators of the Treaty of Irvine then made, which treaty failed to secure the submission of Scotland. Finding that many of the barons for whom he had acted drew back from the agreement and delayed the delivery of their hostages, he considered himself bound in honor to surrender to the English generals, by whom he was conveyed to Roxburgh. On 12 October following, SIR WILLIAM DE DOUGLAS was sent to the Tower 12 October 1297, where he died shortly before 24 Jan. 1298/9. After his death, the lands which his widow, Eleanor, held in dower of her first husband were restored to her, those in England 24 Jan. 1298/9, and those in Scotland 22 July 1302. In 1305 she sued Robert de Umfreville and Lucy his wife for dower in the manor of Faudon (in Ingram), Northumberland. Eleanor married (39 shortly after 8 April 1305 (date of license to marry) WILLIAM BAGOT, Knt., of The Hyde (in Coppenhall) and Patshull, Staffordshire, son and heir of William Bagot, Knt., of The Hyde (in Coppenhall) and Patshull, Staffordshire, by his wife, Isabel. They had no issue. In 1295 John parson of Weston under Brewood sued him and his brother, Robert Bagot, clerk, for deforcing him of four acres of wood and 40 acres of pasture in Wilbrighton, Staffordshire. In 1296 he was about to proceed to Gascony with Robert Fitz Walter in the retinue of Edmund the king's brother. In 1297, as “William Bagod, junior,” he recovered a messuage and a carucate of land in Patshull, Staffordshire in a suit against Roger Peye. He was serving in Scotland in 1298, 1300, 1301, and 1306. In 1303 he obtained a grant of free warren in his demesne lands at The Hyde (in Coppenhall), Staffordshire. In 1305 the manors of The Hyde (in Coppenhall) and Patshull, Staffordshire were settled on him and his wife, Eleanor. In 1313 one messuage and a carucate of land in Wilbrighton, Staffordshire was settled on William and Eleanor, and the heirs of their bodies, with reversion to Archibald de Douglas, son of Eleanor. At an unknown date, William conveyed the manor of The Hyde (in Coppenhall), Staffordshire to Ralph de Stafford, Lord Stafford. He also sold the manor of Patshull, Staffordshire. SIR WILLIAM BAGOT died about 1324. In 1326 she conveyed her life interest in the manor of The Hyde (in Coppenhall) to Ralph de Stafford, Lord Stafford. She was living in 1327. At her death, she was buried in Dunmow Priory, Essex.
Hume of Godscroft Hist. of the House of Douglas & Angus (1644): 16 (author identifies 2nd wife of William de Douglas as "an English lady named Ferrers"). Shaw Hist. & Antiqs. of Staffordshire 1 (1798): 39 (Ferrers ped.). Nichols Hist. & Antiqs. of Leicester 3(1) (1800): 121. Erdeswicke Survey of Staffordshire (1820): 268-269. Riddell Remarks Upon Scotch Peerage Law (1833): 176-177 (states Eleanor de Lovaine was the wife successively of Colban, Earl of Fife, William de Fe
=== !Weis. 58-30. Sir William Ferrers was ===
!Weis. 58-30. Sir William Ferrers was of Groby.
=== Sir William Douglas ===
Sir William "le Hardi" Douglas, 5th Lord of Douglas
Also Known As: "le Hardi", "the Bold", "Le Hardi", "Knight William /Douglas/", "William /Douglas/", "of Hermiston", "William the /Hardy/", "Lord of Douglas", ""the Hardy"", ""The Hardy"", "of hermiston", "12527", "friend of William Wallace"
Birthdate: circa 1255 (43)
Birthplace: Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Death: January 24, 1298 (39-47)
Died while a prisoner in the Tower of London, Middlesex, England (Hanged by the English in the Tower of London)
=== Sir ===
Sir
=== 1. "Douglas Family Records" 929.273 D74 ===
1. "Douglas Family Records" 929.273 D745do, PAGE 7. William Seventh Lord of Douglas. He was the second son of Sir William VI and brother of Hugh. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander, Sixth Lord High Stewart of Scotland. On account of his great boldness and valor, he was called William Le hardi. He was among the first men of rank who joined Sir William Wallace in his rising against the English in 1297. In 1295 he was Governor of Berwick. He owned lands in one English and in seven Scottish counties. He was the only man of rank in Scotland that could never be prevailed upon to submit to a prince who had no right or title to the kingdom but was force gave him. He died a prisoner at the Castle of York, England, 1303. Sir William de Douglas left three sons, James by his first wife Elizabeth Stuart; Hugh and Archibald by his second wife Eleanor de Ferrers. 2. "The James Stewart Family of early Augusta County, Virginia and descendants 1740-1960." 929.273 St49d,pages 8 thru 16.
=== "Webster's Biographical Dictionary" (Sp ===
"Webster's Biographical Dictionary" (Springfield, Massachusetts: G. & C. Merriam Company, 1980), p. 433. Sir William of Douglas. d. 1298. Called "the Hardy", 1st Lord of Douglas; grandson of Sir Archibald; swore fealty to Edward I, restored to possessions in seven Scottish counties; joined Wallace's rising (1297).
=== CONFLICT: Chapman Family History, Beauch ===
CONFLICT: Chapman Family History, Beauchamp William Chapman, private publishing co., 1987 (married Joan DESPENSER) MISC: Obtained the manor of Grosby in county Leicester as a gift from his mother, whereupon he assumed the Arms of the family of de QUINCEY. He died 1288. His first wife was JOAN, daughter of HUGH DESPENSER, and she was mother of all his children. Sources: Repository: Name: Family History Library Salt Lake City, UT 84150 Title: Ancestral Roots Of Sixty Colonists Who Came To New England Between 1623 And 1650 Author: Weis, Frederick Lewis Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1992 Abbrev: Ancestral Roots Of Sixty Colonists Who Came To New England Between 1623 And 1650 Repository: Name: Sutro Library Title: Chapman Family History Author: Chapman, Beauchamp William Publication: (a Private Publishing) 1987 Abbrev: Chapman Family History Repository: Name: Family History Library Salt Lake City, UT 84150 Title: Ancestral File 4.13 Abbrev: Ancestral File 4.13 Note: CONFLICT: AETHELREADA with parents
=== 2d Hus. William/de Douglas 3d Hus. Will ===
2d Hus. William/de Douglas 3d Hus. William/Begot
=== notes from Geni ===
Sir William "le Hardi" Douglas, 5th Lord of Douglas
Also Known As: "le Hardi", "the Bold", "Le Hardi", "Knight William /Douglas/", "William /Douglas/", "of Hermiston", "William the /Hardy/", "Lord of Douglas", ""the Hardy"", ""The Hardy"", "of hermiston", "12527", "friend of William Wallace"
Birthdate: circa 1255 (43)
Birthplace: Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Death: January 24, 1298 (39-47)
Died while a prisoner in the Tower of London, Middlesex, England (Hanged by the English in the Tower of London)
Immediate Family:
Son of William "Long Legs," 3rd Lord of Douglas and Martha Douglas, of Carrick
Husband of Alianore Eleanor (de Lovaine) Douglas of Crawford and Elisabeth Stewart of Crawford
Father of William Lehardi Douglas; Hugh "the Dull" Douglas; Sir Archibald 'The Tyneman' Douglas; Andrew Douglas; Muriel Douglas and 2 others
Brother of Robert Douglas
Half brother of Sir William Douglas; Willelma Douglas and Hugh Douglas, I
Occupation: the Governor of the castle at Berwick-upon-Tweed, of Douglas, Douglas of that Ilk
Managed by: James Fred Patin, Jr.
