Chapter DOUGLAS to Dowsabel of D by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Home was a Scotch minister, but the publication of a drama so offended the Presbytery, that he found it expedient to leave the ministry.

Douglas (Archibald earl of), father-in-law of prince Robert, eldest son of Robert III. of Scotland.

Margery of Douglas, the earl’s daughter, and wife of prince Robert duke of Rothsay. The duke was betrothed to Elizabeth daughter of the earl of March, but the engagement was broken off by intrigue.—Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Douglas (Clara), the heroine of lord Lytton’s comedy called Money (1840).

Douglas (George), nephew of the regent Murray of Scotland, and grandson of the lady of Lochleven. George Douglas was devoted to Mary queen of Scots.—Sir W. Scott: The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Douglas and the Bloody Heart. The heart of Bruce was entrusted to Douglas to carry to Jerusalem. Landing in Spain, he stopped to aid the Castilians against the Moors, and in the heat of battle cast the “heart,” enshrined in a golden coffer, into the very thickest of the foe, saying, “The heart or death!” On he dashed, fearless of danger, to regain the coffer, but perished in the attempt. The family thenceforth adopted the “bloody heart” as their armorial device.

Douglas Larder (The). When the “Good sir James” Douglas, in 1306, took his castle by a coup de main from the English, he caused all the barrels containing flour, meal, wheat, and malt, to be knocked in pieces and their contents to be thrown on the floor; he then staved in all the hogsheads of wine and ale upon this mass. To this he flung the dead bodies slain and some dead horses. The English called this disgusting mess “The Douglas Larder.” He then set fire to the castle and took refuge in the hills, for he said “he loved far better to hear the lark sing than the mouse cheep.”

Wallace’s Larder is a similar phrase. In the dungeon of Ardrossan, Ayrshire (surprised by him in the reign of Edward I.), he had the dead bodies of the garrison thrown together in a heap.

Douglas Tragedy (The), a ballad printed in Scott’s Border Minstrelsy. Lord William elopes with Margaret Douglas; but being pursued by her father and brothers, they fight, and the two are left dead on the road. William, wounded, just reaches home to die, and during the night Margaret does also.

Douloureuse Garde (La), a castle in Berwick-upon-Tweed, won by sir Launcelot du Lac, in one of the most terrific adventures related in romance. In memory of this event, the name of the castle was changed into La Joyeuse Garde or La Garde Joyeuse.

Dousterswivel (Herman), a German schemer, who obtains money under the promise of finding hidden wealth by a divining-rod.—Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary (time, George III.).

The incident of looking for treasure in the church is copied from one which Lilly mentions, who went with David Ramsay to search for hid treasure in West-minster Abbey.—See Old and New London, i. 129.

Dove (Dr.), the hero of Southey’s novel called The Doctor (1834).

Dove (Sir Benjamin), of Cropley Castle, Cornwall. A little, peaking, puling creature, desperately hen- pecked by a second wife; but madam overshot the mark, and the knight was roused to assert and maintain the mastery.

That very clever actor Cherry [1769–1812] appeared in “sir Benjamin Dove,” and showed himself a master of his profession.—Boaden.

Lady Dove, twice married, first to Mr. Searcher, king’s messenger, and next to sir Benjamin Dove. She had a tendresse for Mr. Paterson. Lady Dove was a terrible termagant, and, when scolding failed, used