en all that night." Probably there was no moment in the life of
the young monarch, who had fallen upon such troubled times, more sweet
than this when, after the wild excitement of the long night's riding, he
closed his young eyes, at an hour so unaccustomed, in the clear radiance
of the morning, feeling his life now free before him, as light and fair
and unfettered as the rising day. But Pitscottie must continue the tale
in his own admirable way. He says:--

"We will lat him sleep in his bed, and return to George Douglas, who
came home to Falkland at eleven hours at night, and required at the
porters what the King was doing, who answered that he was in his own
chamber sleeping, who was to rise tymous to the hunting, and right
so said the watchmen. George hearing this went to his bed, till on
the morn that the sun rose. Then came Patrick Carmichael, baillie of
Abernethie, and knocked at George Douglas's chamber door, and
inquired of him what the King was doing. George answered that he was
not waked as yet in his own chamber. The baillie answered, 'Ye are
deceaved; he is along the bridge of Stirling this night.' Then
George Douglas gat up hastilie and went to the porters and watchmen
and inquired for the King, who still answered that he was sleeping
in his own chamber. Then George Douglas came to the King's chamber
door and found it locked, and dang it up, but found no man in it.
Then he cryed, 'Fye, treason, the King is gone!'"

The confusion and dismay of the household were great. Some said that the
King had gone to Bambriefe "to visit a gentlewoman," which explanation
was received with relief, the question of morality being of small
consequence in comparison. George Douglas immediately leaped on his
horse to ascertain if this were true, but had not ridden more than two
miles when he met the Earl of Rothes, who told him the King was not
there. By this time the other Douglas who had gone to Dundee had
returned also, and a hurried council was held what to do. Angus himself
was immediately summoned from Tantallon by an express, "ane haistie
post," and instantly answering, set out with his uncle and brother, and
rode to Stirling with some forlorn hope it would appear of recovering
their empire over the King. But James had already gathered counsellors
round him, and was himself too strongly determined to maintain his
liberty to allow any approach. The road to Stirli