James of Douglas was the friend and ablest lieutenant of Robert the Bruce. Known as the Black Douglas to the English and as the Good Sir James to the Scots, Douglas was a brilliant fighter and master of guerrilla warfare. He commanded the left wing of Bruce's army at the battle of Bannockburn. Before his death, Bruce asked Douglas to take his heart on a crusade to the Holy Land. Douglas set out bearing Bruce's heart in a silver casket, but on the way fell fighting the Moors in Spain. The Scottish knights who survived brought back Douglas's body which was entombed in the town of Douglas and Bruce's heart which was buried in Melrose Abbey.
James of Douglas was the friend and ablest lieutenant of Robert the Bruce. Known as the Black Douglas to the English and as the Good Sir James to the Scots, Douglas was a brilliant fighter and master of guerrilla warfare. He commanded the left wing of Bruce's army at the battle of Bannockburn. Before his death, Bruce asked Douglas to take his heart on a crusade to the Holy Land. Douglas set out bearing Bruce's heart in a silver casket, but on the way fell fighting the Moors in Spain. The Scottish knights who survived brought back Douglas's body which was entombed in the town of Douglas and Bruce's heart which was buried in Melrose Abbey.
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