The remains of Douglas Castle in Douglas South Lanarkshire..Douglas Castle was a stronghold of the Douglas family from medieval times to the 20th century. The first castle, erected in the 13th century, was destroyed and replaced several times until the 18th century when a large mansion house was built in its place. This too was demolished in 1938, and today only a single corner tower of the 17th-century castle remains. The castle was the former family seat of the Prime Minister, Alec Douglas-Home. The castle was located around 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north-east of the village of Douglas, South Lanarkshire, in south-west Scotland. The remains are protected as a category C listed building.[1]

Ad for Black Douglas Scotch Whiskey featuring sadly missed TV legend David Frost.

This was taped from Channel 9 Melbourne in 1987

a man talks about the life of Scotlands fiercest ever warrior the Black Douglas. Also the site of ancient Scottish fortress Roxburgh Castle is investigated.

The Douglases are an ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking their name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and from there their chiefs gained vast territories throughout the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian, Moray and France. The Douglases were the most prominent family in lowland Scotland during the Late Middle Ages, often holding the real power behind the throne of the Stewart Kings. The heads of the House of Douglas held the titles of the Earl of Douglas (Black Douglas) and later the Earl of Angus (Red Douglas).[2] The clan does not have a chief recognised by the Lyon Court, so therefore it is now considered an armigerous clan.

The original caput of the family was Douglas Castle in Lanarkshire. The Kirk of St Bride at Douglas, along with Melrose Abbey and the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés holds the remains of many of the Earls of Douglas and Angus.[3]

Clan Douglas, also referred to as the House of Douglas, is an ancient family from the Scottish Lowlands taking its name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and thence spreading through the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian and beyond. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an Armigerous clan.





Clan crest of Clan Douglas

The Douglases were once the most powerful family in Scotland. The chiefs held the titles of the Earl of Douglas, and following their forfeiture the chieftancy devolved upon the Earl of Angus (see also: Duke of Hamilton). The 4th Earl of Morton held the chieftaincy during the 16th century, the Earldom of Morton was then a subsidiary title of the 8th Earl of Angus after the 4th Earl's forfeiture and death in 1581.

The family's original seat was Douglas Castle in Lanarkshire, but they spread to many properties throughout Southern and North-Eastern Scotland.

Ref...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Douglas,_Lord_of_Douglas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_(surname)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Teba

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Douglas

This late 14th or early 15th century tower was the setting for the most traumatic year in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. 

It was here in 1567 that she was imprisoned and forced to abdicate before her dramatic escape a year later. Visitors can enjoy the fragrance from the large beds of pink purslane in the south and east wooded walks from April to July.

Built in the 15th century by one of Scotland’s most powerful families, the Crichtons, Blackness was never destined as a peaceful lordly residence; its enduring roles were those of garrison fortress and state prison.

There was a man sae dark and true wha Scotland loo'ed sae dear
There was a king wha lang will rue the Scots wha flayed him sair
Gan cry the hounds o' Douglasvale, gan string the Ettrick bow
Gan warn the spears o' Liddiesdale that Edward leads the foe

He wore the cross our Andrew bore by the steps o' calvary
He won the sword our Robert wore by the field o' Balvennie
Gan shear the chains o' slavery, gan dance my leige man lee
Gan ring the bell o' Liberty shod wi' the metal free

He won his spurs doon by St. Bride upon the green she free
He held the leopard and the tide by the field o' Lintounie
Gan s***ne the s***eld yer father bore, gan strike yer metal free
Gan s***ne the helm yer father wore by the field of Torwoodlee

He rode yin nicht when it was mirk doon by the leopard's lair
He chased the tyrant in his s***rt around the field sae fair
Gan pack yer bags ye English loons, gan tak ye banners hame
Gan tak yer king wha sought oor croon and lost the b***** game

Visit www.corries.com for Corries DVDs and CDs

Check out www.corries.com for Corries DVDs and CDs

Now it fell about the Lammas tide,
When the muir-men win their hay,
The doughty Douglas bound him ride

Check out www.corries.com for Corries DVDs and CDs

Check www.corries.com for Corries DVDs and CDs

#11. For your copy of this clip, email douglasfamilyhistoryscotland@hotmail.com
This clip aims to give you an idea of what occurred on the Scottish boarders around the time of the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 & the hostilities that existed between the English & Scots during that time.

The song is by Tony Cuffe. www.tonycuffe.com
Disclaimer: I do not own the music used in this video, no copyright infringement intended.

Ferdinand Frantz singt "Archibald Douglas" Teil I von Carl Loewe (1796-1869)
Hans Altmann, Klavier



Theodor Fontane


1. »Ich hab' es getragen sieben Jahr,
Und ich kann es nicht tragen mehr,
Wo immer die Welt am schönsten war,
Da war sie öd' und leer.

Ich will hintreten vor sein Gesicht
In dieser Knechtsgestalt,
Er kann meine Bitte versagen nicht,
Ich bin ja worden alt,

Und trüg' er noch den alten Groll,
Frisch wie am ersten Tag,
So komme, was da kommen soll,
Und komme, was da mag.«

Graf Douglas sprichts. Am Weg ein Stein
Lud ihn zu harter Ruh',
Er sah in Wald und Feld hinein,
Die Augen fielen ihm zu.