Last Updated: October 2, 2017
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Immediate Family
Alianore Eleanor (de Lovaine) Do...
wife
William Lehardi Douglas
son
Hugh "the Dull" Douglas
son
Sir Archibald 'The Tyneman' Douglas
son
Andrew Douglas
son
Muriel Douglas
son
Elisabeth Stewart of Crawford
wife
Barbara Douglas of Douglas
daughter
Sir James Douglas of Lothian, Lo...
son
Martha Douglas, of Carrick
mother
William "Long Legs," 3rd Lord of...
father
Robert Douglas
brother
About Sir William "le Hardi" Douglas, 5th Lord of Douglas
Sir William 'Le Hardi' of Douglas was the son of Sir William of Douglas. He died in 1298 at London, England, as a prisoner.
Citations
1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume IV, page 432. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
http://thepeerage.com/p10950.htm#i109493
----------------------------------------------------------
Name: William Douglas
Suffix: Sir
Sex: M
Note: Sir William Douglas was a companion to William Wallace. Subsequent to the sacking of Berwyck Castle by Edward I of England, he was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London where he died of the plague the next year. He was also called "le Hardi" and "Longshanks." He was Constable of Berwyck Castle in 1297.
Birth: BEF 1256
Death: ABT 1298
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_William_Douglas_the_Hardy
Sir William Douglas "le Hardi" (the bold), Lord of Douglas (born after 1243 – c. 1298) was a Scottish nobleman and warlord.
Early Life
William Douglas was the son of William Longleg, Lord of Douglas and it is supposed by his possible second wife, Constance of Fawdon. He first is recorded at an Assize at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1256, when his father made over a Carucate of land at Warndon, Northumberland to him. Douglas' father William Longleg was Lord of Fawdon, and had as his superior Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, Longleg was acquitted of withholding rents by a jury, Umfraville notwithstanding attacked Fawdon, imprisoned Longleg at Harbottle Castle and made of with some £100 sterling of goods. William Douglas was injured in the fight. Ita quod fere amputaverunt caput ejus - So as to nearly cut off his head.
Lord of Douglas
Douglas' father, Longleg died at some point c. 1274 and there is some confusion as to whether his eldest son Hugh predeceased him, however William the Hardy was certainly in possession of his estates by the end of the decade. Douglas was knighted before 1288, when he was called upon by Sir Andrew Moray, to imprison his uncle Sir Hugh de Abernethy at Douglas Castle. Abernethy had been party to the murder of Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife, one of the six Guardians of Scotland. Abernethy died in custody despite attempts by Edward I of England to have him released.
In 1289, Douglas requested the release of certain family charters from Richard, Abbot of Kelso. These charters had been kept at the Priory of Lesmahagow, a daughter house of the Tironensian Abbey of Kelso, for safety. In the receipt for these documents, Douglas styled himself Dominus de Duglas, Lord of Douglas, the first time the title had been recorded.
Marriage
Elizabeth Stewart
Douglas had married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, by whom he had his eldest son James. Elizabeth Stewart appears to have died before the end of 1288, possibly in childbirth.
Eleanor de Lovaine
Later in 1288, William Douglas and a Borders Knight known as John Wishart surrounded the Castle of Fa'side near Tranent. The castle was held by Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby, feudal superior of the barony of Tranent. Within the Castle was Zouche's wife Eleanor, and another Eleanor, recently widowed wife of William de Ferrers of Groby, second son of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. Eleanor Ferrers was the daughter of Matthew de Lovaine, a great grandson himself of Godfrey III, Count of Louvain. King Edward had provided a handsome dowry from her husband's English lands following his death. He had also possessed lands in five counties in Scotland, and Eleanor had come north to collect her rents. Rather than despoliate the land and the castle, Douglas contented himself by abducting Eleanor and removing her to Douglas Castle.
Reaction to the abduction
Apparently not averse to the rough charms of her kidnapper, Douglas and Eleanor were wed soon afterwards. King Edward was not so charmed and ordered the Sheriff of Northumberland to seize all Douglas possessions in that county, and apprehend Douglas and Wishart if the chance arose. Edward also demanded that the Guardians of Scotland immediately arrest Douglas and deliver him and Eleanor to his pleasure. The Guardians did not respond. Douglas was connected to two of the guardians, James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland was his brother in law, and Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan was a brother in law of Eleanor de Lovaine. Furthermore the Guardians may not have reacted well to the peremptory nature of the English King's request.
First Imprisonment
However, Douglas seems to have fallen into the hands of the English monarch in early 1290 and was confined at Knaresborough Castle. His imprisonment does not appear to have been unduly harsh, he was released by the spring of 1290 when his wife Eleanor posted bail for his release with four manucaptors in May 1290, these four knights, all her cousins, were John Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, Nicholas de Segrave, 1st Baron Segrave, William de Rye and Robert Bardulf. He was in favour with Edward again and he and Wishart had their Northumbrian lands restored to them. Eleanor Douglas was fined £100 sterling, and by way of payment had some of her manors in Essex and Herefordshire taken by the crown in 1296.
Build up to War
Douglas seal is on the Treaty of Salisbury approving the putative marriage between Margaret, Maid of Norway with Edward of Caernarfon, and was amongst those nobles that hammered out the deal that would become the Treaty of Birgham. At Norham, in June 1291, the Guardians accepted King Edward as Lord Paramount of Scotland. Whilst the negotiations were progressing, regarding the choice of the next King of Scots, Edward was staying with Sir Walter de Lindsay at Thurston Manor, near Innerwick, when William Douglas paid an oath of fealty to him in the chapel there. By the end of 1291, Douglas had fallen again into disfavour and had his lands of Douglasdale forfeited to the English King. Edward appointed his own creatures as baronial officers and made one Master Eustace de Bikerton, Parson of St. Bride's Kirk, the spiritual home and burying ground of the Douglases. John Balliol was declared King of Scots on 17 November 1292, and called his first parliament on 10 February 1293. Douglas along with Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick, Alexander, Lord of Islay, John, Earl of Caithness failed to attend and were proclaimed defaulters.
