Douglas, James (1565 -1619)

These stamps probably belonged to Master James Douglas, Commendator of Melrose, second son of William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton. He married three times, firstly, Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Ker of Fernihurst, the contract dated 6 November 1587; secondly, Helen, daughter of William Scott, of Abbotshall, the contract dated 7 November 1598; and thirdly, in 1609, Jean, daughter of Sir James Anstruther. He had children by each marriage, and was dead by 1620. The second stamp exists with the initials altered to M W D, presumably for Master William Douglas who gave the book to Edinburgh University Library in 1619, and may have been a relative of James. The `I D preacher' who translated the manuscript in Edinburgh University Library was probably the owner of the stamps.