July 26, 2025 • 46 mins
Celebrated Crimes is a unique series of historical narratives by a young, rising Alexandre Dumas, before he became renowned as the author of DArtagnan or Monte Cristo. The third volume focuses on the tumultuous life and tragic end of Mary Queen of Scots. Dumas meticulously delves into the controversial aspects of her reign, yet maintains a sympathetic perspective towards her. Remembered for her strong ties to France through education and marriage, Marys fate has been a subject of unending debate, especially in light of the role Elizabeth played in her downfall.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter seven of Celebrated Crimes, Volume three by Alexandre Dumah,
translated by George Burnham Ives. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Chapter seven, a week after the events
we have related, as nine o'clock in the evening had
just sounded from the castle bell and the Queen and
Mary Seton were sitting at a table where they were
working at their tapestry. A stone thrown from the courtyard,
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passed through the window bars, broke a pane of glass,
and fell into the room. The Queen's first idea was
to believe it accidental or an insult, but Mary Seton,
turning round, noticed that the stone was wrapped up in
a paper. She immediately picked it up. The paper was
a letter from George Douglas, conceived in these terms. You
have commanded me to live, Madam. I have obeyed, and
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your Majesty has been able to tell from the kinross
light that your servants continue to watch over you. However,
not to raise suspicion, the soldiers collected for that fatal
night dispersed at dawn and will not gather again till
a fresh attempt makes their presence necessary. But alas to
renew this attempt. Now, when your majesty, these jailers are
on their guard would be your ruin. Let them take
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every precaution, then, Madame, let them sleep in security, while
we we, in our devotion, shall go on watching. Patience
and courage, brave and loyal heart, cried Mary, more constantly
devoted the misfortune than others are to prosperity. Yet I
shall have patience and courage, and so long as that
light shines, I shall still believe in liberty. This letter
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restored to the Queen all her former courage. She had
means of communication with George through Little Douglas, for no
doubt it was he who had thrown that stone. She
hastened in her turn to write a letter to George,
in which she both charged him to express her gratitude
to all the lords who had signed the Protestation and
begged them in the name of the fidelity they had
sworn to her not to cool in their devotion, promising
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them for her part to await the result. With that
patience and courage they asked of her, The Queen was
not mistaken. Next day, as she was at her window,
Little Douglas came to play at the foot of the tower, and,
without raising his head, stopped beneath her to dig a
trap to catch birds. The queen looked to see if
she were observed, and assured that that part of the
courtyard was deserted, she let fall the stone wrapped in
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her letter. At first, she feared to have made a
serious error, for little Douglas did not even turn at
the noise, and it was only after a moment during
which the prisoner's heart was torn with frightful anxiety, that indifferently,
and as if he were looking for something else, the
child laid his hand on the stone, and without hurrying,
without raising his head, without indeed giving any sign of
intelligence to her who had thrown it, he put the
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letter in his pocket, finishing the work he had begun
with the greatest calm, and showing the queen by this
coolness beyond his years, what reliance she could place in him.
From that moment the queen regained fresh hope. But days, weeks,
months passed without bringing any change in her situation. Winter came,
the prisoner saw snows spread over the plains and mountains,
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and the lake afforded her if she had only been
able to pass the door a firm road to gain
the other bank. But no letter came during all this
time to bring her the consoling news that they were
busy about her deliverance. The faithful light alone announced to
her every evening that a friend was keeping watch. Soon
nature awoke from her death sleep. Some forward sun rays
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broke through the clouds of this somber sky of Scotland.
The snow melted, the lake broke its ice crust, the
first buds opened, and the green turf reappeared. Everything came
out of its prison at the joyous approach of spring,
and it was a great grief to Mary to see
that she alone was condemned to an eternal winter. At last,
one evening, she thought she observed in the motions of
the light that something fresh was happening. She had so
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often questioned this poor flickering star, and she had so
often let it count her heart beats more than twenty times,
that to spare herself the pain of disappointment, for a
long time, she had no longer interrogated it. However, she
resolved to make one last attempt, and, almost hopeless, she
put her light near the window and immediately took it away.
Still faithful to the signal. The other disappeared at the
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same moment, and reappeared at the eleventh heartbeat of the Queen.
At the same time. By a strange coincidence, a stone
passing through the window fell at Mary Seaton's feet. It
was like the first, wrapped in a letter from George.
The Queen took it from her companion's hands, opened it
and read, the moment draws near your adherents are assembled.
Summon all your courage tomorrow at eleven o'clock in the evening,
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drop a cord from your window, and draw up the
packet that will be fastened to it. They remained in
the Queen's apartments, the rope over and above what had
served for the latter taken away by the guards the
evening of the frustrated escape. Next day, at the appointed hour,
the two prisoners shut up the lamp in the bedroom
so that no light should betray them, and Mary Seaton,
approaching the window, let down the cord. After a minute,
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she felt from its movements that something was being attached
to it. Mary Seaton pulled, and a rather bulky parcel
appeared at the bars, which it could not pass on
account of its size. Then the Queen came to her
companion's aid. The parcel was untied, and its contents separately
got through easily. The two prisoners carried them into the
bedroom and barricaded with in commenced an inventory. There were
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two complete suits of men's clothes in the Douglas livery.
The Queen was at a loss when she saw a
letter fastened to the collar of one of the two coats.
Eager to know the meaning of this enigma, she immediately
opened it and read as follows. It is only by
dint of audacity that her Majesty can recover her liberty.
Let her Majesty read this letter then, and punctually follow,
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if she deign to adopt them, the instructions she will
find therein In the daytime, the keys of the castle
do not leave the belt of the old Stuart. When
curfew is wrung, and he has made his rounds to
make sure that all the doors are fast shut, he
gives them up to William Douglas, who, if he stays up,
fastens them to his sword belt, or if he sleeps,
put them under his pillow. For five months, Little Douglas,
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whom everyone is accustomed to see working at the armorer's
forge of the castle, has been employing and making some
keys like enough to the others, once they are substituted
for them for William to be deceived. Yesterday Little Douglas
finished the last. On the first favorable opportunity that Her
Majesty will know to be about to present itself. By
carefully questioning the light each day, Little Douglas will exchange
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the false keys for the true, will enter the Queen's
room and will find her dressed as well as Miss
Mary Seton, in their men's clothing, and he will go
before them to lead them by the way which offers
the best chances for their escape. A boat will be
prepared and will await them till then every evening, as
much to accustom themselves to these new costumes as to
give them an appearance of having been worn. Her Majesty
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and Miss Mary Setan will dress themselves in the suits
which they must keep on from nine o'clock till midnight. Besides,
it is possible that, without having had time to warn them,
their young guide may suddenly come to seek them. It
is urgent then that he find them ready. The garments
ought to fit perfectly her Majesty and her companion. The
measure having been taken on Miss Mary Fleming and Miss
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Mary Livingstone, who are exactly their size, one cannot too
strongly recommend her Majesty to summon to her aid on
the supreme occasion the coolness and courage of which she
has given such frequent proofs at other times. The two
prisoners were astounded at the boldness of this plan. At
first they looked at one another in consternation, for success
seemed impossible. They nonetheless made trial of their disguise, as
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Georgies said, it fitted each of them as if they
had been measured for it. Every evening the Queen questioned
the light as George had urged, and that for a
whole long month, during which each evening the Queen and
Mary seton, although the light gave no fresh tidings, arrayed
themselves in their men's clothings, as had been arranged, so
that they acquired such practice that they became as familiar
to them as those of their own sex. At last,
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the second May fifteen sixty eight, the Queen was awakened
by the blowing of a horn. Uneasiest to what it announced,
She slipped on a cloak and ran to the window,
where Mary Seton joined her directly a rather numerous band
of horsemen. It halted on the side of the lake
displaying the Douglas pennon, and three boats were rowing together
and vying with each other to fetch the new arrivals.
This event caused the Queen dismay. In her current situation.
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The least change in the castle routine was to be feared,
for it might upset all the concerted plans. This apprehension
redoubled when on the boats drawing near, the Queen recognized
in the elder Lord Douglas, the husband of Lady Lochleven
and the father of William and George. The venerable Knight,
who was keeper of the marches in the North, was
coming to visit his ancient manner, in which he had
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not set foot for three years. It was an event
for Lochleven, and some minutes after the arrival of the boats,
Mary Stuart heard the old Stewart's footsteps mounting the stairs.
He came to announce his master's arrival to the Queen, and,
as it must needs be a time of rejoicing to
all the castle inhabitants. When its master returned. He came
to invite the Queen to the dinner in celebration of
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the event. Whether instinctively or from distaste to the Queen declined.
All day long, the bell and the bugle resounded. Lord Douglas,
like a true feudal lord, traveled with the retinue of
a prince. Once saw nothing but new soldiers and servants
passing and repassing beneath the Queen's windows. The footmen and
horsemen were wearing, moreover, a livery similar to that which
the Queen Mary Seaton had received. Mary awaited the night
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with impatience. The day before, she had questioned her light,
and it had informed her, as usual, in reappearing at
her eleventh or twelfth heart beat, that the moment of
escape was near. But she greatly feared that Lord Douglas's
arrival might have upset everything, and that this evening's signal
could only announce a postponement. But hardly had she seen
the light shine than as she placed her lamp in
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the window, the other disappeared directly, and Mary Stuart, with
terrible anxiety, began to question it. This anxiety increased when
she counted more than fifteen beats. Then she stopped, cast down,
her eyes mechanically fixed on the spot where the light
had been. But her astonishment was great when, at the
end of a few minutes she did not see it reappear,
and when half an hour having elapsed, everything remained in darkness.
