5,000, while the King had not so much as a bodyguard, his commands were not easily enforced. On one occasion the King sent _Sir Patrick Gray_ to demand the release of his nephew, _M'Lellan_, tutor or guardian of the young _Laird of Bunby_, or Bomby, whom Douglas had put in ward because he failed to appear at one of the gatherings of his vassals. Douglas received him courteously, but said he could on no account hear the King's message till his visitor had dined. Meanwhile he had the prisoner brought out and beheaded. When he heard the King's order he feigned great respect for it, and, showing the body, said, "There lies your sister's son; he wants the head, but the body is at your service." Sir Patrick had to hide his anger as best he might till he had got safe out of his hands. =8. Majority of James.= =Fall of Douglas.=--The King's majority was soon followed by the ruin of _Livingstone_. _Douglas_ was too strong to be openly attacked. He was invited to _Stirling_ and received in a friendly way. James remonstrated with him about the bonds, and urged him to break them off. Douglas refused. James in a fit of passion cried out, "If you will not break the bonds, this shall," and stabbed him. Sir Patrick Gray, who stood by, killed him with his pole-axe. They then threw the mangled body into the courtyard. This savage deed plunged the whole country into civil war. _James_, the brother and heir of the murdered Earl, openly defied the King; that is, he renounced his allegiance to him as a traitor and a perjured man. His cause was taken up by the parties to the bond, the _Earls of Ross_ and _Crawford_. The King, who felt himself too weak to break the confederacy, was forced to turn to his own advantage the enmity among his nobles, and to pull down one house by building up another. This policy only changed the name of the rivals of the Crown, without getting rid of them, and it laid the foundation of the like troubles in future reigns. In the north James entrusted the conduct of the war to the head of the house of _Gordon_, whom he created _Earl of Huntly_, and whose lands lay between those of the banded Earls. In the south the _Earl of Angus_, the head of the _Red_ Douglases as they were called, was made use of to overthrow the _Black_ Douglases, the elder branch of the family. The question whether James Stewart or James Douglas should wear the crown was settled by a battle at _Arkinholm_, in _Eskdale_ in 1454. Douglas was forsaken by many of his followers, and was defeated and fled to England. An act of forfeiture was passed against him and all his house, and, to prevent any one family again becoming so formidable, another act was passed, which made _Galloway_ and certain other lordships and castles inalienable from the Crown. But, in spite of this, the greater part of the lands of the fallen Douglas went to his kinsman Angus. Many other families also, among them the _Hamiltons_, rose from the ruins of the Black Douglases.