THE MISSION OF JAMES THE GROSS From all sides the Douglases were marching upon Edinburgh.

After the murder of the young lords the city gates had been closed by order of the Chancellor.

The castle was put into a thorough state of defence.
The camp of the Avondale Douglases, William and James, was already on the Boroughmuir, and the affrighted citizens looked in terror upon the thickening banners with the bloody Douglas heart upon them, and upon the array of stalwart and determined men of the south.

Curses both loud and deep were hurled from the besiegers' lines at every head seen above the walls, together with promises to burn Edinburgh, castle and burgh alike, and to slocken the ashes with the blood of every living thing within, all for the cause of the Black Dinner and the Bull's Head set before the brothers of Douglas.
But at midnoon of a glorious day in the late September, a man rode out from the west port of the city, a fat man flaccid of body, pale and tallowy of complexion.

A couple of serving-men went behind him, with the Douglas arms broidered on their coats.