Archibald Douglas 
Archibald was born about 1475 in Tantallon Castle, Scotland. Archibald's father was Archibald Douglas and his mother was Elizabeth Boyd. His paternal grandparents were George Douglas and Isabel Sibbald; his maternal grandparents were Robert Boyd and Mariota Maxwell. He had three brothers and three sisters, named George, William, Gawain, Marjory, Mary and Elizabeth. He is the youngest of the seven children.General Notes
REFN: 3879AN
REFN: P3880
... of Kilspindie, fourth and youngest son of Archibald Bell-the-C at,
appears to have been one of the ablest and most energetic of his family.
He was apopinted Provost of Edinburgh in 1520, and High Treasurer of
Scotla nd in 1526. He was remarkable for his great strength and skill in
warlike exe rcises, and gained the affection of James V in his boyhood,
who called himi h is 'Grey Steill,' after a renowned champion in the
romance of 'Sir Egar and S ir Grime.' But after the King made his escape
from the custody of the Earl of Angus, Kilspindie was, along with the
rest of the Douglases, attained and fo rfeited by the Parliament, 5h
September, 1528, and compelled to take refuge i n England. An affecting
story is related by Godscroft respecting the treatmen t which he received
from King James, on a visit paid by him to his native lan d.
" ' Archibald being banished into England, could not well comport with
th e homour of that nation, which he thought to be too proud, and that
they had too high a conceit of themselves, joined with a contempt and
despising of all others. Wherefore, being wearied of that life, and
remembering the King's fa vour of old towards him, he determined to try
the King's mercifulness and cle mency. So he comes into Scotland, and
taking occasion of the King's hunting i n the park at Stirling, he casts
himself to be in his way as he was coming ho me to the castle. So soon as
the King was him far off, ere he came hear, he g uessed it was he, and
said to one of his courtiers, "Yonder is my Grey Steill , Archibald of
Kilspindie, if he be alive." The other answered that it could not be, and
that he durst not come into the King's presence. The King approac hing, he
fell upon his knees and craved pardon, and promised from theceforwar d to
abstain from meddling in public affairs, and to lead a quiet and private
life. The King went by without giving him any answer, and trotted a good
r ound pace up the hill, Kilspindie following him; and though he wore on
him a secret, or shirt of mail, for his particular enemies, was as soon
at the cast le-gate as the King. There he sat him down upon a stone
without, and entreate d some of the King's servants for a cup of drink,
being weary and thirsty. Bu t they, fearing the King's displeasure, durst
give him none. When the King wa s sat at his dinner he asked what he had
done, what he had said, and whither he was gone. It was told him that he
had desired a cup of drink and had gotte n none. The King reproved them
very sharply for their discourtesy, and told t hem that if he had not
taken an oath that no Douglas should ever serve him, h e would have
received him into his service, for he had seen him some time a m an of
great ability. Then he sent him word to go to Leith, and expect his
f urther pleasure.' Subsequently the King commanded him to go to France,
and th ere he shortly after died, it is believed of a broken heart. James
was greatl y and justly blamed for his unforgiving and pitiless treatment
of a man who h ad never personally injured him. It called forth the
indignation even of his vindictive uncle Henry VIII, who on hearing of
hit quoted the familiar prover b --
' A king's face ... should give grace.'
The Great Historic Families of S cotland, James Taylor
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Ancestor Pedigree Chart
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*There are earlier generations for the ancestor(s) indicated. See their page(s) for details (click name)
- b.1320 in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland d.May 1384 in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1376 in Mar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland d.1402 in Hamidon Hill, Lancashire, England
- b.1336 in Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland d.23 Mar 1418 in Angusshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1398 in Mar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland d.Oct 1444
- b.1348 in Dundonald, Ayrshire Scotland d.04 Apr 1406 in Stirling Castle, Scotland
- b.~ 1380 in Rothesay Castle, Isle of Bute, Ayrshire, Scotland d.1458 in Dumfermline, Fife, Scotland
- b.1352 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland d.1401 in Scone, Scotland
- b.~ 1428 in Mar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland d.1463
- b.~ 1345 in Locherwart Castle, Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland d.> 1397 in Yester Castle, Haddintonshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1380 in Lochorwart Castle, Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland d.< 1421
- b.~ 1340 in Wilton, Roxburgh, Scotland
- b.1404 in Yester, Scotland d.> 1484
- b.1342 in Kinnoul Castle, Perthshire, Scotland d.Jul 1406 in Erroll, Perthshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1372 in Erroll, Perthshire, Scotland
- b.1353 in Dundonald, Ayrshire Scotland d.~ 1389 in Scotland
- b.~ 1445 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland d.<31 Jan 1514 in Ayrshire, Scotland
- b.< 1380 d.~ 1403
- b.~ 1400 in Balgonie Castle, Markinch, Fifeshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1429 in Balgonie Castle, Markinch, Fifeshire, Scotland d.< 1503
- b.~ 1356 in Callendar, Scotland d.14 Sep 1402 in Homildon Hill, Northumberland, England
- b.1375 in Callendar, Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland d.<06 Nov 1451
- b.1358 in Kerse, Midlothian, Scotland
- b.~ 1405 in Callendar, Scotland
- b.1358 in Dundas, West Lothian, Scotland
- b.~ 1375 in Dundas, Scotland
- b.~ 1359 in Innermeath, Perthshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1475 in Tantallon Castle, Scotland
- b.~ 1360 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland d.1410 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1385 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland d.07 Jul 1432 in Kilmarnock, Renfrewshrire, Scotland
- b.~ 1330 in Yester, Peebles, Scotland
- b.~ 1405 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland d.09 Jul 1439 in Craignaught Hill, Renfrewshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1362 in Ardossan, Ayrshire, Scotland d.22 Nov 1429 in Androssan, Ayrshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1390 in Ardrossen, Ayrshire, Scotland
- b.1368 in Ardossan, Ayrshire, Scotland d.1413
- b.1420 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland d.>Apr 1481 in Alnwick, Northumberland, England
- b.1369 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
- b.1387 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1370 in Scotland
- b.~ 1404 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1387 in Scotland
- b.~ 1447 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland d.<21 Feb 1497
- b.~ 1340 in Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire, Scotland d.<08 Feb 1410 in Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1366 in Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire, Scotland d.<16 Oct 1421 in Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1346 in Corstorphine, Midlothian, Scotland
- b.~ 1404 in Calderwood, Lanarkshire, Scotland d.22 Jul 1484
- b.~ 1318 in Railston, Renfrewshire, Scotland d.1380 in Garlies, Wigstownshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1366 in Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1430 in Calderwood, Lanarkshire, Scotland d.> 1472
- b.~ 1332 in Cairnes, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland d.~ 1427 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
- b.~ 1378 in Linlithgow, Scotland d.Aug 1454
- b.~ 1357 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
- b.~ 1415 in Calderwood, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- b.~ 1362 in Catcume, Midlothian, Scotland d.~ 1439 in Locherwort Castle, Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland
- b.1384 in Lochorwart Castle, Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland
- b.1362 in Locherwort Castle, Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland
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