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The Queen then renewed her signal, but obtained no response.
The escape was for the same evening. The Queen and
Mary seton, were so little expecting this issue that, contrary
to their custom, they had not put on their men's
clothes that evening. They immediately blue to the Queen's bed chamber,
bolted the door behind them, and began to dress. They
had hardly finished their hurried toilet when they heard a
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key turn in the lock. They immediately blew out the lamp.
Light steps approached the door. The two women leaned one
against the other, for they both were near falling. Some
one tapped gently. The queen asked who was there, and
little Douglas's voice answered in the first two lines of
an old ballad, Douglas Douglas Tender and True Mary opened directly.
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It was the watchword agreed upon with George Douglas. The
child was without a light. He stretched out his hand
and encountered the queen's in the starlight. Mary Stewart saw
him kneel down, and then she felt the imprint of
his lips on her fingers. Is your majesty ready to
follow me, he asked in a low tone, rising yes,
my child, the queen answered, it is for this evening, then,
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with your Majesty's permission, Yes, it is for this evening.
Is everything ready? Everything? What are we to do? Follow
me everywhere? Oh? My god, my god, cried Mary Stuart.
Have pity on us then, having breathed this short prayer
in a low voice, while Mary Seton was taking the casket,
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in which were the Queen's jewels, I am ready, said she,
and you, darling, I also replied Mary Seton. Come then,
said little Douglas. The two prisoners followed the child, the
Queen going first, and Mary Seaton after. Their youthful guide,
carefully shut again the door behind him, so that if
a warder happened to pass, he would see nothing. Then
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he began to descend the winding stair. Half way down,
the noise of the feast reached them. A mingling of
shouts of laughter, the confusion of voices and the clinking
of glasses. The queen placed her hand on her young
guide's shoulder. Where are you leading us, she asked him,
with terror. Out of the castle, replied the child. But
we shall have to pass through the great Hall without
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a doubt, and that it's exactly what George foresaw. Among
the footmen whose livery your majesty is wearing, no will
recognize you. My god, my god, the queen murmured, leaning
against the wall courage, Madam said, Mary seton in a
low voice. Oh we are lost. You are right, returned
the queen. Let us go, and they started again, still
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led by their guide. At the foot of the stair,
he stopped and giving the queen a stone pitcherful of wine.
Set this chug on your right shoulder, Madam said he.
It will hide your face from the guests, and your
majesty will give rise to less suspicion of carrying something.
You miss, Mary, give me that casket and put on
your head this basket of bread. Now that's right er.
Do you feel you have strength? Yes, said the queen, Yes,
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said Mary. Seton, then follow me. The child went on
his way, and after a few steps, the fugitives found
themselves in a kind of antechamber to the Great Hall,
from which proceeded noise and light. Several servants were occupied
there with different duties. Not one paid attention to them,
and that a little reassured the Queen. Besides, so there
was no longer any drawing back. Little Douglas had just
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entered the Great Hall. The guests, seated on both sides
of a long table, ranged according to the rank of
those assembled at it, were beginning dessert, and consequently had
reached the gayest moment of the repast. Moreover, the hall
was so large that the lamps and candles which lighted
it multiplied as they were left in the most favorable
half light both sides of the apartment, in which fifteen
or twenty servants were coming and going. The Queen and
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Mary Seaton mingled with this crowd, which was too much
occupied to notice them, and without stopping, without slackening, without
looking back, they crushed the whole length of the hall,
reached the other door, and found themselves in the vestibule
corresponding to the one they had passed through on coming in.
The Queen set down her jug there, Mary's seat in
her basket, and both still led by the child, entered
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a corridor at the end of which they found themselves
in the courtyard. A patrol was passing at the moment,
but he took no notice of them. The child made
his way towards the garden, still followed by the two women.
There for no little while it was necessary to try
which of all the keys opened the door. It was
a time of inexpressible anxiety. At last the key turned
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in the lock, the door opened, The queen and Mary's
Seaton rushed into the garden. The child closed the door
behind them. About two thirds of the way across. Little
Douglas held out his hand as a sign to them
to stop. Then, putting down the casket and the keys
on the ground, he placed his hands together and, blowing
into them thrice, imitated the owl's cry so well that
it was impossible to believe that a human voice was
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uttering the sounds. Then, picking up the casket and the keys,
he kept on his way on tiptoe and with an
attentive ear. On getting near the wall, they again stopped,
and after a moment's anxious waiting, they heard a groan,
then something like the sound of a falling body. Some
seconds later, the owl's cry was answered by a two whittoo. Whatoo,
it is over, little Douglas said, calmly. Come, what is over,
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asked the queen, And what is that groan we heard?
That was the sentry at the door onto the lake,
The child answered, but he is no no longer there.
The queen felt her heart's blood grow cold at the
same time that a chilly sweat broke out to the
roots of her hair, for she perfectly understood an unfortunate
being had just lost his life on her account. Tottering,
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she leaned on Mary's Seaton, who herself felt the strength
giving way. Meanwhile, Little Douglas was trying the keys. The
second opened the door, and the Queen said, in a
low voice, a man who was waiting on the other
side of the wall. She is following me, replied the child,
George Douglas, For it was he sprang into the garden, and,
taking the Queen's arm on one side and Mary Seton's
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on the other, he hurried them away quickly to the
lake's side. When passing through the doorway, Mary Stewart could
not help throwing an uneasy look about her, and it
seemed to her that a shapeless object was lying at
the bottom of the wall, and as she was shuddering
all over, do not pity him, said George in a
low voice, for it is a judgment from heaven. That
man was the infamous wooden who betrayed us, alas said
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the Queen, Guilty as as he was, he is none
the less dead on my account. When it concern your safety, Madam,
was one haggle over drops of that base blood. But
silence this way, William, this way, let us keep along
the wall whose shadow hides us. The boat is within
twenty steps, and we are saved. With these words, George
hurried on the two women, who were still more quickly,
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and all four, without having been detected, reached the banks
of the lake. As Douglas had said, a little boat
was waiting, and on seeing the fugitives approach, four rowers
couched along its bottom rows, and one of them, springing
to land, pulled the chain so that the Queen and
Mary seton could get in. Douglas seated them at the prow,
the child placed himself at the rudder, and George, with
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a kick, pushed off the boat, which began to glide
over the lake. And now said he. We are really saved,
for they might as well pursue a sea swallow on
Solway Firth as to try to reach us. Row children, Row,
never mind if they hear us. The main thing is
to get into the open. Who goes there, cried a
voice above from the castle terrace. Row Row, said Douglas,
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placing himself in front of the queen the boat. The
boat cried the same voice. Bring to the boat. Then,
seeing that it continued to recede, treason, Treason, cried the
sentinel to arms. At the same moment a flash lit
up the lake. The report of a firearm was heard,
and a ball passed whistling. The Queen uttered a little cry,
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although she had not no danger George, as we have said,
having placed himself in front of her, quite protecting her
with his body. The alarm bell now rang, and to
all the castle lights were seen moving and glancing about,
as if distracted in the rooms. Courage children, said Douglas, Row,
as if your lives depended on each stroke of the
oar for ere five minutes, the skiff will be out
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after us. That won't be so easy for them as
you think, George, said little Douglas, For I shut all
the doors behind me, and some time will elapse before
the key that I have left there open them as
to these added, he, showing those he had so skillfully
abstracted by, resigned them to the Kelpie, the genie of
the lake, and I nominate him porter of Locklaven Castle.
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The discharge of a small piece of artillery answered William's joke,
but as the night was too dark for one to
aim to such a distance as that already between the
castle and the boat, the ball ricocheted at twenty paces
from the fugitives, while the report died away, and echo
after echo. Then Douglas drew his pistol from his belt, and,
warning the ladies to have no fear, he fired in
the air, not to answer by idle bravado the castle cannonod,
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but to give notice to a troop of faithful friends
who were waiting for them on the other shore of
the lake, that the queen had escaped immediately in spite
of the danger of being so near kin Ross. Cries
of joy resounded on the bank, and William, having turned
the rudder, the boat made for land at the spot
whence they had been heard. Douglas then gave his hand
to the Queen, who sprank lightly ashore, and who, falling
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on her knees, immediately began to give thanks to God
for her happy deliverance. On rising, the Queen found herself
surrounded by her most faithful servants, Hamilton, Harry's and Setan
Mary's father. Light Headed with joy, the Queen extended her
hands to them, thanking them with broken words, which expressed
her intoxication and her gratitude better than the choicest phrases
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could have done. When suddenly turning round, she perceived George
Douglas alone and melancholy, then going to him and taking
him by the hand. My lords, said she, presenting George
to them, and pointing to William. Behold my two deliverers.
