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Rh 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.

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