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St Bridget window
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In a stained glass window at St. Michael's Church in
Linlithgow, Scotland, above the lower portion of King David I and his
attributed arms, is the figure of St. Bridget.
Above her head is a knight on horseback, bearing a banner with
fleurs-de-lis and whose pauldron (shoulder armor) marks him as a
Crusader (Argent a cross gules). But especially, he carries a shield
with the well-known arms of Douglas: Argent a heart gules on a chief
azure three mullets argent.
It is thought that this is meant to be "Good Sir James" Douglas, who was
slain in August 1330 fighting under King Alfonso XI of Castile against
the Muslims of the Kingdom of Granada, carrying the heart of Robert
Bruce as a token of Bruce's unfulfilled ambition to go on crusade.
However, Bruce's heart was first incorporated in the arms of Sir James'
son, William, Lord of Douglas, in 1333, and it has been a prominent part
of the family's arms ever since.
According to John Barbour's description of Douglas' last battle, when
the enemy broke, Sir James and his companions followed hard behind.
Having outstripped most of his men in the pursuit, Douglas suddenly
found himself far out in front with only a few of his followers around
him. As he rode back to rejoin the main body, he saw Sir William St.
Clair of Rosslyn surrounded by a body of Moors who, seizing their
opportunity, had quickly rallied and counterattacked. With the few
knights who were with him, Douglas turned aside to attempt a rescue but,
outnumbered twenty to one, the group was overrun. It has become a
popular legend that Douglas then took from his neck the silver casket
which contained the heart of Bruce and threw it before him among the
enemy, saying, "Now pass thou onward as thou wert wont, and Douglas will
follow thee or die." (Alas, this story seems to be a 16th-century
addition to Barbour's poem.
Research note:
• Is Brdget also known as St Bride, the patron saint of the Douglas
family? |
Sources
Sources for this article include:
David B. Appleton, Texas, United States
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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