Another descendant of Thomas de Crichton was Sir William Crichton who in 1439 was appointed to the office of Chancellor of Scotland, during the minority of James II of Scotland. Crichton organised the infamous "Black Dinner" at Edinburgh Castle of which he was constable. The Earl of Douglas and his brother were invited as guests of honour to a royal banquet at the castle, where King James was in residence. After the dinner the two Douglases were dragged from the boy king's presence and executed on Castle Hill. The Clan Douglas, never slow to take revenge, laid siege to the castle, which Crichton surrendered to the king, and a truce was declared. The Douglases would go on to make an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Crichton, who was later given the title Lord Crichton.