Page:Life and history of Mary, Queen of Scots.pdf/14

THE HISTORY OF her to sign a deed, surrendering her crown to her son; and Lord Lindsay, the most brutal and bigoted of the confederated Lords, was so unmanly as to pinch with his iron glove the arm of the poor Queen, to compel her to subscribe the deeds.

A singular incident, however, for a short time, changed the face of things, and gave a gleam of hope to the unfortunate Queen of Scots. Sir William Douglas, the Laird of Lochleven, discharged the task of Mary's jailor with considerable severity; but his youngest brother, George Douglas, a youth of eighteen, was deeply interested by her beauty and misfortunes, and had for some time been anxiously meditating her deliverance. By the help of a little boy, a kinsman of his own, called Little Douglas, he contrived to steal the key of the castle while the family were at supper. He let Mary and her attendant out of the tower when all had gone to rest,—locked the gate behind them to prevent pursuit,—placed the Queen in a little boat provided for that purpose, and rowed them to the shore, throwing the keys of the castle into the lake in the course of their passage. Lord Seaton, a party of the Hamiltons, and many of her friends, were waiting at the landing place. They hurried her off to Niddry in West-Lothian, from which she went next day to Hamilton.

The news of the Queen's escape flew like lightning, and spread enthusiasm every where. Her