Sir James Hamilton, the head of the house, had been one of the adherents of the Earl, but he deserted to the royal side on the eve of the battle of Arkinholm. =9. Siege of Roxburgh.=--As the strife which was at this time going on between the Yorkists and Lancastrians kept the English busy at home, there was comparative peace on the Border, broken only by an inroad from Percy and the banished Douglas. James took the part of Henry VI., and raised a large army with the intention of invading England in his favour. But there was no serious war, and James saw that there was now a good chance of winning back the towns which the English still held in Scotland. He therefore laid siege to _Roxburgh_, and was killed there by the bursting of a large cannon which he was watching with great interest. After his death the Queen urged on the siege, and Roxburgh was taken and destroyed. This siege is noteworthy as being among the first in which we hear of the use of artillery in Scotland. Another notable feature of it was the presence of the Lord of the Isles with an auxiliary force, for which service he was made one of the Wardens of the Border. James had married _Mary_, the daughter of the _Duke of Gelders_, and left four sons, the eldest only eight years old. The second university in Scotland was founded in this reign, at _Glasgow_, by _Bishop Turnbull_. =10. James III., 1460-1488.=--During the first part of this reign, _Kennedy, Bishop of St. Andrews_, had the chief part in the government. He died in 1466, and on his death the _Boyds_ got hold of the King and of the chief power. These _Boyds_ were originally simple lairds, but they strengthened themselves by bonds with more powerful families, won the King's favour and finally got possession of his person, by making him come with them, partly by persuasion, partly by force, from _Stirling_ to _Edinburgh_. They then obtained an act of the Estates declaring that this step had been taken with the full consent and good pleasure of the King. The _Lord Boyd_ was appointed guardian of his person and of the royal strongholds, his son _Thomas_ was created _Earl of Arran_, and with the earldom the King's sister _Mary_ was given him in marriage.