Thanks Eulalia, I was counting on you to correct any of my errors. Still worth my mention otherwise we would not have been regaled by your tale, good way to pay a traitor.
Another story about Clan Douglas I remembered;
The Douglas family built the first Douglas Castle, which was constructed of either wood or stone, sometime before 1288. In 1307, during the
Wars of Scottish Independence the castle was captured and garrisoned by the English under Lord Clifford. Sir
James Douglas, companion of
Robert the Bruce successfully recaptured his family seat by storming the castle on
Palm Sunday, while the garrison were at chapel. He had the garrison killed and thrown into a cellar, before the structure was burned. The event has become known as "Douglas' larder".
from Wikipedia
View attachment 516851 View attachment 516852 I've taken the liberty of editing in a couple of pics, a lovely spot for a romantic dinner - with convenient dungeon, hanging points and windows for defenestrations, all guaranteed to liven up your evening Just now all is quiet, except for a pair of ospreys nesting just across the water with their chicks, and peregrines in the tower.
The siege of Threave
William's brother
James Douglas, now 9th Earl, hastily continued the additions to Threave, completing the artillery house as well as earthworks to the north of the keep. After his brother's murder, he intrigued with the English court, receiving money from
Henry VI'sgovernment for the works. The 9th Earl's uprising was defeated at the
Battle of Arkinholm near
Langholm on 1 May 1455, following which his strongholds were systematically besieged. Threave Castle was the last castle to fall, and the royal forces arrived in June. King James resided at
Tongland Abbey during the siege, which lasted over two months. The new artillery house prevented the King's men from taking the castle by force, even when a
bombard, a large siege cannon, was brought up from
Linlithgow Palace at a cost of over £59.Instead, King James persuaded the garrison to surrender by making payments and grants of land to Douglas supporters.
from Wikipedia