The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1858-11-20


BY AGNES STRICKLAND.
While Mary was penning, on the Oath of
January, her agitated inquiries as to the
of the traitor envoy at the Eng
lish Court for her delivery into Moray's
hands, her fraternal foe had been sudden
ly and awfu1ly cut off, in the midst of his
career of successful ambition and crime, by
the terrible vengeance of one OF the victims
of his injustice, and was then lying cold on
a bleody bier in the palace of Linlithgow.
Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, one Of the
loyal gentlemen of that name who drew the
sword in Queen Mary's cause at Langside,
had been admitted to quarter by the victo-
rious Regent, at the termination of that dis
astrous conflict, and liberated, among many
others of the vanquished pa ty, but was de-
prived Of his estates. His lady fattered
herself that Woodhouselee, being her per-
sonal inheritance, was not included in her
husbands forfeiture, r. mained in her patri-
monial mansion. But the Regent paid
small regard to the rights of personal prop
erty. His confederate, Sir John Belenden
the Justice Clerk, had performed much dirty
work in the accomplishment of the revolu-
ton, and, like Sir James Balfour, expected
large reward for his services; so the lands
and tenements of Woodhouselee were be-
slowed on him in part payment. When he
came to take possession Of his new acquisition
he found the lady of Woodhouselee was still
! occupying the house, and In no condition to
vacate it, having only the day before brought
her infant in the world; but, regardless OF
the common feelings Of humanity, and deaf
to all remonstrances and prayers, he viola
ted the sanctuary of The lying in chamber,
and thrust the young mother out OF the
house into the deep snow, undefended from
the inclemency of mid-winter nj ght. The
next morning she was found wandering
Through the woods in frenzy, which only
lterminated in death! Who can wonder that
lher husband infuriated by all outrage like
this, resolved eon avenging her sutferings
and death? An appeal to the laws of Scot
Hand would, he knew, be unavailing, so gross
lly violated as they had been both by the
IRerent and the great 1aw-oflicer who had
committed the crime. Bellenden, at Wood
houselee, was out of his reach, for Boutwell,
haugh, being an outlaw, was concealed for
safety of his life in the house of his kinsman
Archbishop Hamilton, at Linlithgow. The
Regent Moray, whom he regarded as the
primary cause of what had occurred, cross
ing his path in the maddening excitement
of his rage and grief was doomed to pay
: the penalty of a crime which appeared to
place its authors out Of the pale of humanity
s Understanding that the Regent was to pass
through Linlithgow on his way from Stirling
to Edinburgh, on the 23d ofJanuary, Both
: wellhaugh made his preparations tor ven
: geance and for fight The house in which
he was hidden fronted the High Street, and
;, bv the projection of portion of the build
: ING, somewhat narrowed the thoroughfare
This he knew would be favorable for hi!
purpose, by impeding the passage OF the
cavalcade at that point where the pressure
of the crowd would cause the horsemen t.
ride slowly, and not more than two abreast
At the back of the house was walled gar
4 den with wicket-gate opening into tn
fields, in the direction of the old Glasgo'
,. road. Perceiving that the wicket was to-
N low to admit a horseman to pass at full spec
IL he removed the Intel, and having saddle
Of and brdled the swiftest steed in the Arch
10 bishob's stable in readiness to mount, h
barricaded the front entrance, and equlppe
himself for the journey. Booted, spurret
and armed, he took his stand in woode
= gallery with latticed windows, that over-lool
ed the street, to await the coming of tt
Regent and his train. Having used tt
ed precaution of spreading a feather-bed {
on on the pavement of the gallery to muffie
op tread, and of hanging up black cloth
The prevent his shadow from being observe
ses as he passed the windows, he cut sms
the hole in the cloth, to enable him to take all
his just large enough to admit the muzzle of /
VII harquebuss, which he loaded with foul bl
. let's. But though his preparations were tn
covertly arranged, he had made no seer
of his intention, having openly swo
to avenge the sufferings and death OF
murdered wife &c on the bastard Regent
Predictions Of Moray's cutting off by V
lent and sudden death had been rife in Sc
1 Hand for some time. Several of the unf'
~ tunate old women, whom he had consign
~ to the flames on accusations Of witchcrs
had avenged themselves by prophesyi
'Ses ahs evil against him. One of the name of 4
Niven, at whose execution he presided
person, hearing him order bag OF g
, powder to be placed by the faggot and {
% barrel prepared for her immolation, bite
ers' @ exclaimed What need O a this was
heir of powther; less than half an ounce shall
ned. enough for my Lord Of Moray This
for acular denunciation was verified by
.na vengeful harquebuss of Bothwellhaugh'
N' the 23d January. Business of ominous
port to Queen Mary had been transat
by the Regent that morning, at Stlrl
with Sir Henry Yates and SirWilllam DR.