William le Hardi Douglas had fought against the English and had commanded Berwick castle during the siege by Edward I in 1296. After Berwick town had been put to the sword and the castle could hold out no longer, William Douglas surrendered the castle to Edward. The surrender terms were for the safe conduct and release of the castle garrison, Edward however reneged on this agreement and sent Douglas off to captivity in chains. Douglas however escaped or was released, because he reappears as a supporter of Wallace at the start of his rebellion. He later joined with Bruce and the Stewart and was among other Scottish leaders who surrendered to Edward at Irvine. Most were allowed to go free on production of a hostage for their future good behaviour, Douglas refused to hand over his son James and was once again sent off in chains, this time to Berwick castle, here his captors called him "savage and abusive" and he was transferred to the Tower of London. It was here in 1299 that William Douglas died as an enemy of the English. John Barbour the chronicler believed he was murdered.