Behold those to whom, as long as I live, I
shall preserve gratitude of which nothing will ever acquit me, Madam,
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said Douglas. Each of us has only done what he ought,
and he who has risked most is the happiest. But
if your Majesty will believe me, you will not lose
a moment In needless words. Douglas is right, said Lord,
seton to horse to horse immediately, and while four couriers
set out in four different directions to announce to the
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Queen's friends her happy escape. They brought her a horse
saddled for her, which she mounted with her usual skill.
Then and the little troop, which composed of about twenty persons,
was escorting the future destiny of Scotland, keeping away from
the village of kin Ross, to which the castle firing
had doubtless given the alarm, took at a gallop the
road to Seton's castle, where was already a garrison large
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enough to defend the queen from a sudden attack. The
queen journeyed all night, accompanied on one side by Douglas,
on the other by Lord Seaton. Then at daybreak they
stopped at the gate of the castle of west Nidri,
belonging to Lord Seton, as we have said, and situated
in West Lothian. Douglas sprang from his horse to offer
his hand to Mary Stuart, but Lord Seton claimed his
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privilege as master of the house. The Queen constalled Douglas
with a glance and entered the fortress. Madame, said Lord Seaton,
leading her into a room prepared for her for nine months,
Your majesty must have need of repose. After the fatigue
and the emotions you have gone through since yesterday morning,
you may sleep here in peace and disquiet yourself for nothing.
Any noise you may hear will be made by a
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reinforcement of friends, which we are expecting. As to our enemies,
your Majesty has nothing to fear from them, so long
as you inhabit the castle of a Seatan. The Queen
again thanked all her deliverers, gave her hand to Douglas
to kiss one last time, kissed little William on the forehead,
and named him her favorite page for the future. Then,
profiting by the advice given her, entered her room, where Mary,
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seton to the exclusion of every other woman, claimed the
privilege of performing about her the duties with which she
had been charged during their eleven months captivity in Lochlaven Castle.
On opening her eyes, Mary Stuart thought she had had
one of those dreams so gainful to prisoners. When waking
they see again the bolts on their doors and the
bars on their windows. So the Queen, unable to believe
the evidence of her senses, ran half dressed to the window.
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The courtyard was filled with soldiers, and these soldiers all
friends who had hastened at the news of her escape.
She recognized the banners of her faithful friends, the Seatans,
the Abros, the Harrys, and the Hamiltons. And scarcely had
she been seen at the window, than all these banners
bent before her, with the shouts a hundred times repeated
of long Live Mary of Scotland, Long live our Queen. Then,
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without gives, giving heed to the disarray of her toilet,
lovely and chasted with her emotion and her happiness, she
greeted them in her turn, her eyes full of tears,
but this time they were tears of joy. However, the
queen recollected that she was barely covered, and blushing at
having allowed herself to be thus carried away. In her ecstasy,
she abruptly drew back, quite rosy, with confusion. Then she
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had an instant's womanly fright. She had fled from Lachlaven
Castle in the Douglas livery, and without either the leisure
or the opportunity for taking women's clothes with her, But
she could not remain attired as a man. So she
explained her uneasiness to Mary Seaton, who responded by opening
the closets in the Queen's room. They were furnished not
only with robes, the measure for which, like that of
the suit, had been taken from Mary Fleming, but also
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with all the necessities for a woman's toilet. The Queen
was astonished. It was like being in a fairy castle,
Mignon said, she, looking one after another at the robes,
all the stuffs of which were chosen with exquisite taste.
I knew your father was a brave and loyal knight,
but I did not think him so learned in the
matter of the toilet. We shall name him Groom of
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the Wardrobe. Alas Madame smilingly replied Mary Seton, you are
not mistaken. My father has had everything in the castle
furbished up to the last corsult, sharpened to the last sword,
unfurled to the last banner. But my father, ready as
he is to die for your Majesty, would not have
dreamed for an instant of offering you anything but his
roof to rest under, or his cloak to cover you.
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It is Douglas again who has foreseen everything, prepared everything everything,
even to Rosabel, your Majesty's favorite steed, which is impatiently
awaiting in the stable the moment when mounted on her,
your majesty will make your triumphal re entry into Edinburgh.
And how has he been able to get her back again?
Mary asked, I thought that in the division of my spoils,
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Rosabel had fallen to the fair Alice, my brother's favorite sultana. Yes, yes,
said Mary Seton. It was so, and as her value
was known, she was kept under lock and key by
an army of grooms. But Douglas is the man of miracles,
and as I have told you, Rooseabel awaits your majesty.
Noble Douglas murmured the queen, with eyes full of tears, then,
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as if speaking to herself. And this is precisely one
of those devotions that we can never repay. The others
will be happy with honors places money, but the Douglas,
what matter all these things? Come, Madam, Come, said Mary Seton.
God takes on himself the debts of kings. He will
reward Douglas as to your majesty, reflect that they are
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waiting dinner for you. I hope, added she, smiling, that
you will not affront my father as you did, Lord Douglas.
Yesterday in refusing to partake of his feast on his
fortunate home coming. And your luck has come to me
for it, I hope, replied Mary. But you are right, darling,
no more sad thoughts. We will consider, when we have
indeed become queen again, what we can do for Douglas.
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The queen dressed and went down as Mary Seton had
told her, the chief noblemen of her party, already gathered
round her, were waiting for her in the great hall
of the castle. Her arrival was greeted with acclamations of
the liveliest enthusiasm, and she sat down to table, with
Lord Seaton on her right hand, Douglas on her left,
and behind her little William, who the same day was
beginning his duties as page. Next morning, the Queen was
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awakened by the sound of trumpets and buckles. It had
been decided the day before that she should set out
that day for Hamilton, where reinforcements were looked for. The
queen downed in an elegant riding habit, and soon mounted
on roosevel, appeared amid her defenders. The shouts of joy
redoubled her beauty, her grace, and her courage were admired
by every one. Mary Stuart became her own self once more,
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and she felt spring up in her again the power
of fascination she had always exercised on those who came
near her. Every one was in good humor, and the
happiest of all was perhaps little William, who, for the
first time in his life had such a fine dress
and such a fine horse. Two or three thousand men
were awaiting the Queen at Hamilton, which she reached the
same evening, and during the night following her arrival, the
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troops increased to six thousand. The second of May, she
was a prisoner without another friend, but a child in
her prison, without other means of communication with her adherents
than the flickering and uncertain light of a lamp. And
three days afterwards, that is to say, between the Sunday
and the Wednesday, she found herself not only free, but
also at the head of a powerful confederacy which counted
at its head nine earls, eight peers, nine bishops, and
(26:21):
a number of barons and nobles renowned among the bravest
of Scotland. The advice of the most judicious among those
about the Queen was to shut herself up in the
strong castle of Dumbarton, which, being impregnable, would give all
her adherents time to assemble together, distant and scattered as
they were. Accordingly, the guidance of the troops who were
to conduct the Queen to that town was entrusted to
the Earl of Argyll, and the eleventh of May she
(26:43):
took the road with an army of nearly ten thousand men.
Murray was at Glasgow when he heard of the Queen's escape.
The place was strong, he decided to hold it and
summoned to him as bravest and most devoted partisans. Kirkaldy
of Grange Morton, Lindsay of Byers, Lord Lochlaven, and William
Douglas hastened to him, and six thousand of the best
troops in the kingdom gathered round them, while Lord Ruffin
(27:04):
in the counties of Berwick and Angus raised the levies
with which to join them. The thirteenth of May, Morton
occupied from daybreak the village of Langside, through which the
Queen must pass to get to Dumbarton. The news of
the occupation reached the Queen as the two armies were
yet seven miles apart. Mary's first instinct was to escape
an engagement. She remembered her last battle at Carbury Hill,
(27:25):
at the end of which she had been separated from
Bothwell and brought to Edinburgh. So she expressed aloud this opinion,
which was supported by George Douglas, who, in black armor
without other arms, had continued at the Queen's side. Avoid
an engagement, cried Lord Seaton, not daring to answer his sovereign,
and replying to George as if his opinion had originated
with him. We could do it, perhaps if we were
(27:47):
one to ten, but we shall certainly not do so,
and we are three to two. You speak a strange tongue,
my young master, continued he with some contempt, and you
forget it seems to me that you are a Douglas,
and that you speak to a Seatan, My lord, returned
George calmly. When we only hazard the lives of Douglases
and Setans, you will find me, I hope, as ready
(28:09):
to fight as you. Be it one to ten, be
it three to two. But we are now answerable for
in existence dearer to Scotland than that of all the
Setans and all the Douglases, My advice is then to
avoid battle. Battle, battle, cried all the chieftains. You hear, madame,
said Lord Seton to Mary Stuart. I believe that to
(28:30):
wish to act against such unanimity would be dangerous in Scotland. Madame,
there is an ancient proverb which has it that there
is most prudence in courage. But have you not heard
that the regent has taken up an advantageous position? The
queen said, The greyhound hunts the hare on the hillside
as well as in the plain. Replied Seton, we will
(28:52):
drive him out wherever he is. Let it be as
you desire, then, my lords, it shall not be said
that Mary Stuart returned to the scabbard the sword her
defenders had drawn for her. Then, turning round to Douglas George,
she said to him, but choose a guard of twenty
men for me, and take command of them. You will
not quit me. George meant low in obedience, chose twenty
(29:15):
from among the bravest men, placed the Queen in their midst,
and put himself at their head. Then the troops which
had halted received the order to continue their road. In
two hours time, the advance guard was in sight of
the enemy, it halted, and the rest of the army
rejoined it. The Queen's troops then found themselves parallel with
the city of Glasgow, and the heights which rose in
front of them were already occupied by a force above
(29:36):
which floated as above that of Mary the Royal banners
of Scotland. On the other side, and on the opposite slope,
stretched the village of Langside, encircled with enclosures and gardens.
