History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

206 HISTORY OF THE
destroy one another; the governor Robert to destroy Davi.l
Duke of Rothsay, and now King James, David's brother, to
destroy the house of the governor Duke Murdoch and his
children. And thus causing the King to spoil and weaken
himself* by cutting off his friends, none being left alive, but
the King and his only son, a child of six years, he was em-
boldened to put his hands on the King also; so much the
rather, because he knew that many of the nobility were dis-
contented, what with being imprisoned, what with being en-
damaged in their goods, lands, and rents, what with putting
to death of their friends: so that he hoped that they would be
well contented with the King's death, at least they would not
take great care or pains to be revenged thereof. Which things
if the Earl Douglas foresaw, and being grieved therewith, ad-
monished the King thereof, or caused any other to warn him
that these courses were not for his good: this event showeth
he did the part of a faithful subject, friend and counsellor.
However, it was not so well taken by the King at that time,
as being contrary to his humour and present disposition. He
did wisely also to withdraw himself, seeing he could not help
things, as he would have gladly done. Now that the King
was dead, he returns home, and was present, as some think,
at the coronation of his son James II. who was crowned at
Edinburgh the 10th of March 14-37, not a month, or no more
than a month, after the death of his father: where it is to be
observed, that either the death of the King is not rightly said
to be in the year 1437, in February, instead of H3a, or else
they reckon the year from the first of January, which was
not the custom then. And yet Buchanan means so, for he
says, he was slain in the beginning of the year 1437, in Peb-
ruary,^rhich makes me think the Earl Douglas hath not come
in time to the coronation, seeing he could hardly have used
such diligence, to have had notice of the King's death, made
himself ready, and came home out of France in so short a
space, though the wind had favoured him never so much
However, through his absence, his adverse party and faction
had got such possession of guiding state affairs in the !a f ?>