=26. Fall of Angus.=--James at last contrived to make his escape by riding in the night, disguised as a groom, from _Falkland_ to _Stirling Castle_, 1528. Now that he was at last safely out of the hands of the Douglases, he set to work to crush them utterly. It was made treason for any who bore that name to come within six miles of the King, and an act of forfeiture was passed against them. Angus had many adherents; but as all those nobles who hoped for a share of his lands took part with the King, they proved too strong for him, and he was at last obliged to give in, and to flee for refuge to England. Thus the overthrow of the _Red Douglases_ was as thorough as had been that of the elder branch, on whose ruin they had risen. =27. Internal Affairs.=--James began his reign by executing summary justice on the lawless and turbulent part of his subjects. The Borderers were now nearly as troublesome as the Highlanders. They dwelt in the debateable ground between England and Scotland, and preyed on either country with the greatest impartiality. Certain families, as the _Kerrs_, _Armstrongs_, and _Scotts_, had a sort of monopoly of this wholesale thieving; and as they had taken to the clan system of the Celts, each robber chief in his peel tower could count, not only on the unquestioning service, but also on the personal devotion of every man in his following. _John Armstrong_ had made himself famous among them by his daring deeds. For this renown James made him pay dear; for judging that he, the most notorious offender, would make the most telling example of the force of justice, he had him seized and hanged like a common thief. New means were tried for quieting the disturbances in the _Western Highlands_ and _Isles_. _Argyle_ was deprived of his lieutenancy, and the government was in future to deal directly with the chiefs for the collection of taxes and of the feudal dues. Three persons were put to death in this reign for conspiracy and treason, all of whom were more or less connected with the banished Angus. These were the _Lady Glammis_, his sister; the _Master of Forbes_, his brother-in-law; and _James Hamilton_, the illegitimate brother of Arran, who was accused of being in league with him.