New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-14


distance from the shore flung the keys into the
water These mute memorials Of the adventure
were found covered with rust when the l0ch was
drained, early in the present century They are
now in the possession Of the Earl OF Morton at
DsImnh0y House where | saw them and the rude
iron chain which formerly linked them together
but which being ruated through fell TO pieces
when taken out Of the water. The Locbievea
kays are FIVE in number large and small OF an.
tGue workmanship, and are al!carefuliy enshrlned
10 q casket lined with velvet, end preserved as
Inescous relics by the noble representatives OF
the Chiv aIrio George Douglas.
The boat which Willie the Orphan had adroltiy
secured for the service Of his captive sovereign
was that belonging to the castle, and the oniy
medium ct communication tor the ca5FeHaR aA1
bis me186 with the shore. Immediate pursuit was
therefore, almost impossible. The companions
Of Queen Mays fight were her faithful attend.
ant Mary Seton, ever near her Ii the hoHr OF
peril, and little girl Of ten years old, OF whose
safety her majesty appeared tenderly careful, as
she led her by the hand. The other damsel
French lady Of the nama OF 4uenede, gave q Re
meGkable proof OF hex personal courage ana oT
votion TO her roy 81 mistress Tor not beng qnice
enough to reach the castle gate till It was oese6
behind the retreating party she feariessly ieaPea
out of the window % the queen ) apartment IAEo
the locb and SWAN after the bont til she was re
ceived within that little ark IN Ter gripping gar
uents.
e, =
ates. who were uxiousy accommodating from
their evria the progress of the litte bark and its
precious freight across the lake renamed IN
state Of the greatest excitement not daring 70
believe that go feeble an Instrument as the OF
DhaD Willie had succeeded IN achieving an eX-
Tloit which the bravest peers in Scotland might
have been proud OF having performed ana hef
own royal knsmen the allied Princes OF France
md Sraip had not ventured TO attempt. But
all doubts and fears were dispelied when they
recognized the stately Inquire OF tnelr Queen
distinguished from the other females 0y her suPe'
rior hight, rising IN the boat ana 6lVlDs tnc
telferaphic signal Of her safety, as previously
agreed by waving her vail, which was Whlte
with a crimson border the royal coors OF SCOT
land The moment Shat suspicious ensign was
displayed fifty horsemen who had lam CON
ces ed behind the bill, sprang to their saddles,
and with Lord seton at their head galloped down
to the shore where George Douglas and Beton,
with another party OF devoted friends were al
ready waiting to receive and welcome Their en-
| f7aucbsed sovereign as she sprang to the land
TIE 7eetest palfreys that Scotland could supply
| lad long been provided and concealed by '1eorfe
! Douglas tIusty conederates N the village, IN
authorization of the oil this enterprise, ana
were now ready caparisoned for the queen and
! her ladies' Mary mounted without delay, ami,
| attended BY the faithful companions OF her perns
and escape, secured across the country at fiery
| speed without hating, till she reached North
| Queens Ferry about twenty miles from loch-
! Ieven Fmbarking in the common terry BOAT ut
| TINT port she and her company crossed the rough
! winters of the Firth. and landed, tradition says,
at the ancient wooden pier, whiChiormerly jutted
ont into the sea- Just above the town OF South
! Queens Ferry There she was met and vel
coined by Lord Claud Hamilton, and tty caga'
! iels and other loyal gentlemen, eager to renew
their homage and burning to avenge her wrongs
Lord Seton conducted his royal mistress to his
own castle ut " est Niddry distant seven miles
from South Queens T cry, where she partook OF
| his hospitality, and enjoyed the repose OF few
| hours, after her moonlight hitting W est NludFy
now forms part of the fair domain OF the Earl OF
! Hopeton The rooAess shell of the stately cas-
tie which afforded the first safe resting place OF
the fugitive sovereign is still IN existence. The
changes Of the last few years have conductedthe
! railroad line between Edinburgh and Glasgow In
close proximity to the ruins of the eudal fortress
| which gave rest and shelter to the royal fugitive
after her escape from Locheyen. The gray
moldering pile. in its lonely desolation, arrests
! for moment the attention OF the muslmg moral
list or antiquarian among the passengers in the
| trains that thunder onward to their appointed goal
! through solttudcs that recall high and chyalrlc
visions of the past But Niddry Castle should be
visited in quiet hour by the historical pilgrim,
who would retrace in fancy the last bright scene
! OF Mary Stuart's life, when, Notwithstanding the
forced abdication which had transferred the regal
diadem OF Scotland to the unconscious brow OF her
| baby-boy she stood queen once more among the
only true mobiles OF her realm, those whom English
| gold had not corrupted, nor successful traitors
daunted.
one window in Nildry Castle was within the
memory of many persons in the neighborhood
suTmounted with the royal arms of Scotland, to.
eether with stone entablature. which, though
broken, is still in existence, Ill the orchard OF the
adjacent grange, inscribed in ancient letters with
the day otthe month and the day OF the year, and
| even the age Of George Lord of Seton ut the
| aDOcl, nj bJa life yyhnD fba
majesty Of Scotland, whom he bad SO honorable
! share in emancpatng from her cruel bondage
slept beneath his roof in safety.
Lord Seton had been an old and faithful ser
want OF his Queen. He was the master Of the
oval household and bad been present at her nup-
tials with the beloved husband of her youth King
! Francis IL Of France. On her return to Scot
land, after the death of that sovereign, Mary Of
fered to advance Seton to the dignity of ar earl
dom, bnt being the premier Baron In Parliament.
he refused to be the puisne Earl, giving humble
! thanks to Her Majesty for her profered grace at
the same time. Mary then wrote the following
! extempore 9istich in Latin and also in French
SAINT eonites dueesqaes dcnique reyes;
SetoHi donainpm sit salts n1ti;'
which in plain English, may be rendered thus
| Though Earls and Dukes and even Kings there be-
! Yet Seons noble Lord suffceh me-
After that unfortunate battle Of Langside, the
/ said George Seton was forced to lily to Flanders,
and was there in exile two years, and drove
wagon with four horses for his subsistence His
picture in that condition, adds the quaint, kin
dred biographer of the noble family of Seton,
have seen drawn, aud lively painted, at the north
| end of the long gallery in Seton, now oyerlaid
with timber From Flanders the said Lord
George went to Holland, and there endeavored to
seduce the two Scots regiments to the Spanish
service, upon a design thereby 10 serve his SOY.
ereign the queen, the king OF Spain being very
much her friend. Which plot Of his being reveal.
ed, the states of Holland did imprison and con.
denim him 10 ride the cannon but by the friend,
ship and respect the Scotch officers had to him, nc
was by them set at liberty, notwithstanding this
decision OF the States. -
Lord Seton outlwed theze troubles he was pre-.
hn 81