History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

276 HISTORY OF THE
lady, was daughter to one of the Earl's of Crawford, and
could not but be of kin to this Earl. The sum of their bond
was, that they should every one assist and defend another to-
gether with their friends and dependers, against all men; that
they should have the same friends, and the same enemies, with
reservation always, and exception of their duty to their Prince.
But whether this bond was made of new, as some write, or if
it were of old continued from hand to hand, and then renew-
ed, as though it were intended in special against Crichton
and his partakers, and due exception of the King expressly
contained in it, is uncertain: however, they so possessed the
King, that he interpreted all as done against himself: and there-
fore matters being come to public hosi'ity betwixt Douglas
and Crichton, and the country divided into faction?, when the
Earls of Crawford and Ross had sent to Crichton, and given
up all friendship with him as an enemy to their dearest friend,
by virtue of the foresaid league, he acquainted the King there-
with, and with all vehemence exaggerated the league, as a
conspiracy against him and his royal authority, and that it was
Very dangerous for him, when such great houses, and powerful
men had combined together. The King apprehending it to be
so, having once settled that opinion in his mind, did upon that
ground buildall his interpretations of the Earl Douglas's actions,
and framed his own actions accordingly against him: neither was
Douglas so fortunate or circumspect, as to avoid the occasions
of fostering that cpinioninthe King; but, as commonly happen-
eth, when ruin is to come on men, all things work that way,
so fared it with him in two facts. The first was on the person
of the Lord Harris, who was too hardly used of him, as ap-
pears, the other on the tutor of Bombie, more justly, yet so,
that his carriage in it seemed to confirm that which his ene-
mies alleged against him, that he exercised his authority, and
used his privileges more absolutely than the King had reason
to be contented with. The occasion of the first, and thereof
was, Sir William Harris of Terregles having been the Eirl of
Douglas's ancient depender, had now, in this frown of court,
and diversity of factions, whether to please the court, and