Er trug einen Harnisch, rostig und schwer,
Darüber ein Pilgerkleid, -
Da horch, vom Waldrand scholl es her
Wie von Hörnern und Jagdgeleit.

Und Kies und Staub aufwirbelte dicht,
Herjagte Meut' und Mann,
Und ehe der Graf sich aufgericht't,
Waren Roß und Reiter heran.

König Jakob saß auf hohem Roß,
Graf Douglas grüßte tief,
Dem König das Blut in die Wangen schoß,
Der Douglas aber rief:

»König Jakob, schaue mich gnädig an
Und höre mich in Geduld,
Was meine Brüder dir angetan,
Es war nicht meine Schuld.

Denk nicht an den alten Douglas-Neid,
Der trotzig dich bekriegt,
Denk lieber an deine Kinderzeit,
Wo ich dich auf den Knieen gewiegt.

Denk lieber zurück an Stirling-Schloß,
Wo ich Spielzeug dir geschnitzt,
Dich gehoben auf deines Vaters Roß
Und Pfeile die zugespitzt.

Denk lieber zurück an Linlithgow,
An den See und den Vogelherd,
Wo ich dich fischen und jagen froh
Und schwimmen und springen gelehrt.
12. O denk an alles, was einsten war,
Und sänftige deinen Sinn,
Ich hab' es gebüßet sieben Jahr,
Daß ich ein Douglas bin.«

Ferdinand Frantz singt "Archibald Douglas" Teil II von Carl Loewe (1796-1869)
Hans Altmann, Klavier

»Ich seh' dich nicht, Graf Archibald,
Ich hör' deine Stimme nicht,
Mir ist, als ob ein Rauschen im Wald
Von alten Zeiten spricht.

Mir klingt das Rauschen süß und traut,
Ich lausch' ihm immer noch,
Dazwischen aber klingt es laut:
Er ist ein Douglas doch.

Ich seh dich nicht, ich höre dich nicht,
Das ist alles, was ich kann,
Ein Douglas vor meinem Angesicht
Wär' ein verlorener Mann.«

König Jakob gab seinem Roß den Sporn,
Bergan ging jetzt sein Ritt,
Graf Douglas faßte den Zügel vorn
Und hielt mit dem König Schritt.

Der Weg war steil, und die Sonne stach,
Und sein Panzerhemd war schwer;
Doch ob er schier zusammenbrach,
Er lief doch nebenher.

»König Jakob, ich war dein Seneschall,
Ich will es nicht fürder sein,
Ich will nur warten dein Roß im Stall
Und ihm schütten die Körner ein.

Ich will ihm selber machen die Streu
Und es tränken mit eigner Hand,
Nur laß mich atmen wieder aufs neu
Die Luft im Vaterland.

Und willst du nicht, so hab' einen Mut,
Und ich will es danken dir,
Und zieh dein Schwert und triff mich gut
Und laß mich sterben hier.«

König Jakob sprang herab vom Pferd,
Hell leuchtete sein Gesicht,
Aus der Scheide zog er sein breites Schwert,
Aber fallen ließ er es nicht.

»Nimm's hin, nimm's hin und trag es neu,
Und bewache mir meine Ruh',
Der ist in tiefster Seele treu,
Der die Heimat liebt wie du.

Zu Roß, wir reiten nach Linlithgow,
Und du reitest an meiner Seit',
Da wollen wir fischen und jagen froh
Als wie in alter Zeit.«

Theodor Fontane

Fifty Famous Stories Retold (version 2)
by James Baldwin (1841-1925)

Some have a slight historical value; some are useful as giving point to certain great moral truths; others are products solely of the fancy, and are intended only to amuse. Some are derived from very ancient sources, and are current in the literature of many lands; some have come to us through the ballads and folk tales of the English people; a few are of quite recent origin (Excerpt from text)

Scottish actor David Hayman provides the voice of James Douglas at the new Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre. See him in action recording and hear how his technique works perfectly for the part.

This hour-long documentary takes the viewer on a journey to the Pacific Northwest, northern Canada, Hawaii, California and the United Kingdom. The story follows the short life of David Douglas, the remarkable early nineteenth century botanist/explorer from Scotland.

Learn more at findingdaviddouglas.org.

S.R.Crockett wrote two novels set at Threave Castle, 'The Black Douglas' and Maid Margaret.' This short trailer introduces them.

Tour Scotland video of the George Sholto Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton, memorial stained glass window on visit to St John's Church in Edinburgh, Scotland. Douglas was the son of the Honorable John Douglas, second son of James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton. His mother was Lady Frances, daughter of Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood. He succeeded his cousin in the earldom in 1827 and was elected a Scottish Representative Peer in 1828. He served as a Lord-in-Waiting, government whip in the House of Lords, from 1841 to 1846 in the second Tory administration of Sir Robert Peel and in 1852 in the first Conservative administration of the Earl of Derby. Lord Morton married Frances Theodora, daughter of Sir George Henry Rose, in 1817. Their second son the Honorable George Henry Douglas became an Admiral in the Royal Navy. Lord Morton died in March 1858, aged 68, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Sholto. Lady Morton died in 1879.