History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

XII PREFACE.
and exemptions thereby. 2. The first place and vote in Par-
liament, council, or meeting, and convention of the states.
3. The leading of the van-guard in the day of battle. 4-. And
bearing of the crown at riding in parliament.
4. The fourth is nobility of blood and descent. This some
do place only in the descent of the right line masculine with-
out interruption, and esteem him most noble, whose extrac-
tion proceedeth from most of this kind. Others again will
have it to be on both sides; and certainly it seems to stand
with reason that both should be regarded, seeing every ground
is not fit for noble seed, and every stock will not serve to in-
graft a generous imp. However, we shall find the Douglas-
es noble also in this way, in their descent on both sides, in
their affinity and alliance, being come of Kings, and Kings of
them. And first of all King Robert Bruce, and William the
Hardy, or Long-leg, were of kin by the house of Carrick; for
Martha, Countess of Carrick and this William were cousins-
german, his mother having been sister to her father the Earl
of Carrick, that died in Syria. Now Martha was mother to
King Robert, and hereby King Robert and good Sir James
were cousins- german once removed. But this was ere Bruce
was King, while he was yet but a private man. 2. Secondly
therefore, Robert Stewart (the first of the Stewarts that was
King, and who was grandchild to Robert Bruce) gave his
eldest daughter in marriage to Earl James slain at Otterburn.
3. The same King Robert gave another of his daughters to
William, Lord of Nithisdale. 4. The Duke of Rothsay,
Prince of Scotland, son to King Robert III. married Marjory
daughter to Archibald the Grim. 5. Archibald the third of
that name, and first Duke of Touraine, had to wife Margaret
Stewart, daughter to the same King Robert III. as the Black
Book of Scoon expressly witnesseth, which calls him Gener
Regis, the King's son-in-law. Ballanden, the translator of
Boethius, calls him the King's maich, or ally; and King
James II. claimeth Stewarton from James the last Earl of
Douglas, in the conditions of peace sent to him. Now Stew-
arton is known to have been the proper inheritance of John