Page:Life and history of Mary, Queen of Scots.pdf/19

Rh nearly been taken; but after spur and whip had both failed, he pricked his horse with his dagger, and compelled him to take a desperate leap over a ditch, which his pursuers were unable to cross, and thus made his escape—The Regent died in the course of the night, leaving a character, which has been, perhaps, too highly extolled by one class of authors, and too much depreciated by another, according as his conduct to his sister was approved or condemned.

The death of Murray seems to have been expected by Mary's friends, for the very night after it happened, the Scotts and Kerrs, two border clans, broke into England, and laid waste the country in all directions. When threatened with the vengeance of the Regent, a borderer replied that the Regent was as cold as his bridle bit.

In consequence of the murder of the Regent, men's minds were much exasperated against one another. Various castles still held out for Many, and among others was Dumbarton Castle. It was, however, taken from her party in the following extraordinary manner:—

Dumbarton is one of the strongest places in Scotland. It is situated on a rock, which rises almost perpendicularly from a level plain to the height of several hundred feet. On the summit of this rock the buildings are situated, and as there is only one access from below, which rises