Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/212

 19* REIGN OF ELIZABETH. . Edinburgh, not offering convenient opportunities, an intimation was brought to Murray, that if he would go to Dumbarton Lord Fleming was ready to surrender the Castle. He went as far as Glasgow, but only to find that he had been misled, and he returned after a few days to Stirling. Bothwellhaugh had been on the watch for him at more than ono spot upon the road, but he had been unable to make certain of his aim, and he did not mean to risk a failure. Circumstances re- quiring the Regent's presence again in Edinburgh, he left Stirling on the afternoon of the 22nd of January, and that night slept at Linlithgow. The town then consisted of one long narrow street. Four doors be- yond the Hegent's lodgings was a house belonging to the Archbishop of St Andrew's which was occupied by one of his dependants. From the first landing-place a window opened upon the street, the staircase leading directly down from it to the back garden, at the end of which was a lane. A wooden balcony ran along out- side the house on a level with the window. It was railed in front, and when clothes were hung upon the bars, they formed a convenient screen behind which a man could easily conceal himself. Here on the morn- ing of the 23rd crouched Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh. The Abbot of Arbroath had lent him his own carbine ; the best horse in the stables of Hamilton Castle was at that Mary Stuart was going to fail, he began to think of doing something to recQver favour with the other side, and he sent word from Brussels to the Earl of Morton, ' that he was at the Eegent's command to do what service he would, either there with the Duke of Alva, or with the Queen of Scots.' Killigrew to Burghley, March 4, 1573 : JfSS. Scotland.