=== IGI Ped Res File #11 ===
IGI Ped Res File #11
=== LIGON BOOK P.196-859; AM R DESC P.449; F ===
LIGON BOOK P.196-859; AM R DESC P.449; FOSTER P.121; ANCESTRAL FILE, LDS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY;
=== William de Douglas, 'the Hardy' (d 1298) ===
William de Douglas, 'the Hardy' (d 1298), the younger of two sons of Sir William de Douglas, surnamed 'Longleg,' is first noticed on record in 1256 as holding lands in Waradon from his father, though then quite young and under guardians. Another of his father's English manors was Faudon in Northumberland, in defending which in 1267 against an attack of the men of Redesdale he was so severly wounded that, according to the terms of the camplaint, his assailants all but cut off his head. He seems next to have joined the ranks of the crusaders and have been knighted. About 1288 he became lord of Douglas on his father's death, which had been preceded by that of his elder brother Hugh. By this time he had married, some say a daughter of William de Keith, but others, with better authority, Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander, high steward of Scotland. She bore to him at least one son, who became the famous 'Good' Sir James Douglas, but she did not long survive, and to supply her place Douglas seized and carried off to one of his strongholds a young English widow, who had come to Scotland to see after some of her late husband's lands there, out of which she was to receive part of her terce. This was Eleanor de Lovain, daugther of Matthew, lord Lovain, who had married William de Ferrers, lord of Groby, Leicestershire, brother of the last Earl of Derby of the name of Ferrers. She was residing with a kinswoman at her manor of Trnsnt in Haddingtonshire, which Douglas one day stormed with an armed force, and took away the lady, whom he afterwards married. As by English custom whe was a royal ward, this outrage roused the wrath of Edward I, who, claiming at this time to be lord paramount of Scotland, ordered the arrest of Douglas and the confiscation of his lands. The Scottish regents, however, one of whom was James, high steward of Scotland, the brother of Douglas's first wife, declined to obey the mandate, but the English domains of the defiant baron were seized, and he himself fell into the hands of Edward's officers about a year after the escapade, when he was imprisoned in the castle of Leeds. He obtained his liberty in a short time on four English barons becoming his sureties, and ultimately he was sentenced to a fine of 100l, which, however, Douglas never paid.
Douglas was among the barons who refused to acknowledge Baliol as king. On one occasion, when three of Baliol's officers presented themselves at the gate of Douglas Castle to enforce a decree of court in a civil case against him, he seized and threw them into his dungeons, whence one only made his escape, one dying while in durance, and the other being put to death. Events, however, ultimately obliged him to give way, and he proceeded to court to do homage to Baliol, whose majesty was vidicated by committing the recalcitrant baron for a short period to prison. But Baliol was soon afterwards forced to abdicate by the Scottish barons, who, resenting the commands of Edward that they should serve him in his foreign wars, entered into alliance with France and fortified Berwick and the borders against England. To Douglas was entrusted the command of the castle of Berwick. That town was besieged and taken by Edward amid a most sanguinary massacre of the inhabitants, but the garrison capitulated on assurance of life and limb, and were permitted to depart, all save Douglas, who was committed to close ward in a tower of the castle which had since been known as the Douglas tower. He regained his freedom by taking the oath of fealty to Edward, and received back his Scottish estates, but not his English manors, from Edward, who had compelled the Scots to lay down their arms. Douglas, however, on hearing of Wallace's movements in the cause of Scottish independence, though apparently without any communication with him, openly declared his adoption of the cause by attacking and capturing the castle of Sanquhar in Nithsdale, then held by an English garrison. One of his followers took the place of a wagoner who was wont to supply the garrison with wood, and, stopping the wagon under the portcullis, gave signal to Douglas and his companions, who lay in ambush near by. The capture was effected, but the castle was again beseiged. Douglas found means to convey word of his staits to Wallace, who immediately brought relief and compelled the English to leave the district. Within a short time the most considerable of the Scottish barons joined Wallace, and as Edward was now moving a large army into Scotland, they consolidated their forces upon the water of Irvine in Aryshire. The two armies met there in the month of July 1297, fut the barons submitted voluntarily to the clemency of Edward. Douglas was at once loaded with irons and recommitted to prison in Berwick, whence he was carried to the Tower of London by the English, when a few months they were obliged to evacute the country. On 12 Oct 1297 Douglas was committed to the Tower by and order signed by Prince Edward in his father's name, and he died there in the following year. In January 1299 Eleanor de Ferrers is mentioned as the widow of Sir William Douglas. Besides the 'Good' Sir James, he left two other sons: Hugh, who became a churchman, but afterwards succeeded his nephew William as lord of Douglas, and Sir Archibald Douglas, who for a short time was regent of Scotland during the minority of David II, and was fatally wounded at the battle of Halidon in 1333. The Douglas estates in Scotland were, on the occasion of the capture of their lord, confiscated by Edward and bestowed by him on Sir Robert Clifford. [Dictionary of National Biography V:1259-1260]
______________________________
Sir William Douglas, known as 'le Hardi,' Lord of Douglas, as he described himself, being the first of his family to assume th full baronial style, is first mentioned in 1256, when his father declared before a court that he had provided him in lands in Warndon, Northumberland, with two guardians, as he was under age. He next appears in 1267, when he was severely wounded in defence of his father's house. He had married and was a widower, but little else is known of him before 12 January 1289, when as Lord of Douglas he wrote to the Abbot of Kelso to deliver up to him the family charters which had been in the custody of the abbey. He must have been in possession of the estates for some time, though when he succeeded is not certain, and a short time before the above date he had made a bold stroke for a wife by carrying off from the manor of Tranent Eleanor de Lovain, widow of William de Ferrers, Lord of Groby, and marrying her. She had come to Scotland to secure her dowry from her late husband's lands, which were extensive.
After he thus came prominently into notice, Sir William Douglas took an active part in the trobles which beset Scotland at this time.
On 5 July 1291, Sir William Douglas, with other magnates, did homage to King Edward, who now acknowledged as Lord Paramount of Scotland.
Douglas appears to have held aloof from Edward's nominee to the throne. He apparently did not attend the coronation of Baliol, nor was he present at his first Parliament, and he was specially summoned as a defaulter. He appeared in the second Parliament, but as a defendant rather than a member, and was placed in ward a guilty of offences against the King and his officers, but his imprisonment was not of long duration. In October 1295, Sir William was made Commander of the Castle of Berwick, and when this town, which had defied the English King, was captured, Douglas was exempted from favouragle conditons and kept in close ward. He was, however, liberated before 10 June 1296, when he swore a special oath of fealty to Edward at Edinburgh, and at Berwick in August he joined in the general homage of Scotland. His possessions had been forfeited, but were now restored, not indeed his English estates, but his Scottish property, which was located in Fife, Dumfries, Wigtown, Berwick, Ayr, and Edinburgh, as well as Lanark, was given back. The counties named suggest that he had acquired the dowry lands of his wife Eleanor, as they lay in these districts.