The road which led to it, and which followed all
the variations of the ground, narrowed at one place in
such a way that two men could hardly pass abreast,
then farther on, lost itself in a ravine beyond which
(29:57):
it reappeared, then branched into two, of which one climbed
to the village of Langside, while the other led to Glasgow.
On seeing the lie of the ground, the Earl of
Argyll immediately comprehended the importance of occupying this village, and
turning to Lord Seaton, he ordered him to gallop off
and tried to arrive there before the enemy, who, doubtless,
having made the same observation as the commander of the
royal forces, was setting in motion. At the very moment
(30:18):
a considerable body of cavalry. Lord Seton called up his
men directly, but while he was ranging them round his banner,
Lord Arbroth drew his sword, and approaching the earl of Argyll.
My lord said, he you do me a wrong, and
charging Lord Seaton to seize that post as commander of
the vanguard. It is to me this honor belongs. Allow
me then to use my privilege in claiming it. It
(30:41):
is I who received the order to seize it. I
will seize it, cried Seton. Perhaps returned Lord Arbroath, but
not before me, before you, and before every Hamilton in
the world, exclaimed Seton, putting his horse to the gallop
and rushing down into the hollow road. Saint and forward,
(31:02):
come my faithful kinsmen, cried the Lord of Broth, dashing
forward on his side with the same object. Come my
men at arms for God and the Queen. The two
troops precipitated themselves immediately in disorder, and ran against one
another in the narrow way, where as we have said,
two men could hardly pass abreast. There was a terrible
collision there, and the conflict began among friends who should
(31:23):
have been united against the enemy. Finally, the two troops,
leaving behind them some corpses stifled in the press or
even killed by their companions, passed through the defile Pellmell
and were lost sight in the ravine. But during this
struggle Setan and Abroth had lost precious time, and the
detachment sent by Murray, which had taken the road by Glasgow,
had reached the village beforehand. It was now necessary not
(31:45):
to take it, but to retake it. Argoll saw that
the whole day's struggle would be concentrated there, and, understanding
more and more the importance of the village, immediately put
himself at the head of the body of his army,
commanding a rear guard of two thousand men to remain
there and to wait for their orders to take and
the fighting. But whether the captain who commanded them had
ill understood, or whether he was eager to distinguish himself
(32:05):
in the eyes of the Queen, scarcely had Argoll vanished
into the ravine at the end of which the struggle
had already commenced between Kirkaldy of Grange and Morton on
the one side, and on the other, between Arbroath and seton. Then,
without regarding the cries of Mary Stuart, he set off
in his turn at a gallop, leaving the Queen without
other guard than the little escort of twenty men which
Douglas had chosen for her. Douglas sighed, alas, said the Queen,
(32:28):
hearing him. I am not a soldier, but there it
seems to me is a battle very badly begun. What
is to be done, replied Douglas. We are every one
of us infatuated from first to last, and all these
men are behaving to day like madmen, are children. Victory, victory,
said the Queen. The enemy is retreating fighting. I see
(32:51):
the banners of Seton and Arbroth floating near the first
houses of the village. Oh, my brave lords, cried she,
clapping her hands. Victory. But she stopped suddenly on perceiving
a body of the enemy's army advancing to charge the
victors in flank. It is nothing, it is nothing, said Douglas.
So long as there is only cavalry, we have nothing
(33:12):
much to fear. And besides, the Earl of Argyll will
fall in time to aid them. George, said Little William Well,
asked Douglas, don't you see. The child went on stretching
out his arms toward the enemy's force, which was coming
on at a gallop. What each horseman carries a footman
armed with an arquebus behind him, so that the troop
(33:32):
is twice as numerous as it appears. That is true
upon my soul. The child has good sight. Let someone
go at once full gallop and take news of this
to the Earl or Argyll I, I cried little William.
I saw them first. It is my right to bear
the tidings. Go then, my child, said Douglas, And may
God preserve thee. The child flew quick as lightning, not
(33:56):
hearing or feigning not to hear, the Queen who was
recalling him. He was seen across the gorge and plunge
into the hollow road at the moment when Arkell was
debouching at the end and coming to the aid of
Seaton and Arbroth. Meanwhile, the enemy's detachment had dismounted its infantry,
which immediately formed up was scattering on the sides of
the ravine by paths impracticable for horses. William will come
(34:17):
too late, cried Douglas, or even should he arrive in time.
The news is now useless to them. Ah madmen, madmen,
that we are. This is how we have always lost
all our battles. Is the battle loss, then demanded Mary,
growing pale. No, Madam, No, cried Douglas. Heaven be thanked,
(34:38):
not yet, but through too great haste we have begun badly.
And William, said Mary Stuart, he is now serving his
apprenticeship in arms. For if I am not mistaken, he
must be at this moment, at the very spot where
those marksmen are making such quick firing. Poor child, cried
the Queen. If ill should befall him, I shall never
(34:59):
consent all myself alas Madam replied Douglas. I greatly fear
that his first battle is his last, and that everything
is already over for him. For unless I mistake, there
is his horse returning riderless. Oh my God, my God,
said the Queen, weeping and raising her hands to heaven.
(35:19):
It is then decreed that I should be fatal to
all around me. George was not deceived. It was William's horse,
coming back without his young master and covered with blood.
Madame said Douglas. We are ill placed here. Let us
gain that hillock on which is the castle of Crookstone.
From thence we shall survey the whole battlefield. No, not there,
(35:42):
not there, said the Queen, in terror. Within that castle
I came to spend the first days of my marriage
with Darnley. It will bring me misfortune. Well beneath that
yew tree, then said George, pointing to another slight rise
near the first. But it is important for us to
lose no detail of his engagement. Everything depends on, perhaps,
(36:02):
for your majesty, on an ill judge, maneuver, or a
lost moment guide me, then said the Queen. For as
for me, I no longer see it. Each report of
that terrible cannonot echoes to the depths of my heart.
However well placed as was this eminence, for overlooking from
its summit the whole battlefield, the reiterated discharge of cannon
(36:25):
and musketry covered it with such a cloud of smoke
that it was impossible to make out from it anything
but masses lost amid a murderous fog. At last, when
an hour had passed in this desperate conflict, through the
skirts of this sea of smoke, the fugitives were seen
to emerge and disperse in all directions followed by the victors.
Only at that distance it was impossible to make out
(36:45):
who had gained or lost the battle, and the banners,
which on both sides displayed the Scottish arms, could in
no way clear up this confusion. At that moment there
was seen coming down from the Glasgow Hill sides saw
the remaining reserve of Murray's army. It was coming at
full speed to engage in the fighting. But this maneuver
might equally well have for its object the support of
defeated friends as to complete the rout of the enemy. However,
(37:07):
soon there was no longer any doubt, for this reserve
charged the fugitives, amid whom it spread fresh confusion. The
Queen's army was beaten. At the same time, three or
four horsemen appeared on the hither side of the ravine,
advancing at a gallop. A Douglas recognized them as enemies. Fly, Madame,
cried George, fly without loss of a second. For those
(37:28):
who are coming upon us are followed by others. Gain
the road while I go check them. And you, added
he addressing the escort be killed to the last man,
rather than let them take your queen. George, George cried
the Queen, motionless and as if riveted to the spot.
But George had already dashed away with all his horses speed,
(37:48):
and as he was splendidly mounted, he flew across the
space with a lightning rapidity, and reached the gorge before
the enemy. There he stopped, put his lance in rest,
and alone against five bravely awaited the encounter. As to
the Queen, she had no desire to go, But on
the contrary, as if turned to stone, she remained in
the same place, her eyes fastened on this combat, which
was taking place at scarcely five hundred paces from her.
(38:11):
Suddenly glancing at her enemies, she saw that one of
them born in the middle of his shield a bleeding
heart the Douglas arms. Then she uttered a cry of pain,
and drooping her head, Douglas against Douglas, a brother against
the brother. She murmured, it only wanted this last blow, Madam. Madam,
cried her escort. There is not an instant to lose.
