ANCESTRY 3 



representation of facts; as between the troubles of 

 Solvathius and Bane's true usurpation four hundred 

 years actually elapsed — a mere trifle for legend- 

 mongers ! 



However, when the space of four hundred years 

 is bridged with fact, we find that a Douglas did 

 assist King William, ' the Lion ' (1165-1212), to repel 

 the usurper Bane. 



From about this era the chief records of the House 

 of Douglas may be traced as fairly authentic. This 

 Douglas seems entitled to be regarded as the first 

 bond fide common ancestor of the family; for he was, 

 beyond dispute, the first owner of Douglasdale, 

 Lanark, and from that ' ilk ' the later branches of the 

 clan have sprung. 



From Sir WilUam Douglas of Douglasdale de- 

 scended the friend and companion-in-arms of King 

 Robert Bruce — Sir James Douglas, surnamed ' the 

 Good,' who fell on the plains of Andalusia while 

 carrjdng out his sovereign's behest that he should 

 bear his heart in a silver casket to the Holy 

 Sepulchre for burial. Hence the crowned human 

 heart on the escutcheon of the Douglas family. 



Sir James Douglas's brother, William, was the first 

 of their race to be ennobled. He was created Earl 

 of Douglas by King David Bruce in 1357. This 