In May of the following year, 1297, Sir William seems to have joined the party of Wallace, who began at this time his patriotic career, and if Blind Harry is to be believed, he took the Castle of Sanquhar from the English by a ruse. He certainly did incur the suspicion of Edward, and Robert Bruce, afterwards King, harried Douglasdale, and carried off Sir William's wife and children. Immediately afterwards Bruce joined the popular party, but he, with Douglas and other leaders, to their disgrace, deserted Wallace, and made submission at Irvine on 9 July 1297. Douglas was afterwards blamed for retarding the cessation of hostilities, and on this pretext was imprisoned at Berwick, in a 'very savage and very abusive state of mind.' Edward I was pleased at his captivity, and so important was he deemed, that when the English, after the battle of Stirling, left Scotland, they took Douglas with them, and he was committed to the Tower on 12 October 1297, where he died some time in the following year, as in January 1299 his widow received the restoration of her dower lands. His lands and castle of Douglas were conferred on Sir Robert Clifford, on of Edward's favourites.
Sir William Douglas married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander, High Steward of Scotland. She died some time before 1289, and he married, secondly, as above described, Eleanor de Lovain, or Ferrers, who survived him. In October 1303 King Edward I granted her permission to marry John de Wysham, a 'vallet' of the King's, but she was apparently still a widow in June 1305. His seal in 1296 shows a shield bearing on a chief three stars. On either side of the shield are lizards (for ornament, not as supporters), and the legned is 'S. SNI WI . . . MI DE DVGLAS.' [The Scots Peerage III:138-140]
=== William Douglas succeeded to his father ===
William Douglas succeeded to his father Andrew before 1277, when Hermiston was confirmed to him by King Alexander III. He was among those who attached their seal to the homage roll at Berwick on 28 August 1296 as William 'fiz Andrew de Douglas' of the county of Linlithgow, and seal shows a mullet and legend 'S. WILL. DE DVGLAS.' It is not known when he died, but he apparently left two sons. [The Scots Peerage VI:338]
=== NCP V:340-44 ===
NCP V:340-44
=== Scottish Wars of Independence ===
William fought along side of William Wallace
=== !SOURCE: Data for the family of William ===
!SOURCE: Data for the family of William Ferrers and Anne le Despenser are taken from the Ancestral File; also from information provided by Mr. Robert R. Taylor, 68 North 960 East, American Fork, UT 84003.
=== !Ancestral Roots by Weis, Seventh Editio ===
!Ancestral Roots by Weis, Seventh Edition L 58-30.
=== !#21-v5-p340-343; !#244-v1-p103,123; !#3 ===
!#21-v5-p340-343; !#244-v1-p103,123; !#378-p78,98; !#380-v1&2-p114,118-v3-p491; !#Ancestral Lines-Jones-p143,147 (GS#929.273 J71 jme)
=== My PAF Notes ===
from thepeerage.com, 4/2009:
William de Ferrers1
M, #38160, d. 1288
William de Ferrers|d. 1288|p3816.htm#i38160|William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby|b. c 1200\nd. 24 Mar 1254|p4268.htm#i42676|Sibyl Marshall||p4268.htm#i42677|William de Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby|b. c 1162\nd. 22 Sep 1247|p4268.htm#i42680|Alice of Chester|b. c 1174\nd. 2 Nov 1247|p4268.htm#i42679|||||||
Last Edited=28 Dec 2008
William de Ferrers was the son of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby and Sibyl Marshall . He died in 1288.
William de Ferrers lived at Groby, Leicestershire, England .1
Child of William de Ferrers and Joan le Despencer
Anne de Ferrers + 1
Citations
[S6 ] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume II, page 3. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
=== !AKA: Sir William Ferrers - Doc. Line 58 ===
!AKA: Sir William Ferrers - Doc. Line 58-29 !BIRTH: Date: ca. 1240 - Doc. Line 58-29 !DEATH: Date: Shortly before December, 20, 1287 - Doc. Line 58-29 !MARRIAGE: (1) Sir William Ferrers and Anne le Despenser - Doc. Line 58-29 (2) Sir William Ferrers and Eleanor de Lovaine - Doc. Line 58-29 Date: by fine February 18, 1290/1291 - Doc. Line 58-29 Sir William Ferrers of Groby and Eleanor de Louvaine Doc. Line 155A-28 !RESIDENCE: Of Groby - Doc. Line 58-29
=== !Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charle ===
!Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descandants Page 96 Plantagenet Royal Ancestry LDS Family History Library Some Colonial Dames of Royal Descent page 163 Americans of Royal Descent, by Charles H. Browning, page 444
=== Name Suffix: Knight Ancestral File ===
Name Suffix: Knight Ancestral File Number: 9FSB-63
=== Baron at the time of William Wallace.He ===
Baron at the time of William Wallace.He is most notable forbeing thefirst Lord to join Wallace in his revolt againstEngland. He was capturedby the English and hanged in the TowerOf London. His first appearance is in 1267, when his head was nearlysevered from hisshoulders in defence of his father's EnglishManor from a foray of themen of Redesdale. 20 years later, heis found at the head of an armedband, carrying off his futurewife, a wealthy widow, Alionora od Louvaine,from the manor ofher kinsfolks, the La Zouches, at Tranent, in Lothian.Andafterwards as spoiling the monks of Melrose, deforcing theKing'sofficers in the execution of a judgement in favor of hismother,unlawfully imprisoning 3 men in his Castle of Douglas,and beheading oneof them. He is the first to join WilliamWallace in 1297, and for this hislands are wasted by fire andsword and his wife and children carried off,by Robert Bruce,the young Earl of Carrick, then a partisan of England.
=== known as (Le Hardi) ===
known as (Le Hardi)
=== DIED WHILE A PRISONER IN LONDON, ENGLAND ===
DIED WHILE A PRISONER IN LONDON, ENGLAND. HE WAS HANGED. Tower of London,
=== !Ancestral Roots by Weis, Seventh Editio ===
!Ancestral Roots by Weis, Seventh Edition L 58-30
=== SIR KNIGHT FAM HIST CENTER #AFN:9FSB-63 ===
SIR KNIGHT FAM HIST CENTER #AFN:9FSB-63
=== William was a Crusader and the first of ===
William was a Crusader and the first of his family to take the title of lord of Douglas. For abducting and marrying Eleanor of Lovain, a widow and royal ward, he was deprived of his English estates by Edward I. An unwilling subject of John de Baliol and then of Edward I, he rose in 1297 with William Wallace, was captured, and died a prisoner in the Tower of London. William was the ancesto of the Earls of Morton.