(38:32):
The young master of Douglas cannot hold out long. Thus
alone against five, let us fly, let us fly, And
two of them, taking the Queen's horse by the bridle,
put it to the gallop at the moment when George,
after having beaten down two of his enemies and wounded
a third, was thrown down in his turn in the dust,
thrust to the heart by a lan's head. The queen
groaned on seeing him fall. Then, as if he alone
(38:53):
had detained her, and as if he being killed, she
had no interest in anything else. She put Rosabel to
the gallop, and as she and her troop were splendidly mounted,
they had soon lost sight of the battlefield. She fled
thus for sixty miles, without taking any rest, and without
ceasing to weep or to sigh. At last, having traversed
the counties of Renfrew and Ayr, she reached the Abbey
(39:13):
of Dundrennan in Galloway, and, certain of being for the
time at least sheltered from every danger, she gave the
order to stop. The prior respectfully received her at the
gate of the convent. I bring you misfortune and ruin, father,
said the queen, alighting from her horse. They are welcome,
replied the porter, since they come accompanied by duty. The
(39:35):
queen gave Rosabel to the care of one of the
men at arms who had accompanied her, and, leaning on
Mary Seaton, who had not left her for a moment,
and on Lord Harry's, who had rejoined her on the
road she entered the convent. Lord Harries had not concealed
her position from Mary Stuart. The day had been completely lost,
and with the day, at least for the present all
hope of reascending the throne of Scotland. There remained but
(39:55):
three courses for the Queen to take to withdraw into France,
Spain or England. On the advice of Lord Harry's, which
accorded with her own feeling, she decided upon the last,
and that same night she wrote this double missive in
verse and in prose to Elizabeth, my dear sister, I
have often begged you to receive my tempest tossed vessel
into your haven during the storm. If at this pass
(40:17):
she finds a safe harbor there, I shall cast anchor
there for ever. Otherwise the bark is in God's keeping,
for she is ready and calked for defense on her
voyage against all storms. I have dealt openly with you,
and still do so. Do not take it in bad part.
If I write thus, it is not in defiance of
you as it appears, For in everything I rely on
your friendship. This sonnet accompanied the letter one thought alone
(40:42):
brings danger and to light bitter and sweet change places
in my heart with doubt and then with hope it
takes its part till peace and rests alike are put
to flight. Therefore, dear sister, if this card pursue that
keen desire by which I am oppressed to see you,
tis because I live distresses unless some swift and sweet
resultant sue beheld. I have my ship compelled by fate
(41:05):
to seek the open sea. When close to port and
calmus day's break into storm and gale. Wherefore, foo grieved
and fearful is my state. Not for your sake, but
since an evil sort fortune so oft snap's strongest rope
and sail. Elizabeth trembled with joy at receiving this double letter.
For the eight years that her enmity had been daily
(41:26):
increasing to Mary Stuart, she had followed her with her
eyes continually as a wolf might a gazelle. At last,
the gazelle sought refuge in the wolf's den. Elizabeth had
never hoped as much. She immediately despatched an order to
the Sheriff of Cumberland to make known to Mary that
she was ready to receive her. One morning a bugle
was heard blowing on the sea shore. It was Queen
Elizabeth's envoy come to fetch Queen Mary Stuart then arose
(41:50):
great entreaties to the fugitive not to trust herself thus
to arrival in power, glory and beauty. But the poor
dispossessed Queen was full of confidence in her. She called
her good sister, and believed herself going free and rid
of care, to take at Elizabeth's court the place due
to her rank and her misfortunes. Thus she persisted, in
spite of all that could be said. In our time
(42:10):
we have seen the same infatuation sees another royal fugitive, who,
like Mary Stuart, confided himself to the generosity of his
enemy England. Like Mary Stuart, he was cruelly punished for
his confidence and found in the deadly climate of Saint Helena,
the scaffold of Fatheringay. Mary Stuart set out on her journey,
and then with her little following, arrived at the shore
(42:31):
of Solway Firth. She found near the warden of the
English Marches. He was a gentleman named Lother, who received
the Queen with the greatest respect, but who gave her
to understand that he could not permit more than three
of her women to accompany her. Mary Seton immediately claimed
her privilege. The Queen held out her hand alas Mignon
said she, but it might well be another's turn. You
(42:54):
have already suffered enough for me and with me. But Mary,
unable to reply, clung to her hand, making a sign
with her head that nothing in the world should part
her from her mistress. Then all who had accompanied the
Queen renewed their entreaties that she should not persist in
this fatal resolve, And when she was already a third
of the way along the plank placed for her to
enter the skiff, the prior of Dunrennan, who had offered
(43:15):
Mary Stuart such dangerous and touching hospitality, entered the water
up to his knees to try to detain her, but
all was useless. The Queen had made up her mind.
At that moment. A Luther approached her. Madame said he
except the knew my regrets that I cannot offer a
warm welcome in England to all who would wish to
follow you there. But our Queen has given us positive orders,
(43:36):
and we must carry them out. May I be permitted
to remind your majesty that the tide serves positive orders?
Cried the prior. Do you hear, Madame? Oh, you are
lost if you quit this shore back while there is
yet time back, Madame in Heaven's name to me, sir knights,
to me, he cried, turning to Lord Harry's and the
other lords who had accompanied Mary Stuart. Do not allow
(43:58):
your queen to abandon you. Were it needful to struggle
with her and the English at the same time, hold
her back, my lords in Heaven's name withhold her? What
means this violence, Sir Priest, said the warden of the Marches.
I came here at your Queen's express command. She is
free to return to you, and there is no need
to have recourse to force for that. Then, addressing the Queen,
(44:21):
Madame said he do you consent to follow me into
England in full liberty of choice? Answer? I entreat you,
for my honor demands that the whole world should be
aware that you have followed me freely. Sir replied Mary Stuart.
I ask your pardon in the name of this worthy
servant of God and his Queen for what he may
have said of offense to you. Freely, I leave Scotland
(44:42):
and place myself in your hands, trusting that I shall
be free either to remain in England with my royal sister,
or to return to France to my worthy relatives. Then
turning to the priest, your blessing Father and God protect you.
Alas Alas murmured the abbot, obeying the Queen. It is
not we who are in need of God's protection, but
(45:04):
rather you, my daughter. May the blessing of a poor
priest turn aside from you the misfortunes I foresee, go,
and may it be with you as the Lord has
ordained in his wisdom and in his mercy. Then the
queen gave her hand to the sheriff, who conducted her
to the skiff, followed by Mary Seton and two other women.
Only The sails were immediately unfurled, and the little vessel
(45:26):
began to recede from the shores of Galloway to make
her way towards those of Cumberland. So long as it
could be seen, they who had accompanied the queen lingered
on the beach, waving her signs of adieu, which standing
on the deck of the shallop which was bearing her away.
She returned with her handkerchief. Finally the boat disappeared, and
all burst into lamentations or into sobbing. They were right
(45:46):
for the good prior of Don Drennan's presentiments were only
too true, and they had seen Mary Stuart for the
last time. End of Chapter seven, recording by John Vanstand Savannah, Georgia,
Chapter seven of Celebrated Crimes, Volume three by Alexandre Dumah,
translated by George Burnham Ives. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Chapter seven, a week after the events
we have related, as nine o'clock in the evening had
just sounded from the castle bell and the Queen and
Mary Seton were sitting at a table where they were
working at their tapestry. A stone thrown from the courtyard,
(00:22):
passed through the window bars, broke a pane of glass,
and fell into the room. The Queen's first idea was
to believe it accidental or an insult, but Mary Seton,
turning round, noticed that the stone was wrapped up in
a paper. She immediately picked it up. The paper was
a letter from George Douglas, conceived in these terms. You
have commanded me to live, Madam. I have obeyed, and
(00:42):
your Majesty has been able to tell from the kinross
light that your servants continue to watch over you. However,
not to raise suspicion, the soldiers collected for that fatal
night dispersed at dawn and will not gather again till
a fresh attempt makes their presence necessary. But alas to
renew this attempt. Now, when your majesty, these jailers are
on their guard would be your ruin. Let them take
(01:03):
every precaution, then, Madame, let them sleep in security, while
we we, in our devotion, shall go on watching. Patience
and courage, brave and loyal heart, cried Mary, more constantly
devoted the misfortune than others are to prosperity. Yet I
shall have patience and courage, and so long as that
light shines, I shall still believe in liberty. This letter
(01:26):
restored to the Queen all her former courage. She had
means of communication with George through Little Douglas, for no
doubt it was he who had thrown that stone. She
hastened in her turn to write a letter to George,
in which she both charged him to express her gratitude
to all the lords who had signed the Protestation and
begged them in the name of the fidelity they had
sworn to her not to cool in their devotion, promising
(01:47):
them for her part to await the result. With that
patience and courage they asked of her, The Queen was
not mistaken. Next day, as she was at her window,
Little Douglas came to play at the foot of the tower, and,
without raising his head, stopped beneath her to dig a
trap to catch birds. The queen looked to see if
she were observed, and assured that that part of the
courtyard was deserted, she let fall the stone wrapped in
(02:09):
her letter. At first, she feared to have made a
serious error, for little Douglas did not even turn at
the noise, and it was only after a moment during
which the prisoner's heart was torn with frightful anxiety, that indifferently,
and as if he were looking for something else, the
child laid his hand on the stone, and without hurrying,
without raising his head, without indeed giving any sign of
intelligence to her who had thrown it, he put the
(02:31):
letter in his pocket, finishing the work he had begun
with the greatest calm, and showing the queen by this
coolness beyond his years, what reliance she could place in him.
From that moment the queen regained fresh hope. But days, weeks,
months passed without bringing any change in her situation. Winter came,
the prisoner saw snows spread over the plains and mountains,
(02:52):
and the lake afforded her if she had only been
able to pass the door a firm road to gain
the other bank. But no letter came during all this
time to bring her the consoling news that they were
busy about her deliverance. The faithful light alone announced to
her every evening that a friend was keeping watch. Soon
nature awoke from her death sleep. Some forward sun rays
(03:12):
broke through the clouds of this somber sky of Scotland.
