Mary Douglas of Liddesdale

http://www.venitap.com/Genealogy/WebCards/ps31/ps31_445.htm

His first wife, the heiress of Dalkeith, of whom later, died at the birth of her first child, and there was a difference of opinion as to whether the child was born living or not. Erskine claimed the liferent of his wife’s estate on the plea that the child lived, while James Douglas, the next heir, claimed the estates on the ground that the child died, and the partied resolved to decide the matter by personal combat. The duel was to take place at Edinburgh in presence of the King, and just before they entered the lists the parties were knight, James Douglas by Sir Archibal Douglas, ‘the Grim,’ and Thomas Erskine by his own father. Then they fought, but were separated by the royal command and led out of the lists. No agreement could be effected, and they were again about to engage, when the King’s influence prevailed and the matter was arranged. Sir Thomas Erskine accepted a sum of money in lieu of his rights, and Sir James Douglas obtained his estates in dispute.