===
Issue
Sir James Douglas
Sir Archibald D ===
Issue
Sir James Douglas
Sir Archibald Douglas Father William Longleg, Lord of Douglas
Mother Constance of Fawdon
Born 1243
Died 1298
Burial 1298
Sir William Douglas "le Hardi" (the Bold), Lord of Douglas (born after
1243 - c. 1298) was a Scottish nobleman and warlord.
o
Early life
William Douglas was the son of William Longleg, Lord of Douglas and it
is supposed by his possible second wife, Constance of Fawdon. He first
is recorded at an Assize at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1256, when his
father made over a Carucate of land at Warndon, Northumberland to him.
Douglas' father William Longleg was Lord of Fawdon, and had as his
superior Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, Longleg was acquitted
of withholding rents by a jury, Umfraville notwithstanding attacked
Fawdon, imprisoned Longleg at Harbottle Castle and made of with some
£100 sterling of goods. William Douglas was injured in the fight. Ita
quod fere amputaverunt caput ejus - So as to nearly cut off his
head[1].
Lord of Douglas
Douglas' father, Longleg died at some point c. 1274 and there is some
confusion as to whether his eldest son Hugh predeceased him, however
William the Hardy was certainly in possession of his estates by the
end of the decade. Douglas was knighted before 1288, when he was
called upon by Sir Andrew Moray, to imprison his uncle Sir Hugh de
Abernethy at Douglas Castle. Abernethy had been party to the murder of
Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife, one of the six Guardians of Scotland.
Abernethy died in custody despite attempts by Edward I of England to
have him released.
In 1289, Douglas requested the release of certain family charters from
Richard, Abbot of Kelso. These charters had been kept at the Priory of
Lesmahagow, a daughter house of the Tironensian Abbey of Kelso, for
safety. In the receipt for these documents, Douglas styled himself
Dominus de Duglas, Lord of Douglas, the first time the title had been
recorded.
Marriages
Elizabeth Stewart
Douglas had married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High
Steward of Scotland, by whom he had his eldest son James. Elizabeth
Stewart appears to have died before the end of 1288, possibly in
childbirth.
Eleanor de Lovaine
Later in 1288, William Douglas and a Borders Knight known as John
Wishart surrounded the Castle of Fa'side near Tranent. The castle was
held by Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby, feudal superior
of the barony of Tranent. Within the Castle was Zouche's wife Eleanor,
and another Eleanor, recently widowed wife of William de Ferrers of
Groby, second son of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. Eleanor
Ferrers was the daughter of Matthew de Lovaine, a great grandson
himself of Godfrey III, Count of Louvain. King Edward had provided a
handsome dowry from her husband's English lands following his death.
He had also possessed lands in five counties in Scotland, and Eleanor
had come north to collect her rents. Rather than despoliate the land
and the castle, Douglas contented himself by abducting Eleanor and
removing her to Douglas Castle.
Reaction to the abduction
Apparently not averse to the rough charms of her kidnapper, Douglas
and Eleanor were wed soon afterwards. King Edward was not so charmed
and ordered the Sheriff of Northumberland to seize all Douglas
possessions in that county, and apprehend Douglas and Wishart if the
chance arose. Edward also demanded that the Guardians of Scotland
immediately arrest Douglas and deliver him and Eleanor to his
pleasure. The Guardians did not respond. Douglas was connected to two
of the guardians, James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland was his
brother in law, and Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan was a brother in
law of Eleanor de Lovaine. Furthermore the Guardians may not have
reacted well to the peremptory nature of the English King's request.
First Imprisonment
However, Douglas seems to have fallen into the hands of the English
monarch in early 1290 and was confined at Knaresborough Castle. His
imprisonment does not appear to have been unduly harsh, he was
released by the spring of 1290 when his wife Eleanor posted bail for
his release with four manucaptors in May 1290, these four knights, all
her cousins, were John Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, Nicholas de
Segrave, 1st Baron Segrave, William de Rye and Robert Bardulf. He was
in favour with Edward again and he and Wishart had their Northumbrian
lands restored to them. Eleanor Douglas was fined £100 sterling, and
by way of payment had some of her manors in Essex and Herefordshire
taken by the crown in 1296.
Build up to War
Douglas seal is on the Treaty of Salisbury approving the putative
marriage between Margaret, Maid of Norway with Edward of Caernarfon,
and was amongst those nobles that hammered out the deal that would
become the Treaty of Birgham. At Norham, in June 1291, the Guardians
accepted King Edward as Lord Paramount of Scotland. Whilst the
negotiations were progressing, regarding the choice of the next King
of Scots, Edward was staying with Sir Walter de Lindsay at Thurston
Manor, near Innerwick, when William Douglas paid an oath of fealty to
him in the chapel there. By the end of 1291, Douglas had fallen again
into disfavour and had his lands of Douglasdale forfeited to the
English King. Edward appointed his own creatures as baronial officers
and made one Master Eustace de Bikerton, Parson of St. Bride's Kirk,
the spiritual home and burying ground of the Douglases. John Balliol
was declared King of Scots on 17 November 1292, and called his first
parliament on 10 February 1293. Douglas along with Robert de Brus,
Earl of Carrick, Alexander, Lord of Islay, John, Earl of Caithness
failed to attend and were proclaimed defaulters. Douglas attended the
second parliament of King John, but was imprisoned again for failing
to comply with royal officers enforcing a judgement against him.
Whilst in prison Douglas was duty bound to be at his lands in Essex,
in order to provide service for Edward, his failure cost him £20
sterling in fines.
Siege of Berwick
Upset at the humiliations heaped upon John Balliol and the
ineffectiveness of his rule, a new Guardianship was created in 1295.
These men concluded a treaty at Paris and ratified it at Dunfermline
between the Kingdoms of Scotland, France and Norway, that would become
known as the Auld Alliance. Douglas siding with his countrymen, was
appointed Governor of Berwick upon Tweed, the most important
commercial centre in Scotland at the time. When the Guardians threw
down the Gauntlet to Edward, he arrived at the walls of Berwick with
5000 Cavalry and 30,000 Infantry. There followed one of the most
brutal episodes in British history, the Sack of Berwick. The English
army took the town by storm on Good Friday 1296 and gave no quarter to
the inhabitants. The slaughter lasted for two days and the estimated
death toll was between 7,500 and 8,500 men women and children.
Appalled and after a resolute defence, the garrison of Berwick Castle
under the leadership of William Douglas, gave themselves up to the
mercy of King Edward. The garrison were freed and were allowed to
march out of the castle with their arms, but Douglas was imprisoned
and the last of his estates in Essex forfeit. (Douglas' two year old
son Hugh had been taken into ward by the Sheriff of Essex at Stebbing,
one of the forfeited properties)
Ragman Roll
Douglas was imprisoned in the Hog's Tower at Berwick castle and stayed
there until gaining his freedom by appending his seal to the Ragman
Roll, in common with the majority of the Scots nobility. Within days
of his swearing his new oath of Fealty to Edward, Douglas was restored
to his lands in Scotland, but not those in England. To add salt to the
wound, Douglas' Land at Fawdon and others in Northumberland were made
over to his old foe Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, Douglas had
no reluctance in joining the patriotic party.
