In the early fifteenth century, during the early reign of King James II, Clan Douglas were one of the most powerful regional landlords in Lowland Scotland. Some of their local rivals, like Clan Crichton, felt they were simply too strong and capable of upsetting the delicate power-balance within Scotland. The sixteenth-century Scottish historians, George Buchanan and Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, argued the chief of Clan Douglas, William, was haughty, over-ambitious and the cause of all strife in the kingdom at this point. Yet this seems highly unlikely, as in 1440 William was a young man of only sixteen-years of age, and he had barely been involved in any serious politics.

Nevertheless, for some, the Clan Douglas still constituted a serious threat. After all, King James II was still a minor of only ten-years of age, more figurehead than leader. A young, influential lord such as William Douglas could easily have obtained control of King and council in time. Therefore, Clan Crichton sought to break the power-base of the Douglases. With the help of Alexander Livingston of Callendar and others hidden behind-the-scenes, they concocted a plan.

"In 1440, Sir William Crichton, custodian of Edinburgh Castle, invited the Douglases to dine with the young king in the old fortress. The Clan Douglas chief, William, was accompanied by his younger brother, David. It seems the siblings suspected little as the evening began to unfold. Perhaps the presence of the king made them feel safe, especially when combined with the (unwritten) laws of hospitality. As guests, they must have assumed they were under the protection of their hosts. Their trusting nature would be their downfall.

Edinburgh Castle c. 1581 from Braun & Hogenberg’s ‘Civitates orbis terrarum’.