Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-09
LOCHLEVEN.

Was Imprisoned-One of the Most Inter
esting Spots in the History of Scotland.
The remark of the wise man, that of
making many books there is no end, is
especially applicable to the apparently
interminable series of works which have
been published respecting the character
and conduct OF Mary Queen of Scots.
Her history is one Of those strange, TO-
mantle stories which never lose their at
traction, but continue to be read with
undying Interest by successive genera
tions. The thrilling events of her life
have been narrated, and the question OF
her guilt or innocence of her husbands
murder has been discussed at great
length in succession Of treatises from
her own day to the present time by emf
nent historians and lawyers, belonging
not only to our own country, but also to
France and Italy to Germany and Russia.
''The cry is still they come" and here we
have two new publications in Life OF
Mary Queen of Scots" by Agnes M
Stewart, and "Mary Stuart, Sketch and
Defense" by Geard Daniel, rediscussing
the old question with as much zeal as il
it had never before been handled. The
recent controversialists have added
scarcely any material facts to those
which their predecessors had accumu-
lated, and they have left the main points
at Issue with no change ir their position
but the painstaking industry Of Mr..
Marshall, Kinrosshire antiquarian, has
brought to light a number of interesting
details respecting Queen Mary's resi-
dence in Lochleven castle, which We
hope will ere long be published in the
elaborate work which he is preparing on
the antiquities and the history of the
country. Lochleven castle, which has
become by its connection with the Scott
ish queen one OF the most interesting
spots in the history of Scotland, stands
on an island about five acres in extent.
The dark, massive ruins of the castle are
conspicuous amid the delightful scenery
by which it is surrounded.
1t is protected on the north by a
mountain screen-an outlying section of
the Ben Lomond hills-and on the south
by Benartv. On the western shore
stands the little, quiet town of Kinross,
beyond which stretches an extensive and
fertile plain. The swift and pellucid
stream of Leven debouches from the
eastern side of the loch, not far from the
small island Of st. Serf, celebrated for
it's priory, which superseded an ancient
Culdee establishment. Its superior
about the close of the fourteenth century
was Wyntoun, the author Of the 'Metri-
cal Chronicle of Scotland" In the days
Of Queen Mary two other monasteries-
those of Portm oak aud Scotland's Well
were standing ON the northern shore Of
the Loeb, but scarcely vestige Of their
buildings now remains. The "well" it.
self, however, is still as clear, beautiful,
and refreshing as ever. Ebenezer was
for good many years minister Of the
parish Of Portmoak, in which there is
the hamlet of Kinnesswood, where Mich
ael Bruce. the poet, was born. A short
way to the east, nestled under one of
the Lonond hills, is the palace of Falk-
land, erected by Queen Mary's ill-starred
father, James ", aid the place of his
untimely death. Lochleven castle itself
is associated with traditions Of Pictish
was for some time the residence
OF Alexander I'LL; was besieged by Ed
ward L of England during the war of
independence; belonged to Euphemie,
second wife OF Robert IL; and toward
the close Of the twelfth century was con
ferred upon scion Of the great family
OF Douglas-an ancestor Of the Doug
Eases Of Lochleven-in whose possession
it remained until near the close OF the
seventeenth century.
Queen Mary was no stranger to tho
OF Lochleven or TO the cas-
tie itself, as che had frequently resided
in it when following her favorite sports
OF hunting, hawking and fishing. Sew
eral Of her letters and her acts OF coun-
chi are dated from Lochleven, and she
was living there when she held at Kin
ross the memorable interview with John
Knox. We learn from her manuscript
that ahor.klv afN>r ha. ,.Ax~