It is interesting to note that the Umfravilles', latterly forfeited,
Earldom of Angus, was granted in 1389 to Douglas' great-grandson,
George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus.
Uprising of William Wallace
Following the Battle of Dunbar, a large section of the Scots nobility
were languishing in prison in England. The countryside was in forment
and there was talk of a new champion for the Scots people, William
Wallace of Elderslie had started his campaign. Douglas was summoned to
attend King Edward in London on 7 July 1297, with fifty other barons
to accompany him on an expedition to Flanders to aid Guy of Dampierre,
Count of Flanders against Philip le Bel King of France. Douglas
refused and joined company with Wallace. Most Scots magnates thought
that Wallace was beneath their dignity, but Douglas had no such
compunction. He was the first nobleman to join with Sir William
Wallace in 1297 in rebellion; combining forces at Sanquhar, Durisdeer
and later Scone Abbey where the two liberated the English treasury.
With that booty Wallace financed further rebellion including the
successful Battle at Stirling Bridge fought on September 11, 1297. He
was joined by other patriots such as Robert Wishart Bishop of Glasgow,
Sir Andrew Moray and the Morays of Bothwell, with a contingent of
Douglases at the national muster at Irvine, North Ayrshire.
Bruce raid on Douglas Castle
When Edward heard of Douglas' supposed treason he commanded the future
King of Scots Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, then governor of Carlisle
for the English to take retribution. Bruce swept into Douglasdale at
the king's order. However, young Bruce, who was twenty-two years old
at the time, stated, "I must join my own people and the nation in
which I was born." He then was joined by the men of Douglas and Lady
Douglas, proceeding to join the rebels at Irvine. [2]
Capitulation of Irvine
The third time Douglas was held a prisoner of Edward Plantagenet, was
after 9 July 1297 when he was accused by Sir Henry de Percy of
breaking his covenant of peace with Edward that was agreed to in the
document known as the Capitulation at Irving Water, where Doug
=== !Sir Bernard Burke's Dormant & Extinct P ===
!Sir Bernard Burke's Dormant & Extinct Peerage p.245-246;
=== M E Sorley: The Sorley Pedigrees pp 45, ===
M E Sorley: The Sorley Pedigrees pp 45, 33, 22
=== While governor of Berwick he was capture ===
While governor of Berwick he was captured when the town was besieged by the English and spent time in an English prison. He was released later only after agreeing to accept English King Edward I as overlord of Scotland. However he was later a strong supporter of and fought alongside William Wallace. For this he was placed back in prison until his death.
=== ch. known ===
ch. known
=== He was born at Woodham Ferris, Stebbing ===
He was born at Woodham Ferris, Stebbing & Fairsted, Essex, England.
=== William obtained the Estate of Groby in ===
William obtained the Estate of Groby in Leicestershire from his mother and some additional lands from his father.
=== !Name,parents,Bd,pla,Dd,Spouse,Bap,End-T ===
!Name,parents,Bd,pla,Dd,Spouse,Bap,End-TIB FHL 884560-1 Name,BD,pla,parents,Spouse,Md,pla,SS,SP-IGI Bd also listed as 1241,1250;Md as 1268,1262;Mpla as Wooten Basset,Wilt;Bpla as Derby,Derby
=== !From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 ===
!From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996. TITLE: Sir Knight
=== !children with Ann- 1 Anne De Ferrers BA ===
!children with Ann- 1 Anne De Ferrers BARONESS GREY 9fsb-02 m John De Grey BARON GREY 9fs9-zw 2 Willliam De Ferrers BARON FERRERS 9fsb-8f m Ellen Margaret De Segrave BARONESS FERRERS 9fsc-bw
=== The Honourable William Ferrers, 2nd son ===
The Honourable William Ferrers, 2nd son of William, 7th Earl of Derby, obtained by gift of Margaret, his mother, one of the daus. and co-heirs of Roger de Quinci, Earl of Winchester, the manor of Groby, co. Leicester, whereupon he assumed the arms of the family of de Quinci. He m. 1st, Joane, dau. of Hugh le Despencer; and 2ndly, Eleanor, dau. of Matthew Lovaine, and by the former had issue, William, his successor; and Anne, m. to John, Lord Grey, of Wilton. He d. in 1288, and was s. by his son, William. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, Ltd., London, 1883, p. 198, Ferrers, Barons Ferrers, of Groby, co. Leicester]
___________________________
SIR WILLIAM DE FERRERS, of Groby, co. Leicester, Newbottle, Northants, Woodharn Ferris, Stebbing, and Fairsted, Essex, and Bolton-Ie-Moors, co. Lancaster, younger son of William (DE FERRERS), EARL OF DERBY, by his 2nd wife, Margaret, 1st daughter and coheir of Roger (DE QUENCY), EARL OF WINCHESTER. He was born about 1240. On 12 December 1251 his father gave him the manor and advowson of Woodham, the manor of Stebbing, the capital messmacge of Chiche (now St. Osyth), and the lands of Fairsted, to hold in tail general, by the service of five knights' fees, with reversion to the grantor and his heirs. Between four and five years afterwards, before he was of age, he had livery of these lands: subsequently, he exchanged them with his mother for lands in Scotland and Galloway, but he again had entry thereto, with her consent, 16 days before her death, i.e., in February 1280/1. She gave him also the manor of Newbottle, and his brother, Robert, Earl of Derby, gave him all his own lands in the wapentake of Leyland, co. Lancaster. He was among the prisoners taken after the conflict at Northampton, 5 or 6 April 1264, and was committed by Edward, the King's son, to the custodv of Roger de Leyburne: Roger demanded an excessive ransom, threatening to take him to Ireland if he did not pay it, and on 5 January 1264/5 was peremptorily ordered to release him and let him come to the King. William was admitted to the King's peace, and pardoned all trespasses committed by him, during the disturbance in the realm, up to Wednesday after SS. Peter and Paul [30 June] last past, 11 July 1266. On 26 May 1280, the King, having taken his homage, permitted him to retain, for a fine of 40 marks, the manor of Groby, of which his mother had enfeoffed him. After her death, he haa livery of Woodham Ferris, Stebbing, St. Osyth, and Fairsted, 11 May 1281. He was with the King in the Army of Wales in 1282. He was summoned for Military Service from 18 March 1263/4 to 14 March 1282/3, to a Military Council, 14 June 1287, and to attend the King at Shrewsbury, 28 June 1283, by writs directed Willelmo de Ferrariis. He married, 1stly, Anne, said to have been daughter of Sir Hugh Le DESPENSER, of Ryhall, Rutland, Loughborough, co. Leicester, Parlington, co. York, &c., sometime justiciar of England, by Aline, daughter and heir of Sir Philip BASSET, of Wycombe, Bucks, &c., also justiciar of England. He married, 2ndly, Alianore, daughter of Sir Matthew DE LOVAINE, of Little Easton, Essex. He died shortly before 20 December 1287. His widow was given the manors