The snow melted, the lake broke its ice crust, the
first buds opened, and the green turf reappeared. Everything came
out of its prison at the joyous approach of spring,
and it was a great grief to Mary to see
that she alone was condemned to an eternal winter. At last,
one evening, she thought she observed in the motions of
the light that something fresh was happening. She had so
(03:35):
often questioned this poor flickering star, and she had so
often let it count her heart beats more than twenty times,
that to spare herself the pain of disappointment, for a
long time, she had no longer interrogated it. However, she
resolved to make one last attempt, and, almost hopeless, she
put her light near the window and immediately took it away.
Still faithful to the signal. The other disappeared at the
(03:56):
same moment, and reappeared at the eleventh heartbeat of the Queen.
At the same time. By a strange coincidence, a stone
passing through the window fell at Mary Seaton's feet. It
was like the first, wrapped in a letter from George.
The Queen took it from her companion's hands, opened it
and read, the moment draws near your adherents are assembled.
Summon all your courage tomorrow at eleven o'clock in the evening,
(04:19):
drop a cord from your window, and draw up the
packet that will be fastened to it. They remained in
the Queen's apartments, the rope over and above what had
served for the latter taken away by the guards the
evening of the frustrated escape. Next day, at the appointed hour,
the two prisoners shut up the lamp in the bedroom
so that no light should betray them, and Mary Seaton,
approaching the window, let down the cord. After a minute,
(04:41):
she felt from its movements that something was being attached
to it. Mary Seaton pulled, and a rather bulky parcel
appeared at the bars, which it could not pass on
account of its size. Then the Queen came to her
companion's aid. The parcel was untied, and its contents separately
got through easily. The two prisoners carried them into the
bedroom and barricaded with in commenced an inventory. There were
(05:02):
two complete suits of men's clothes in the Douglas livery.
The Queen was at a loss when she saw a
letter fastened to the collar of one of the two coats.
Eager to know the meaning of this enigma, she immediately
opened it and read as follows. It is only by
dint of audacity that her Majesty can recover her liberty.
Let her Majesty read this letter then, and punctually follow,
(05:23):
if she deign to adopt them, the instructions she will
find therein In the daytime, the keys of the castle
do not leave the belt of the old Stuart. When
curfew is wrung, and he has made his rounds to
make sure that all the doors are fast shut, he
gives them up to William Douglas, who, if he stays up,
fastens them to his sword belt, or if he sleeps,
put them under his pillow. For five months, Little Douglas,
(05:44):
whom everyone is accustomed to see working at the armorer's
forge of the castle, has been employing and making some
keys like enough to the others, once they are substituted
for them for William to be deceived. Yesterday Little Douglas
finished the last. On the first favorable opportunity that Her
Majesty will know to be about to present itself. By
carefully questioning the light each day, Little Douglas will exchange
(06:07):
the false keys for the true, will enter the Queen's
room and will find her dressed as well as Miss
Mary Seton, in their men's clothing, and he will go
before them to lead them by the way which offers
the best chances for their escape. A boat will be
prepared and will await them till then every evening, as
much to accustom themselves to these new costumes as to
give them an appearance of having been worn. Her Majesty
(06:28):
and Miss Mary Setan will dress themselves in the suits
which they must keep on from nine o'clock till midnight. Besides,
it is possible that, without having had time to warn them,
their young guide may suddenly come to seek them. It
is urgent then that he find them ready. The garments
ought to fit perfectly her Majesty and her companion. The
measure having been taken on Miss Mary Fleming and Miss
(06:49):
Mary Livingstone, who are exactly their size, one cannot too
strongly recommend her Majesty to summon to her aid on
the supreme occasion the coolness and courage of which she
has given such frequent proofs at other times. The two
prisoners were astounded at the boldness of this plan. At
first they looked at one another in consternation, for success
seemed impossible. They nonetheless made trial of their disguise, as
(07:12):
Georgies said, it fitted each of them as if they
had been measured for it. Every evening the Queen questioned
the light as George had urged, and that for a
whole long month, during which each evening the Queen and
Mary seton, although the light gave no fresh tidings, arrayed
themselves in their men's clothings, as had been arranged, so
that they acquired such practice that they became as familiar
to them as those of their own sex. At last,
(07:35):
the second May fifteen sixty eight, the Queen was awakened
by the blowing of a horn. Uneasiest to what it announced,
She slipped on a cloak and ran to the window,
where Mary Seton joined her directly a rather numerous band
of horsemen. It halted on the side of the lake
displaying the Douglas pennon, and three boats were rowing together
and vying with each other to fetch the new arrivals.
This event caused the Queen dismay. In her current situation.
(07:57):
The least change in the castle routine was to be feared,
for it might upset all the concerted plans. This apprehension
redoubled when on the boats drawing near, the Queen recognized
in the elder Lord Douglas, the husband of Lady Lochleven
and the father of William and George. The venerable Knight,
who was keeper of the marches in the North, was
coming to visit his ancient manner, in which he had
(08:18):
not set foot for three years. It was an event
for Lochleven, and some minutes after the arrival of the boats,
Mary Stuart heard the old Stewart's footsteps mounting the stairs.
He came to announce his master's arrival to the Queen, and,
as it must needs be a time of rejoicing to
all the castle inhabitants. When its master returned. He came
to invite the Queen to the dinner in celebration of
(08:39):
the event. Whether instinctively or from distaste to the Queen declined.
All day long, the bell and the bugle resounded. Lord Douglas,
like a true feudal lord, traveled with the retinue of
a prince. Once saw nothing but new soldiers and servants
passing and repassing beneath the Queen's windows. The footmen and
horsemen were wearing, moreover, a livery similar to that which
the Queen Mary Seaton had received. Mary awaited the night
(09:02):
with impatience. The day before, she had questioned her light,
and it had informed her, as usual, in reappearing at
her eleventh or twelfth heart beat, that the moment of
escape was near. But she greatly feared that Lord Douglas's
arrival might have upset everything, and that this evening's signal
could only announce a postponement. But hardly had she seen
the light shine than as she placed her lamp in
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the window, the other disappeared directly, and Mary Stuart, with
terrible anxiety, began to question it. This anxiety increased when
she counted more than fifteen beats. Then she stopped, cast down,
her eyes mechanically fixed on the spot where the light
had been. But her astonishment was great when, at the
end of a few minutes she did not see it reappear,
and when half an hour having elapsed, everything remained in darkness.
(09:46):
The Queen then renewed her signal, but obtained no response.
The escape was for the same evening. The Queen and
Mary seton, were so little expecting this issue that, contrary
to their custom, they had not put on their men's
clothes that evening. They immediately blue to the Queen's bed chamber,
bolted the door behind them, and began to dress. They
had hardly finished their hurried toilet when they heard a
(10:06):
key turn in the lock. They immediately blew out the lamp.
Light steps approached the door. The two women leaned one
against the other, for they both were near falling. Some
one tapped gently. The queen asked who was there, and
little Douglas's voice answered in the first two lines of
an old ballad, Douglas Douglas Tender and True Mary opened directly.
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It was the watchword agreed upon with George Douglas. The
child was without a light. He stretched out his hand
and encountered the queen's in the starlight. Mary Stewart saw
him kneel down, and then she felt the imprint of
his lips on her fingers. Is your majesty ready to
follow me, he asked in a low tone, rising yes,
my child, the queen answered, it is for this evening, then,
(10:49):
with your Majesty's permission, Yes, it is for this evening.
Is everything ready? Everything? What are we to do? Follow
me everywhere? Oh? My god, my god, cried Mary Stuart.
Have pity on us then, having breathed this short prayer
in a low voice, while Mary Seton was taking the casket,
(11:09):
in which were the Queen's jewels, I am ready, said she,
and you, darling, I also replied Mary Seton. Come then,
said little Douglas. The two prisoners followed the child, the
Queen going first, and Mary Seaton after. Their youthful guide,
carefully shut again the door behind him, so that if
a warder happened to pass, he would see nothing. Then
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he began to descend the winding stair. Half way down,
the noise of the feast reached them. A mingling of
shouts of laughter, the confusion of voices and the clinking
of glasses. The queen placed her hand on her young
guide's shoulder. Where are you leading us, she asked him,
with terror. Out of the castle, replied the child. But
we shall have to pass through the great Hall without
(11:54):
a doubt, and that it's exactly what George foresaw. Among
the footmen whose livery your majesty is wearing, no will
recognize you. My god, my god, the queen murmured, leaning
against the wall courage, Madam said, Mary seton in a
low voice. Oh we are lost. You are right, returned
the queen. Let us go, and they started again, still
(12:17):
led by their guide. At the foot of the stair,
he stopped and giving the queen a stone pitcherful of wine.
Set this chug on your right shoulder, Madam said he.
It will hide your face from the guests, and your
majesty will give rise to less suspicion of carrying something.
You miss, Mary, give me that casket and put on
your head this basket of bread. Now that's right er.
