Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 1 Vol 3.djvu/159

 DOUGLAS. 157 of Alexander (Lindsay), 2nd Earl ok Crawford [S.]. At his death the French honours became extinct, while as to the Scotch honours and estates, all of which ought to have been forfeited, the Lordship of Annandale (granted to the 4th Earl and his issue male) passed to the Crown, as also (subject to the life interest therein of Margaret, the old Dow. Countess) did the Lordship of Bothwell, while (probably owing to the weakness of the Government, or to an arrangement with the Earl of Avondale) the great Lordship of Galloway was allowed to devolve (subject to her mother's life rent) on the Karl's sister (thence called " the fair maid of Galloway,") and the Earldom itself and other property on the heir male (as mentioned below) just as if there had been no attainder. His widow was living 1-173. VII. 1410. 7. James (Douglas), Earl of Douglas and Earl of Avoxdalk [S.], called " The Gross," great uncle and h. male, being the second s. of Archibald, the 3rd Earl. He was of Balveny &c, co. Banff; was on the trial., 1 4 25, of the Duke of Albany [S.] ; was Warden of the Marches, and was about 1437 tr. Karl OP Avondale [8.1 having charter of lands in Peebles, 22 Dec. 1439 (confirmed 20 Sep. 1 140 by royal charter), as " Earl of Avondale and Lord of lialveny," a few months before he sue. to the Karldom of Douglas. He is said to have »!., firstly, Beatrix, da. of Itobert (Stewart), Duke of Albany [S.], the Begeut, by his 1st wife, Margaret, sua jure Countess of Mexteith [S.]. If so, she d. s.p. about 1421. He certainly m. before7 March 1425/6, Beatrix, da. of Henry (Sinclair), Karl ok Orkney [S.] ( : -). He d. 10 or 21 March 1443/1, and was bur. at Douglas. M.I. His widow was living June 1455, at which date she (with her 3 eldest surviving sous) was attainted. She appears to have d. in England before 8 Feb. 14o'3. VIII. 1113. S. William (Douglas), Earl of Douglas and Earl of Avondale [S], Lord of Balveny, &c, s. and h., b. about 1425 ; Knighted 1G Oct. 1430. From 1443 to 1449 he was in great favour with James II [S.J and was made Lieut.-Gex. ok the Kingdom, twice defeating the superior forces of the English. In 1450 he, with above 100 followers, celebrated the Jubilee at Rome. He m. (dispensation 24 July 1444, grant of marriage 2 Feb. 1449/50) his cousin Margaret, "the fair maid of Gallou-ai/," sister and h. of William (Douglas), Gth Earl ok Douglas [S.] abovenamed, obtaining (not, however, till), 2 Feb. 1449/50, the gift of such marriage uuder the Great Seal. Joining with the Earl of Crawford and others against the Court party and the all-powerful Chancellor Crichton, he was treacherously stabbed by the King himself in Stirling Castle 22 Feb. 1451/2. He d. s.p. His widow m. (dispensation 26 Feb. 1452/3) his br. James, the 9th Earl ok Douglas [S.], but obtaining a divorce from him soon after 1455, 7i!., as his first wife, about 14G0, John (Stewart), 1st Earl ok Athole [S.], who d. 19 Sep. 1512. On this marriage the King granted them the Lordship of Balveny( b ) and other forfeited estates of the Douglas family. She was liviug 22 Jany. 1472/3, but d. in or before IX. 1452, 9. James (Douglas), Earl of Douglas and Earl of to Avondale [S.], Lord of Balveny, &c, styled Ileriot-Muir, br. and h. 1455. He at first endeavoured to revenge his brother's murder, but was reconciled Aug. 1452. Having, however, joined the Duke of York (then in rebellion against Henry VI), he accused the King openly of the murder and defied him, with some 40,000 men in 1454. By the desertion of Lord Hamilton and others these all dispersed, the Earl fled into Annandale, and was attainted by Act 10 and 12 June 1455, when all ?tis honours became forfeited( c ). He escaped or 14SS. O 1 ) It is uncertain whether she was da. of Henry, the 1st Earl, who d. about 1400, or of Henry, the 2nd Earl, who d. before 1118. H See some account of Balveny, vol. i, p. 185, note "e," sub "Athole.'' (°) Thus ended the historic title of Earl of Douglas, which had existed but 9S years, during which it had been held by no less than nine persons, an average of but eleven years' tenure to each. There were no less than seven sons of the 7th Earl, all of whom d. e.p., viz. : (1) William, the 8th Earl; (2) James, the 9th and last Earl ;