found himself in a situation to make a decisive effort. But Angus had not been idle. He summoned his retainers, and unfurling the royal standard, compelled James to mount his horse, and to lead them against his own friends. This, of itself, was an offence which a high-spirited mind could not easily forget. But James was not in a situation either to remonstrate or command. His heart, however, was with those against whom he was thus compelled to march; and desirous to render them every assistance, he contrived, although unable to do more, to delay the progress of the royal force, if it may be so termed, by a variety of means. The impatience of Angus at length grew so great, that, leaving the king to the care of his brother Sir George, he advanced, with the greater part of his troops, against Lennox and his friends, who were stationed on the banks of the river Avon, near to the ancient town of Linlithgow. His advance had been so rapid, that when Sir George and the king were passing Corstorphine, the sound of

artillery, bursting on the stillness around, told them that the conflict had commenced. Maddened at the idea of what might occur while only a part of their force was in the field, Sir George entreated the king, but in vain, to use greater speed. James had his own object in view; and Douglas, at last, completely forgetting the respect due to his sovereign, burst into this rash and menacing expression "Should our enemies vanquish, rather than surrender your person I shall tear you in halves." The impression made on the mind of James by this rebellious language was never to be eradicated, and in after years the family of Douglas had cause to remember it well. But, with regard to Lennox, the kind intentions of James were of no avail. His best and dearest friend was slain, and his followers were dispersed like clouds of dust before a stormy wind. It wanted but one thing to complete the chagrin of the king's mind at these events - the congratulations of Henry; and these were not long awanting, for they were poured abundantly, not

on James, but on the Douglases, who had ever shewn the warmest devotion to his interest.

But this was not to last for ever. The sun of the Douglases shone brightly, but it had reached its height, and was soon destined to descend. The mind of James was too active, and his temper too daring and aspiring to rest in peace, without one effort more to free himself from the odious power by which he was enthralled. He succeeded, and, in the disguise of a groom, escaped from the palace of Falkland, reached Stirling Castle by the dawn of next day, and at last enjoyed the comfort of a sound and secure repose, after the extraordinary fatigue of body and mind he had suffered for a period of many years.

At the time of his escape, Angus, we are told, had been absent on some affairs of state, and had left his royal prisoner to the care of his uncle Sir Archibald, and his brother George. But they, with a negligence, which in another cause would have been truly culpable, had departed, the one

(Sir Archibald, an easy-tempered and good-
hearted man, though, like many others of
the same disposition, too much under the
iron sway
of what is vulgarly called "petti-
coat government,") to visit his mistress at
Dundee, and the ambitious Sir George to
conclude an advantageous lease with the
primate of St. Andrew's.

On their return, the dreadful tidings of the king's escape reached them, and in the vain hope of recovering their prize, they followed him to Stirling. But they knew not the active and powerful mind they had to encounter. James dealt not in half measures; and ere a fourth part of their journey was passed, they were met by a herald, with a proclamation, commanding, on pain of treason, that none of the house of Douglas or its followers should approach within six miles of the royal residence. The rupture was now complete between them, and those who, from various motives, had either hated or envied the powerful house of Douglas, flocked to the support of their lawful prince; and, from that hour,

as an elegant writer expresses it," the power of the house of Douglas, which had spread like an Alpine torrent after rain, was reduced by the burning sun to its former narrow channel."

In pursuance of the measures he had thus commenced, James proceeded to summon a Parliament to attaint the Douglases. Whether for the purpose of resisting this attainder, or entertaining hopes of a still more ambitious kind, we know not; but true it is, that at this time Sir George and Sir Archibald, running their heads, as it were, into the lion's mouth, had the audacity to appear at Edinburgh with their adherents. But their friends deserted them-their cause became desperate - and being suddenly attacked by a powerful force, they were glad to seek their safety in flight. The earl, in the meantime, had retired to Tantallon Castle, betwixt North Berwick and Dunbar, and although much intercession was made for him, it was without avail; the attainder was passed, and the king in person proceeded to the siege of Tantallon.