Do you feel you have strength? Yes, said the queen, Yes,
(12:41):
said Mary. Seton, then follow me. The child went on
his way, and after a few steps, the fugitives found
themselves in a kind of antechamber to the Great Hall,
from which proceeded noise and light. Several servants were occupied
there with different duties. Not one paid attention to them,
and that a little reassured the Queen. Besides, so there
was no longer any drawing back. Little Douglas had just
(13:03):
entered the Great Hall. The guests, seated on both sides
of a long table, ranged according to the rank of
those assembled at it, were beginning dessert, and consequently had
reached the gayest moment of the repast. Moreover, the hall
was so large that the lamps and candles which lighted
it multiplied as they were left in the most favorable
half light both sides of the apartment, in which fifteen
or twenty servants were coming and going. The Queen and
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Mary Seaton mingled with this crowd, which was too much
occupied to notice them, and without stopping, without slackening, without
looking back, they crushed the whole length of the hall,
reached the other door, and found themselves in the vestibule
corresponding to the one they had passed through on coming in.
The Queen set down her jug there, Mary's seat in
her basket, and both still led by the child, entered
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a corridor at the end of which they found themselves
in the courtyard. A patrol was passing at the moment,
but he took no notice of them. The child made
his way towards the garden, still followed by the two women.
There for no little while it was necessary to try
which of all the keys opened the door. It was
a time of inexpressible anxiety. At last the key turned
(14:06):
in the lock, the door opened, The queen and Mary's
Seaton rushed into the garden. The child closed the door
behind them. About two thirds of the way across. Little
Douglas held out his hand as a sign to them
to stop. Then, putting down the casket and the keys
on the ground, he placed his hands together and, blowing
into them thrice, imitated the owl's cry so well that
it was impossible to believe that a human voice was
(14:26):
uttering the sounds. Then, picking up the casket and the keys,
he kept on his way on tiptoe and with an
attentive ear. On getting near the wall, they again stopped,
and after a moment's anxious waiting, they heard a groan,
then something like the sound of a falling body. Some
seconds later, the owl's cry was answered by a two whittoo. Whatoo,
it is over, little Douglas said, calmly. Come, what is over,
(14:52):
asked the queen, And what is that groan we heard?
That was the sentry at the door onto the lake,
The child answered, but he is no no longer there.
The queen felt her heart's blood grow cold at the
same time that a chilly sweat broke out to the
roots of her hair, for she perfectly understood an unfortunate
being had just lost his life on her account. Tottering,
(15:12):
she leaned on Mary's Seaton, who herself felt the strength
giving way. Meanwhile, Little Douglas was trying the keys. The
second opened the door, and the Queen said, in a
low voice, a man who was waiting on the other
side of the wall. She is following me, replied the child,
George Douglas, For it was he sprang into the garden, and,
taking the Queen's arm on one side and Mary Seton's
(15:35):
on the other, he hurried them away quickly to the
lake's side. When passing through the doorway, Mary Stewart could
not help throwing an uneasy look about her, and it
seemed to her that a shapeless object was lying at
the bottom of the wall, and as she was shuddering
all over, do not pity him, said George in a
low voice, for it is a judgment from heaven. That
man was the infamous wooden who betrayed us, alas said
(15:58):
the Queen, Guilty as as he was, he is none
the less dead on my account. When it concern your safety, Madam,
was one haggle over drops of that base blood. But
silence this way, William, this way, let us keep along
the wall whose shadow hides us. The boat is within
twenty steps, and we are saved. With these words, George
hurried on the two women, who were still more quickly,
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and all four, without having been detected, reached the banks
of the lake. As Douglas had said, a little boat
was waiting, and on seeing the fugitives approach, four rowers
couched along its bottom rows, and one of them, springing
to land, pulled the chain so that the Queen and
Mary seton could get in. Douglas seated them at the prow,
the child placed himself at the rudder, and George, with
(16:41):
a kick, pushed off the boat, which began to glide
over the lake. And now said he. We are really saved,
for they might as well pursue a sea swallow on
Solway Firth as to try to reach us. Row children, Row,
never mind if they hear us. The main thing is
to get into the open. Who goes there, cried a
voice above from the castle terrace. Row Row, said Douglas,
(17:04):
placing himself in front of the queen the boat. The
boat cried the same voice. Bring to the boat. Then,
seeing that it continued to recede, treason, Treason, cried the
sentinel to arms. At the same moment a flash lit
up the lake. The report of a firearm was heard,
and a ball passed whistling. The Queen uttered a little cry,
(17:25):
although she had not no danger George, as we have said,
having placed himself in front of her, quite protecting her
with his body. The alarm bell now rang, and to
all the castle lights were seen moving and glancing about,
as if distracted in the rooms. Courage children, said Douglas, Row,
as if your lives depended on each stroke of the
oar for ere five minutes, the skiff will be out
(17:46):
after us. That won't be so easy for them as
you think, George, said little Douglas, For I shut all
the doors behind me, and some time will elapse before
the key that I have left there open them as
to these added, he, showing those he had so skillfully
abstracted by, resigned them to the Kelpie, the genie of
the lake, and I nominate him porter of Locklaven Castle.
(18:07):
The discharge of a small piece of artillery answered William's joke,
but as the night was too dark for one to
aim to such a distance as that already between the
castle and the boat, the ball ricocheted at twenty paces
from the fugitives, while the report died away, and echo
after echo. Then Douglas drew his pistol from his belt, and,
warning the ladies to have no fear, he fired in
the air, not to answer by idle bravado the castle cannonod,
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but to give notice to a troop of faithful friends
who were waiting for them on the other shore of
the lake, that the queen had escaped immediately in spite
of the danger of being so near kin Ross. Cries
of joy resounded on the bank, and William, having turned
the rudder, the boat made for land at the spot
whence they had been heard. Douglas then gave his hand
to the Queen, who sprank lightly ashore, and who, falling
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on her knees, immediately began to give thanks to God
for her happy deliverance. On rising, the Queen found herself
surrounded by her most faithful servants, Hamilton, Harry's and Setan
Mary's father. Light Headed with joy, the Queen extended her
hands to them, thanking them with broken words, which expressed
her intoxication and her gratitude better than the choicest phrases
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could have done. When suddenly turning round, she perceived George
Douglas alone and melancholy, then going to him and taking
him by the hand. My lords, said she, presenting George
to them, and pointing to William. Behold my two deliverers.
Behold those to whom, as long as I live, I
shall preserve gratitude of which nothing will ever acquit me, Madam,
(19:33):
said Douglas. Each of us has only done what he ought,
and he who has risked most is the happiest. But
if your Majesty will believe me, you will not lose
a moment In needless words. Douglas is right, said Lord,
seton to horse to horse immediately, and while four couriers
set out in four different directions to announce to the
(19:53):
Queen's friends her happy escape. They brought her a horse
saddled for her, which she mounted with her usual skill.
Then and the little troop, which composed of about twenty persons,
was escorting the future destiny of Scotland, keeping away from
the village of kin Ross, to which the castle firing
had doubtless given the alarm, took at a gallop the
road to Seton's castle, where was already a garrison large
(20:13):
enough to defend the queen from a sudden attack. The
queen journeyed all night, accompanied on one side by Douglas,
on the other by Lord Seaton. Then at daybreak they
stopped at the gate of the castle of west Nidri,
belonging to Lord Seton, as we have said, and situated
in West Lothian. Douglas sprang from his horse to offer
his hand to Mary Stuart, but Lord Seton claimed his
(20:34):
privilege as master of the house. The Queen constalled Douglas
with a glance and entered the fortress. Madame, said Lord Seaton,
leading her into a room prepared for her for nine months,
Your majesty must have need of repose. After the fatigue
and the emotions you have gone through since yesterday morning,
you may sleep here in peace and disquiet yourself for nothing.
Any noise you may hear will be made by a
(20:54):
reinforcement of friends, which we are expecting. As to our enemies,
your Majesty has nothing to fear from them, so long
as you inhabit the castle of a Seatan. The Queen
again thanked all her deliverers, gave her hand to Douglas
to kiss one last time, kissed little William on the forehead,
and named him her favorite page for the future. Then,
profiting by the advice given her, entered her room, where Mary,
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seton to the exclusion of every other woman, claimed the
privilege of performing about her the duties with which she
had been charged during their eleven months captivity in Lochlaven Castle.
On opening her eyes, Mary Stuart thought she had had
one of those dreams so gainful to prisoners. When waking
they see again the bolts on their doors and the
bars on their windows. So the Queen, unable to believe
the evidence of her senses, ran half dressed to the window.
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The courtyard was filled with soldiers, and these soldiers all
friends who had hastened at the news of her escape.
She recognized the banners of her faithful friends, the Seatans,
the Abros, the Harrys, and the Hamiltons. And scarcely had
she been seen at the window, than all these banners
bent before her, with the shouts a hundred times repeated
of long Live Mary of Scotland, Long live our Queen. Then,
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without gives, giving heed to the disarray of her toilet,
lovely and chasted with her emotion and her happiness, she
greeted them in her turn, her eyes full of tears,
but this time they were tears of joy. However, the
queen recollected that she was barely covered, and blushing at
having allowed herself to be thus carried away. In her ecstasy,
she abruptly drew back, quite rosy, with confusion. Then she
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had an instant's womanly fright. She had fled from Lachlaven
Castle in the Douglas livery, and without either the leisure
or the opportunity for taking women's clothes with her, But
she could not remain attired as a man. So she
explained her uneasiness to Mary Seaton, who responded by opening
the closets in the Queen's room. They were furnished not
only with robes, the measure for which, like that of
the suit, had been taken from Mary Fleming, but also
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with all the necessities for a woman's toilet. The Queen
was astonished. It was like being in a fairy castle,
Mignon said, she, looking one after another at the robes,
all the stuffs of which were chosen with exquisite taste.
