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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
After the reign of Bruce, no Scotish clan ever attained such power as the Douglasses, or acquired such popularity on the marches. They united, in an eminent degree, feudal pomp with martial bravery, and in England and France their fame was as great as in Scotland. A popular proverbial verse, preserved by Hume of Godscroft, runs thus:
So many, so good, as of the Douglasses have been,
Of one sirname were ne'er in Scotland seen.
Of one sirname were ne'er in Scotland seen.
The lofty and daring spirit of the race is well delineated by our author:
———The blood of Douglas
Can only join with heroes of its kind,
Who, to the dance, prefer the painful march;
Deep midnight studies, to the late amour;
And honours torn from foes, to ladies favours;
Whose manly face becomes the crested helm;
Whose agile limbs in massy armour move,
And fearless as the bold war-horse he rides,
Dares thunder through the iron ranks of war.
Can only join with heroes of its kind,
Who, to the dance, prefer the painful march;
Deep midnight studies, to the late amour;
And honours torn from foes, to ladies favours;
Whose manly face becomes the crested helm;
Whose agile limbs in massy armour move,
And fearless as the bold war-horse he rides,
Dares thunder through the iron ranks of war.
The court of Douglas might long have vied in magnificence with that of the kings of Scotland; and the chief enumerated among his vassals many clans that afterwards rose to eminence and power, on the ruins of the family. The passage which delineates the plenitude of this power, exhibits a curious feudal picture:
