Heraldry of the Douglases

14 THE EARLS OF DOUGLAS
chief charged with three stars (Laing). These, the typical Douglas Arms
of this branch of the family, have always been described as : Argent, on
a chief azure three stars of the field. [Plate II., fig. i.]
(5) Sir James of Douglas, known to history as "the Good" and the "Black
Douglas." On the death of King Robert Bruce in 1329, his heart, placed
in a silver casket, was entrusted to Douglas, who set out with it the
following year, and arriving at Seville landed with his followers and
joined the army of Alphonso XI., King of Castile, which was then facing
the Moors on the frontier of Granada. On the 25th August 1330 the
battle was fought and Douglas was killed. Both the Bruce's heart and
the body of Douglas were brought home, and the latter buried in St.
Bride's Church at Douglas. Sir James Douglas left two sons : —
(a) William, Lord of Douglas, killed when a young man at
Halidon Hill, 19th July 1333. He is said to be legiti-
mate {Douglas Book).
HVIIIS. — A doubtful brass Seal ascribed to him, and found
at North Berwick, shows on the shield a fess between
three stars in chief and a heart in base (Laing). If
genuine this is the first appearance of the Bruce's
heart in the Douglas Arms. The " fess " is difficult to
account for, but other examples are in the Arms of
the Douglases of Mains and Pumpherston.
(b) Archibald, a natural son (No. 10).
(6) HUGH DOUGLAS, brother of the Good Sir James, born 1294, then became
Lord of Douglas. He was known as " the Dull," and was Parish Priest of
Old Roxburghe. His brother: —
(7) Sir Archibald Douglas, known as the "Tine-man," i.e., the loser, from his
want of success in battle. Born c. 1296; killed at Halidon Hill 19th July
1333. He married Beatrice, daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay of
Crawford, and had the following children : —
(a) John Douglas, who died in France before 1342 in the retinue
of David II.
(*) William (No. 8).
(c) Eleanor married as her second husband Sir James de
Sandilands, ancestor of Lord Torphichen, who still owns
her lands of West Calder.
(8) Sir William Douglas, Lord of Douglas. On 26th January 1358 he was
created Earl OF Douglas, and his brother-in-law, Thomas, Earl of Mar,
dying without issue about 1374, the Earl of Douglas succeeded to his
estates and Earldom. The Earl died at Douglas in May 1384, and was
buried at Melrose. He married in 1357 Margaret, daughter of Donald,
Earl of Mar, and sister of Thomas, Earl of Mar, who died 1390, leaving
a son : —
(a) James (No. 9).
The Earl's brother-in-law, Thomas, Earl of Mar, married Margaret
Stewart, Countess of Angus, daughter of Thomas, Earl of Angus, and
this lady bore a child to her husband's brother-in-law, William, Earl of
Douglas, who was named : —
(ff) George, and who became ancestor of the Douglases, Earls of
Angus. (See No. 114).
(c) The Earl had also an illegitimate daughter, Margaret, who in
1404 married Thomas Johnson (No. 226). She was granted