History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

HOUSE OF DOUGLAS. . 21
obtain it the more easily of the king, or of others descended
of Allan, and of his heirs, I leave it to be considered. How-
ever that be, we may see, by the matching with this honour-
able house of Carrick, Galloway and Abernethy, the chief
peers in this realm as then, that the house of Douglas was of
no small esteem and account long before good Sir James, and
that they mistake things far, and are but ill versed in antiqui-
ty, that think he was the first that did raise that name to no-
bility or greatness, this William's marriage having preceded
his time eighty years at least.
Of Sir Hugh., the Third of that Name, and
Sixth Lord of Douglas.
VV ILLIAM had to his eldest son and lawful successor, Sir
Hugh Douglas, who, as we have said, was married to Marjory
Abernethy, daughter to Alexander, and sister to Hugh Lord
of Abernethy. This house of Abernethy were friends and
followers of the Cumings, and did assist and party them in all
their enterprises, as we may see by their joining with them at
Kinross, when they took king Alexander III, Their credit
and favour with their princes appears by this, that Lord Wil-
liam Abernethy got of king William the Abbacy of Aber-
brothock, or (as it may be thought rather, fqr the writing was
dim and hard to discern) the collegiate church.- lands of Aber-
nethy, paying thence yearly twenty pounds. This Hugh
Abernethy obtained also of king Alexander III. a charter of
the lands of Lenry, and a pension of fifty pounds sterling a,
year; likewise he got from the same king a confirmation of
the lands of Hulkstone and Lilestone. In these gifts the
Cumings still are witnesses, and with them styled Patrick
Earl of Dunbar. We find also a gift of twenty pound lancL,
granted by Isabel Countess of Strathern, relict of Walter
Cuming and her husband John Russel. In the days of Ba-
»iol this house was so powerful, that they were able to make