Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-02-05

Little Douglas; in the castle he was called the hau
Willie the Orpban Wilie and the Founding Willie,
for be was found when babe, at the castle gates
Home of Godscro, says ''He was the nalural oroher
of George Douglas" statement perfectly reconciieaoe
with the story of his first introduction INTO the amy OF
The Laird of Locheven. Such incidents are not OF un-
reouent occurrencenthe daily romance OF iie aud OIL
ten has it happenedha the appeal made to the parental
feelings of prohigate seducer, in behalf OF gutless
child of sin and sorrow has awakened feelings OF feml-
nine compassion in the bosom of the injured vile, and
the forlorn stranger has received home and nurture
through her charity This appears TO have been the case
with regard to Little Willie and the Lady of Lochleven;
for whether she suspected his connection with The Laird
her husband or not he was taken n and brought up un-
der her auspices and attendant on her person. Frai
as she had been in her youth and cruel and vndctve
in her treatment of the lawful daughter OF her royal Sc
desr whom irked ter pride cons der as her sove-
reign il nevertheless pleasant to trace out the evil
dence of some good in the harsh Lady of Lochleyen.
The Founding Willie remained in the castle, after
the death of the old Laird an orphan dependent in the
family but his subsequent actions prove that he bad re-
ceved the education of gentleman; for not only cond
he read and write but he understood enough OF french
and other languages be secret missions TO for
eign princes. TO these requirements lille added cou-
rage irmness and address, seldom parae'ed in one OF
his tender years.
There not any circumstances in the course OF Mary
Stuart's career striking than the fact that in this
dark epoch of her fe when deprived OF all the attrl-
butes of royalty, oppressed, caumnated, and mprlson-
ed, two friends like George and Willie Douglas should
have been raised up for her in the family o her dead-
est foes The regent and his conederaes, men whose
hands had been soied with English gold had not cacu-
lated on the existence Of the chvarc feelings which
imated those young hearts with the determination OF e
fecting the liberation of their captive queen
"Mary being deprived of pen and ink at this time"
saws her ,ench bographer Caussn, "wrote her nstruc
lions with piece of charcoal on her handkerchief which
she employed the boy Willie Douglas dispatch TO the
Lord Seon John Be,on, who still lay, perdue among
the hills was the ready bearer of this mssive, and ar
ranged every thing for the reception and safe conduct OF
his royal mistress, in she should be fortunate e.
nough 10 reach the shore in safety For many nights he
with Lord Seton George Dougl las, and others, kept
watch and ward on the promontory which commanded
view of the castle and the lake, in expectation OF be-
ing apprsed, by signal that the project was about to be
carried into effect.
On Sunday, the second evening in May all things be-
ing in readiness, and the family at supper, Willie Doug
las who was waiting the Lady Of Locheven contriv
ed while changing her plate, 10 drop napkin over the
KEYS of the castle, (Which always placed beside
her during meals and having thus enveoped them, sue
ceeded in carving them off unobserved. fastening
with them to the queen he conducted her, by private
stair ito the posern and so TO the water-gae OF the
castle which he took care lock after him; and when
the boat had gained convenient distance from the Shore
Aunu the KEYS into the water These mute memorials
Of tho adventure were found covered with rust when the
loch was drained, early in the present century. They
are now in the possession of the Earl Of Morton, at Dali
mahoy House, where them and the rude iron chain
which formerly linked them together, but which, being
rusted through fell pieces when taken out of the wa
ter The Iochleyen keys are five in number large and
small of antique workmanship and are all carefully en-
shrnea in caske lined with velvet, and preserved as
precious relics by the noble representative of the chiva-
ric George Douglas.
The boat which Willie the Orphan had adroitly Sc
cured for the service of his captive sovereign was that
belonging the castle, and the only medium Of commu
nicaton for the castean and his mene with the shore
Immediate pursuit therefore, almost impossible--
The companions of Queen Mary flight were her faith
fu attendant Mary Seton. her in the hour Of
PERIL and little girl of ten years old, OF whose safety
her majesty appeared tendery CAREFUL as she led her by
the hand. The other damse French lady oil the name
of Quenede, gave remarkable proof OF her personal
courage and devotion 10 her royal MISTRESS for, not be-
ing quick enough reach the castle gate till II was lock-
ed behind the etreang party she fearlessy leaPed out
of the window of the queens apartment into the loch
and swan after the boat till she received within that
little ark in her dripping garments.
Meantime Lord Seton and his gallant associates, who
were anxously reconnoiterng from th. eyre the pro-
oess o the little bark and its precious freight across the
lake. remained in of the greatest excitement not
daring to believe that feeble instrument as the or
phan Willie had succeeded in achieving exploit
the brayest peers in Scotland might have been proud oil
having performed and her roy@ knsmen, the allied
Princes of France and SPAIN had not venlured to attempt
But all doubts and fears dspelsd when they recog
missed the stately figure Of their Queen distinguished
from the other females by her superior height rising 10
the boat and giving The elegraPhic signal OF her safety
as previously agreed, by waving her vei which was
white With crimson border the royal colors OF Scot
land. The moment that auspicous ensign was display
ed, fifty horsemen who had lain concealed behind the
h spang their saddles, and with Lord Seton at their
head gaoped down 10 the Shore where George Doug
las and Beton with another party Of devoted friends,
already waiting to receive and welcome their en-
franchsed sovereign, as she sprang TO the land The
heetesl paeys that Scotland could supply had long been
provided, and concealed by George Douglas trusy con-
ederaes in the village, in anticipation of the success OF
this enterprise, and ready ca Parsoned for the
queen and her ladies. Mary mounted without delay
and attended by the faithful companions of her pers
and escape secured across the country at fiery speed,
without haiIng till she reached North Queens Ferry,
about twenty miles from Locheven Embarkng in the
common ferry-boat at that port she and her company
crossed the rough waters o: the Firth, and landed, ira
dition says the ancient wooden pier, which formerly
iued out into the sea, just above the town of South
O,oo,,. Earry There she WAS and yyelcor,oJ b,