History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

ISO HISTORY OF THE
remained fifteen years in England or thereby, having done
great hurt to his country, and much good service to the Kings
of England; but for all the service he did, he could neither
move the King to restore him and repossess him again in his
own, neither competent means and allowance for his estate
and quality. A notable example for subjects, to learn
hereby not to forsake their natural King, and native country,
in hope to be supported or aided by foreign princes; far less
thus to hurt and indamage their own country, for the plea-
sure and advantage of strangers.
The black book of Scoon ascribeth the restitution of the
Earl of March, to Walter Haliburton son-in-law to the
governor (Geuer Gubernatoris) by marrying his daughter
Isabel a widow and countess of Ross, for which he got from
March a forty pound land in Birgeam, and that the Earl
Douglas got back Lochmaben and the Lordship of Annan-
dale: however it be, a year or two after the Earl Douglas
was returned, the Earl March was restored, whereunto Hol-
linshed also seemetb to agree: for in another place, after the
death of King Robert, which he setteth, in the year 1408,
forgetting what he said before (that the King discharged
Douglas frankly and freely) he writeth thus, " Archibald
" Earl of Douglas, as yet remaining captive in England, after
« 4 he had knowledge of King Robert's death, (to wit, five
«' years after this at least by his own account) made shift to
« l agree for his ransom; and so being set at liberty, returned
'«' with all speed now at length into Scotland." Wherein he
contradicts himself, and casteth down all that liberality and
nanimity of his King, in dismissing the Douglas freely, and
with so much the more blemish, as in saying it was done, h e
acknowledged it should have been done, as it had indeed
been most honourable and princely, and might perhaps have
gained the heart of that worthy nobleman. But we find but
R'w actions in that kind of full benificence practised towards
the Scots; and it seems that his great worth hath extorted their
admiration, and some offices of courtesy and common human-
ly, such as were the preservation of his life, and curing of