of Stebbing and Woodham to hold in tenancy till her dower was assigned, 20 January 1287/8, and she had livery of these manors, which the King had assigned to her as dower, 18 April following. Sir William de DOUGLAS abducted her from the manor of Ellen la Zusche at Tranent, co. Haddington, before 28 January 1288/9, at which date the Sheriff of Northumberland was, in consequence, ordered to take his lands into the King's hand, and to arrest and imprison him: an order repeated, 14 April 1289. He was imprisoned in Leeds Castle, Kent, but was released on 15 May 1290, and his said lands-the manor of Fawdon---were restored to him, provisionally, 24 May following. The marriage of Alianore was granted to him, for a fine of £100, 18 February 1290/1. He was arrested for failing to give hostages in connection with a pardon granted him in July 1297, and, on 12 October following, was sent to the Tower, where he died before 24 January 1298/9. After his death, the lands which Alianore had held in dower from her ist husband (which had been taken into the King's hand by reason of the rebellion of William de Duglas, were restored to her, those in England 24 January 1298/9, and those in Scotland 22 July 1302. She married, 3rdly, before 6 October 1305, Sir Williarn BAGOT, of Hide and Patshull, co. Stafford, and was living, his widow, 3 May 1326. She was buried in Dunmow Priory. [Complete Peerage V:615-17]
=== !In 1251, William Ferrers of Groby (brot ===
!In 1251, William Ferrers of Groby (brother of said Robert, eighth Earl of Derby) received from his father the manors of Woodham, Stubing, and Fairsted, "with one messauge in chiche"' whereby these estates were retained in the family, when the rest were confiscated to Prince Edmund. This William Ferrers had also the manor of Groby in Leicestershire, the gift of his mother, Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Roger De Quincy, Earl of Winchester. By his wife, Joan, daughter of Hugh le Despencer, he had. the Dawson Family Org. John Dawson 6514 Kline St. Arvada Co. 80004.
=== !BIR-MAR-DEA: Bk, Medieval Knight by Ste ===
!BIR-MAR-DEA: Bk, Medieval Knight by Stephen Turnbull.
=== !Information from pedigree chart prepare ===
!Information from pedigree chart prepared by professional researcher for family org; Archive Family group sheet from (25261) pt 38 (25260) pt 45 Salt Lake temple sealings; (23059) pt 5 St. George Temple Index to sealings; Temple Index Bureau : 929.242 F414n, Baddesley Clinton, its Manor, church & hall, Morris p. 105; Q942.51 R2je, Doomsday Book, p 8; 942 D22bug p. 8 & p 197-8, Burke's Peerage, 1883; 942,D2wo
Preferred Parents:
Father: William Longleg Douglas Lord of Douglas, b. 1220 in Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland d. 1274 in Lanarkshire, Scotland
Mother: Constance Batail, b. ABT 1210 in Carrick, Argyll, Scotland d. ABT 1274 in Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Family 1: Eleanor de Lovaine, b. 1267 in Derbyshire, England d. 3 MAY 1326 in Dunmow, Essex, England
- m. 28 JAN 1289 in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Archibald 'The Tyneman' Douglas- 4th. Lord of Douglas Regent of Scotland, b. 1297 in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, Scotland d. 19 JUL 1333 in Battle of Halidon Hill - Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland, England
Family 2: Elizabeth Stewart, b. 1250 in Dundonald Castle, Kyle, Ayrshire, Scotland d. 1289 in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- m. 1276 in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- James Douglas -The Black Douglas, b. 1286 in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, Scotland d. 25 AUG 1330 in Battle Of Teba, Teba, Malaga, Spain
Family 3: Eleanor Lovaine, b. 1268 d. 1326
- Archibald The Tyneman Douglas, b. 1297 in Douglas, Dumfrieshire,Scotland
Sources:
- Title: The Scots Peerage
Author: The Scots Peerage, ed. James Balfour Paul, 8 Vols., Edinburgh, D. Douglas, 1904–14.
Publication: Name: https://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/scots_peerage.htm;
Note: William the Hardy was twice married and had three sons. By Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland:
Sir James Douglas (also known as Good Sir James and the Black Douglas, ancestor of the "Black Douglases", including the 3rd to 9th Earls of Douglas).
- Title: William the Hardy, Lord of Douglas
Author: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Publication: Name: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Hardy,_Lord_of_Douglas;
Note: Sir William Douglas "le Hardi" (the Bold), Lord of Douglas (1255 – January 24, 1298)[1][dubious – discuss][original research?] was a Scottish nobleman and warlord.
Early life Edit
William Douglas was the son of William Longleg, Lord of Douglas and it is supposed by his possible second wife, Constance Battail of Fawdon.[2] He first is recorded at an Assize at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1256, when his father made over a Carucate of land at Warndon, Northumberland to him. Douglas' father William Longleg was Lord of Fawdon, and had as his superior Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, Longleg was acquitted of withholding rents by a jury, Umfraville notwithstanding attacked Fawdon, imprisoned Longleg at Harbottle Castle and made off with some £100 sterling of goods. William Douglas was injured in the fight. Ita quod fere amputaverunt caput ejus – So as to nearly cut off his head.[3]
Eighth Crusade Edit
Sir William Fraser puts forward a theory that David Hume of Godscroft is mistaken about the William Douglas that went Crusading, and suggests that it is this William Douglas, the son the rather than the father, who accompanied David I Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, and other Scots nobility on the Eighth Crusade in 1270, as recorded by John of Fordun in his Chronica Gentis Scotorum.[4][5][6] Fraser also concedes that there is no existing evidence left to verify this, except the reference in Godscroft's work.
Lord of Douglas Edit
Douglas' father, Longleg died at some point c. 1274 and there is some confusion as to whether his eldest son Hugh predeceased him, however William the Hardy was certainly in possession of his estates by the end of the decade. Douglas was knighted before 1288, when he was called upon by Sir Andrew Moray, to imprison his uncle Sir Hugh de Abernethy at Douglas Castle. Abernethy had been party to the murder of Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife, one of the six Guardians of Scotland. Abernethy died in custody despite attempts by Edward I of England to have him released.
In 1289, Douglas requested the release of certain family charters from Richard, Abbot of Kelso. These charters had been kept at the Priory of Lesmahagow, a daughter house of the Tironensian Abbey of Kelso, for safety. In the receipt for these documents, Douglas styled himself Dominus de Duglas, Lord of Douglas, the first time the title had been recorded.
