Sir George Douglas
Son of Sir Robert Douglas, of Lochleven
and Margaret Erskine
Married (1) Janet Lindsay
Married (2) Margaret Durie
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Nicknamed 'pretty Geordie', handsome and dashing, unlike his half-brother,
the Earl of Moray, he lived with their mother at Lochleven. Mary, Queen
of Scots, had previously visited this castle which, in 1567, became her
prison, from which escape was virtually
impossible without connivance from inside. Lords Lindsay and Ruthven
remained as her guardians while the other conspirators, like robber barons,
took possession in Edinburgh of the queen's silver plate, jewels and other
goods.
While at Lochleven, Mary, Queen of Scots, miscarried Bothwell's child
and, while weak through loss of blood, was threatened by Lord Lindsay who
forced her to sign an act of abdication. At this stage it was suggested
to Mary that not all the members of the Douglas family were against her.
The Earl of Moray, half-brother to both Mary, Queen of Scots, and George
Douglas, returned to Scotland to assume the position of regent. However,
falling under the spell of Mary, George Douglas reminded Moray, when the
latter visited Lochleven and the queen, of how he had been used to call
himself the queen's 'creature'. Almost certainly Moray threatened Mary
with execution.
However, Mary warned Moray that if she, a born queen, was rebelled
against by her people, how much more would the people rebel against him,
a bastard by birth and origin. On 22 August 1567 Moray was proclaimed Regent
of Scotland and immediately took possession of the queen's rich hoard of
jewellery. In December 1567, nearly a year after the event, Mary was publicly
blamed for the death of Darnley.
In the spring of 1568 George Douglas had a row with his other brother,
William Douglas, the laird of Lochleven, and ordered off the island. However,
shortly afterwards he asked permission to return to say farewell to his
mother as he intended to leave for France. It was
during this visit, with assistance of other members of his family,
that George Douglas arranged for Mary's escape from Lochleven.
The dashing George continued in Mary's employ during her English captivity,
marrying twice and fathering one daughter.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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