The assassination of James I of Scotland, Catherine Douglas trying to bar the door with her arm, attempting to bar the assassins' entrance, Monastery of the Black Friars, Perth, Scotland, 20 February 1437. The men led by Sir Robert Graham forced the door open, breaking Catherine's arm
Illustration by Gordon Browne (1858-1932)from a history of the Scottish People published in 1893. Info from wiki: Catherine Douglas, later Catherine "Kate" Barlass, was a historical figure who tried to prevent the assassination of King James I of Scotland on 20 February 1437. She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen of Scotland, Joan Beaufort. She was a member of the powerful Clan Douglas. Legend has it that during the King's stay at a Dominican chapter house in Perth, a group of men led by Sir Robert Graham came to the door searching for the King in order to kill him. The King's Chamberlain, Robert Stewart, Master of Atholl, had removed the bolt from the door of the room in which James and his queen were staying.[1] James fled into a sewer tunnel as the queen and her ladies quickly replaced the floorboards to hide his location.[2] Catherine sprang to the door and placed her arm through the staples to bar the assassins' entrance.[3] However, they forced the door open anyway, breaking Catherine's arm, and discovered and killed the King. From that point on, according to the story, Catherine took the surname of "Barlass".
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Photo credit: © Historical Images Archive / Alamy / Afripics
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