Marriages Edit
Elizabeth Stewart Edit
Douglas had married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, by whom he had his eldest son James. Elizabeth Stewart appears to have died before the end of 1288, possibly in childbirth.[7]
Eleanor de Lovaine Edit
Later in 1288, William Douglas and a Borders Knight known as John Wishart surrounded the Castle of Fa'side near Tranent. The castle was held by Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby, feudal superior of the barony of Tranent. Within the Castle was Zouche's wife Eleanor, and another Eleanor, recently widowed wife of William de Ferrers of Groby, second son of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. Eleanor Ferrers was the daughter of Matthew de Lovaine, a great grandson himself of Godfrey III, Count of Louvain. King Edward had provided a handsome dowry from her husband's English lands following his death. He had also possessed lands in five counties in Scotland, and Eleanor had come north to collect her rents. Rather than despoliate the land and the castle, Douglas contented himself by abducting Eleanor and removing her to Douglas Castle.
Reaction to the abduction Edit
Eleanor – apparently not averse to the rough charms of her kidnapper – and Douglas were wed soon afterwards. King Edward was not so charmed and ordered the Sheriff of Northumberland to seize all Douglas possessions in that county and to apprehend Douglas and Wishart if the chance arose. Edward also demanded that the Guardians of Scotland immediately arrest Douglas and deliver him and Eleanor to his pleasure. The Guardians did not respond. Douglas was connected to two of the Guardians: James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland was his brother-in-law, and Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan was a brother-in-law of Eleanor de Lovaine. Furthermore, the Guardians may not have reacted well to the peremptory nature of the English king's request.
First Imprisonment Edit
However, Douglas seems to have fallen into the hands of the English monarch in early 1290 and was confined at Knaresborough Castle. His imprisonment does not appear to have been unduly harsh, he was released by the spring of 1290 when his wife Eleanor posted bail for his release with four manucaptors in May 1290, these four knights, all her cousins, were John Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, Nicholas de Segrave, 1st Baron Segrave, William de Rye and Robert Bardulf. He was in favour with Edward again and he and Wishart had their Northumbrian lands restored to them.[8] Eleanor Douglas was fined £100 sterling, and by way of payment had some of her manors in Essex and Herefordshire taken by the crown in 1296.
Build up to War Edit
Douglas' seal is on the Treaty of Salisbury approving the putative marriage between Margaret, Maid of Norway with Edward of Caernarfon, and was amongst those nobles that hammered out the deal that would become the Treaty of Birgham. At Norham, in June 1291, the Guardians accepted King Edward as Lord Paramount of Scotland. Whilst the negotiations were progressing, regarding the choice of the next King of Scots, Edward was staying with Sir Walter de Lindsay at Thurston Manor, near Innerwick, when William Douglas paid an oath of fealty to him in the chapel there. By the end of 1291, Douglas had fallen again into disfavour and had his lands of Douglasdale forfeited to the English King. Edward appointed his own creatures as baronial officers and made one Master Eustace de Bikerton, Parson of St. Bride's Kirk, the spiritual home and burying ground of the Douglases. John Balliol was declared King of Scots on 17 November 1292, and called his first parliament on 10 February 1293. Douglas along with Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick, Aonghus Mór mac Domhnaill, Lord of Islay, John, Earl of Caithness failed to attend and were proclaimed defaulters. Douglas attended the second parliament of King John, but was imprisoned again for failing to comply with royal officers enforcing a judgement against him, and imprisoning said officers in Douglas Castle. Whilst in prison Douglas was duty bound to be at his lands in Essex, in order to provide service for Edward, his failure cost him £20 sterling in fines.
Siege of Berwick Edit
Upset at the humiliations heaped upon John Balliol and the ineffectiveness of his rule, a new Guardianship was created in 1295. These men concluded a treaty at Paris and ratified it at Dunfermline between the Kingdoms of Scotland, France and Norway, that would become known as the Auld Alliance. Douglas siding with his countrymen, was appointed Governor of Berwick upon Tweed, the most important commercial centre in Scotland at the time. When the Guardians threw down the Gauntlet to Edward, he arrived at the walls of Berwick with 5000 Cavalry and 30,000 Infantry. There followed one of the most brutal episodes in British history, the Sack of Berwick. The English army took the town by storm on Good Friday 1296 and gave no quarter to the inhabitants. The slaughter lasted for two days and the estimated death toll was between 7,500 and 8,500 men women and children. Appalled and after a resolute defence, the garrison of Berwick Castle under the leadership of William Douglas, gave themselves up to the mercy of King Edward. The garrison were freed and were allowed to march out of the castle with their arms, but Douglas was imprisoned and the last of his estates in Essex forfeit. (Douglas’ two-year-old son Hugh had been taken into ward by the Sheriff of Essex at Stebbing, one of the forfeited properties)
Ragman Roll Edit
Douglas was imprisoned in the Hog's Tower at Berwick castle and stayed there until gaining his freedom by appending his seal to the Ragman Roll, in common with the majority of the Scots nobility. Within days of his swearing his new oath of Fealty to Edward, Douglas was restored to his lands in Scotland, but not those in England. To add salt to the wound, Douglas' Land at Fawdon and others in Northumberland were made over to his old foe Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, Douglas had no reluctance in joining the patriotic party.
The Umfravilles' latterly forfeited Earldom of Angus was granted in 1389 to Douglas' great-grandson, George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus.
Uprising of William Wallace Edit
Following the Battle of Dunbar, a large section of the Scots nobility were languishing in prison in England. The countryside was fomenting and there was talk of a new champion for the Scots people, William Wallace of Elderslie had started his campaign. Douglas was summoned to attend King Edward in London on 7 July 1297, with fifty other barons to accompany him on an expedition to Flanders to aid Guy of Dampierre, Count of Flanders against Philip le Bel King of France. Douglas refused and joined company with Wallace. Most Scots magnates thought that Wallace was beneath their dignity, but Douglas had no such compunction. He was the first nobleman to join with Sir William Wallace in 1297 in rebellion; combining forces at Sanquhar, Durisdeer and later Scone Abbey where the two liberated the English treasury. With that booty Wallace financed further rebellion. Wallace joined his forces with that of Sir Andrew Moray and together they led the patriot army in the Battle at Stirling Bridge fought on 11 September 1297. They were joined by other patriots such as Robert Wishart Bishop of Glasgow, and the Morays of Bothwell, with a contingent of Douglases at the national muster at Irvine, North Ayrshire.
Bruce raid on Douglas Castle Edit
When Edward heard of Douglas' supposed treason he commanded the future King of Scots Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, then governor of Carlisle
- Title: Royal Ancestry
Author: Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 145-147
Note: William Douglas was imprisoned and fined for the abduction, but also granted permission to marry his captive. [7] Eleanor and Douglas were wed soon afterwards. King Edward and ordered the Sheriff of Northumberland to seize all Douglas possessions in that county and to apprehend Douglas and Wishart if the chance arose. Edward also demanded that the Guardians of Scotland immediately arrest Douglas and deliver him and Eleanor to his pleasure.
- Title: Wikipedia
Publication: Name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Hardy,_Lord_of_Douglas;
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