Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-02-05
MISC L l. l. A n Y.
ESCAPE or MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS
FROM LOcHLEVEN CASTLE.
nv AGNES STRICKLAND.

The escape of Mary, Queen Of Scots, from Lochleven
Castle is one of the striking passages In the histo
ry of female royalty. The time, the place. the beauty
and exalted rank of the Iustrous heroine. her wrongs
and her Distress the chivaly and courage Of the gallant
sprs who had undertaken to effect her deverance, the
ner Of the enterprise and its success combine all the
lemeDts of romance. Yet The adventure creates more
powerul impression related in the graphic simplicity Of
truth as it really befell, than when worked up with im
aoipary circumstances into tale Of fiction, even by the
MAGIC pen of Scout in the pages Of ''The Abbot"
The confederate lords into whose hands Mary, confd
inc in their solemn promises to trea, her with all honor
and as their sovereign, rashy surrendered her
self at Carberry h not only shameessy violated their
pact but after exposing her the most cruel insults
from the very affects of the people, ncaceaied her IN
the gloomy fortress Of Locheven under the ailOrshp of
the mother of her legmae brother the Earl of Muir
raw and the wardershp of the that person had had
by her late husband Sir Robert Douglass, of LOcheven
for the Lady of Lochleven married woman when
the Earl Of Murray was born.
1t is scarcely possible to imagine doelu abid-
ing place for the fallen Queen, in her acon, than that
which had been thus uiuriousy and by refinement of
malice selected for her by her per6dous foes The cas-
,le which is of extreme antiquity said indeed to have
chitecture consisting of square donon keep, fanked
with turrets, and encompassed with rampant; 1t is
built on small island almost in the centre of the wild
expanse of the deep and otimes stormy waters OF the
loch, which is fifteen miles in circumference The cas-
tie island consists oil FIVE acres, overgrown with
trees and brushwood In the midst Of this desoation
tradition points ancient stem of fantastic growth,
said to have been planted by the royal captive
mortal of her compulsory residence in the castle. The
boughs Of this tree, which is called "Queen Marys
Thorn" are constantly broken and carried away relics
by the visitors whom the interest attached to the
ry Of that unhappy princess attracts to the spot which
her su.ngs have rendered historic site OF melancho
ly celebrity.
Towards the end of March, Geo. Douglas, the young
est son of the Lady of Locheven whose manly heart
had been touched with generous sympathy Or some as
ser with ,9p and enduring passion for his lll-faed
SOVEREIGN made bold and almost successful attempt 10
convey her out Of the castle in the disguise OF aun-
dress. The Queen, however, being ldeniihed oy the
wheness and deicacy of her hands, which she had ais
ed TO repe of the rude boamen who endeavored TO
her hood and er to get sight of her lace, she
was brought back, and George Douglas was expelled
from, the castle with disgrace. But though banished
from his b,use he luked concealed in the adjacent vii
. where be baG friends and conrederates and doubt
less inspired many an honest burgher and peasant with
sympathy for the wrongs OF their captive sovereign, by
mis- description of the harsh restraint to which she was
subjected within the grim fortress of LOehleven. AT
Kinross he was joined by the ait:fnl John be'On and
other devoted servants of the Queen, WHO were assoca
ted for the emancipation of their royal ~siress and Nad
long been lurking in various disgpiaes, among The weS
tern LonOnds to watch for favorable opportunity OIL ell
fecting their object
Douglas had left wha, an able coadjutor wlthin Inc
castle, boy OF tender years, of mysterious Paren'dge
and humble vocation, who was destined act the part
of the mouse in Esop's beautiful fable. This unsus-
peoed coofsdera!e youth Of fifteen, who waited on