I knew your father was a brave and loyal knight,
but I did not think him so learned in the
matter of the toilet. We shall name him Groom of
(23:04):
the Wardrobe. Alas Madame smilingly replied Mary Seton, you are
not mistaken. My father has had everything in the castle
furbished up to the last corsult, sharpened to the last sword,
unfurled to the last banner. But my father, ready as
he is to die for your Majesty, would not have
dreamed for an instant of offering you anything but his
roof to rest under, or his cloak to cover you.
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It is Douglas again who has foreseen everything, prepared everything everything,
even to Rosabel, your Majesty's favorite steed, which is impatiently
awaiting in the stable the moment when mounted on her,
your majesty will make your triumphal re entry into Edinburgh.
And how has he been able to get her back again?
Mary asked, I thought that in the division of my spoils,
(23:47):
Rosabel had fallen to the fair Alice, my brother's favorite sultana. Yes, yes,
said Mary Seton. It was so, and as her value
was known, she was kept under lock and key by
an army of grooms. But Douglas is the man of miracles,
and as I have told you, Rooseabel awaits your majesty.
Noble Douglas murmured the queen, with eyes full of tears, then,
(24:10):
as if speaking to herself. And this is precisely one
of those devotions that we can never repay. The others
will be happy with honors places money, but the Douglas,
what matter all these things? Come, Madam, Come, said Mary Seton.
God takes on himself the debts of kings. He will
reward Douglas as to your majesty, reflect that they are
(24:32):
waiting dinner for you. I hope, added she, smiling, that
you will not affront my father as you did, Lord Douglas.
Yesterday in refusing to partake of his feast on his
fortunate home coming. And your luck has come to me
for it, I hope, replied Mary. But you are right, darling,
no more sad thoughts. We will consider, when we have
indeed become queen again, what we can do for Douglas.
(24:55):
The queen dressed and went down as Mary Seton had
told her, the chief noblemen of her party, already gathered
round her, were waiting for her in the great hall
of the castle. Her arrival was greeted with acclamations of
the liveliest enthusiasm, and she sat down to table, with
Lord Seaton on her right hand, Douglas on her left,
and behind her little William, who the same day was
beginning his duties as page. Next morning, the Queen was
(25:17):
awakened by the sound of trumpets and buckles. It had
been decided the day before that she should set out
that day for Hamilton, where reinforcements were looked for. The
queen downed in an elegant riding habit, and soon mounted
on roosevel, appeared amid her defenders. The shouts of joy
redoubled her beauty, her grace, and her courage were admired
by every one. Mary Stuart became her own self once more,
(25:38):
and she felt spring up in her again the power
of fascination she had always exercised on those who came
near her. Every one was in good humor, and the
happiest of all was perhaps little William, who, for the
first time in his life had such a fine dress
and such a fine horse. Two or three thousand men
were awaiting the Queen at Hamilton, which she reached the
same evening, and during the night following her arrival, the
(25:59):
troops increased to six thousand. The second of May, she
was a prisoner without another friend, but a child in
her prison, without other means of communication with her adherents
than the flickering and uncertain light of a lamp. And
three days afterwards, that is to say, between the Sunday
and the Wednesday, she found herself not only free, but
also at the head of a powerful confederacy which counted
at its head nine earls, eight peers, nine bishops, and
(26:21):
a number of barons and nobles renowned among the bravest
of Scotland. The advice of the most judicious among those
about the Queen was to shut herself up in the
strong castle of Dumbarton, which, being impregnable, would give all
her adherents time to assemble together, distant and scattered as
they were. Accordingly, the guidance of the troops who were
to conduct the Queen to that town was entrusted to
the Earl of Argyll, and the eleventh of May she
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took the road with an army of nearly ten thousand men.
Murray was at Glasgow when he heard of the Queen's escape.
The place was strong, he decided to hold it and
summoned to him as bravest and most devoted partisans. Kirkaldy
of Grange Morton, Lindsay of Byers, Lord Lochlaven, and William
Douglas hastened to him, and six thousand of the best
troops in the kingdom gathered round them, while Lord Ruffin
(27:04):
in the counties of Berwick and Angus raised the levies
with which to join them. The thirteenth of May, Morton
occupied from daybreak the village of Langside, through which the
Queen must pass to get to Dumbarton. The news of
the occupation reached the Queen as the two armies were
yet seven miles apart. Mary's first instinct was to escape
an engagement. She remembered her last battle at Carbury Hill,
(27:25):
at the end of which she had been separated from
Bothwell and brought to Edinburgh. So she expressed aloud this opinion,
which was supported by George Douglas, who, in black armor
without other arms, had continued at the Queen's side. Avoid
an engagement, cried Lord Seaton, not daring to answer his sovereign,
and replying to George as if his opinion had originated
with him. We could do it, perhaps if we were
(27:47):
one to ten, but we shall certainly not do so,
and we are three to two. You speak a strange tongue,
my young master, continued he with some contempt, and you
forget it seems to me that you are a Douglas,
and that you speak to a Seatan, My lord, returned
George calmly. When we only hazard the lives of Douglases
and Setans, you will find me, I hope, as ready
(28:09):
to fight as you. Be it one to ten, be
it three to two. But we are now answerable for
in existence dearer to Scotland than that of all the
Setans and all the Douglases, My advice is then to
avoid battle. Battle, battle, cried all the chieftains. You hear, madame,
said Lord Seton to Mary Stuart. I believe that to
(28:30):
wish to act against such unanimity would be dangerous in Scotland. Madame,
there is an ancient proverb which has it that there
is most prudence in courage. But have you not heard
that the regent has taken up an advantageous position? The
queen said, The greyhound hunts the hare on the hillside
as well as in the plain. Replied Seton, we will
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drive him out wherever he is. Let it be as
you desire, then, my lords, it shall not be said
that Mary Stuart returned to the scabbard the sword her
defenders had drawn for her. Then, turning round to Douglas George,
she said to him, but choose a guard of twenty
men for me, and take command of them. You will
not quit me. George meant low in obedience, chose twenty
(29:15):
from among the bravest men, placed the Queen in their midst,
and put himself at their head. Then the troops which
had halted received the order to continue their road. In
two hours time, the advance guard was in sight of
the enemy, it halted, and the rest of the army
rejoined it. The Queen's troops then found themselves parallel with
the city of Glasgow, and the heights which rose in
front of them were already occupied by a force above
(29:36):
which floated as above that of Mary the Royal banners
of Scotland. On the other side, and on the opposite slope,
stretched the village of Langside, encircled with enclosures and gardens.
The road which led to it, and which followed all
the variations of the ground, narrowed at one place in
such a way that two men could hardly pass abreast,
then farther on, lost itself in a ravine beyond which
(29:57):
it reappeared, then branched into two, of which one climbed
to the village of Langside, while the other led to Glasgow.
On seeing the lie of the ground, the Earl of
Argyll immediately comprehended the importance of occupying this village, and
turning to Lord Seaton, he ordered him to gallop off
and tried to arrive there before the enemy, who, doubtless,
having made the same observation as the commander of the
royal forces, was setting in motion. At the very moment
(30:18):
a considerable body of cavalry. Lord Seton called up his
men directly, but while he was ranging them round his banner,
Lord Arbroth drew his sword, and approaching the earl of Argyll.
My lord said, he you do me a wrong, and
charging Lord Seaton to seize that post as commander of
the vanguard. It is to me this honor belongs. Allow
me then to use my privilege in claiming it. It
(30:41):
is I who received the order to seize it. I
will seize it, cried Seton. Perhaps returned Lord Arbroath, but
not before me, before you, and before every Hamilton in
the world, exclaimed Seton, putting his horse to the gallop
and rushing down into the hollow road. Saint and forward,
(31:02):
come my faithful kinsmen, cried the Lord of Broth, dashing
forward on his side with the same object. Come my
men at arms for God and the Queen. The two
troops precipitated themselves immediately in disorder, and ran against one
another in the narrow way, where as we have said,
two men could hardly pass abreast. There was a terrible
collision there, and the conflict began among friends who should
(31:23):
have been united against the enemy. Finally, the two troops,
leaving behind them some corpses stifled in the press or
even killed by their companions, passed through the defile Pellmell
and were lost sight in the ravine. But during this
struggle Setan and Abroth had lost precious time, and the
detachment sent by Murray, which had taken the road by Glasgow,
had reached the village beforehand. It was now necessary not
(31:45):
to take it, but to retake it. Argoll saw that
the whole day's struggle would be concentrated there, and, understanding
more and more the importance of the village, immediately put
himself at the head of the body of his army,
commanding a rear guard of two thousand men to remain
there and to wait for their orders to take and
the fighting. But whether the captain who commanded them had
ill understood, or whether he was eager to distinguish himself
(32:05):
in the eyes of the Queen, scarcely had Argoll vanished
into the ravine at the end of which the struggle
had already commenced between Kirkaldy of Grange and Morton on
the one side, and on the other, between Arbroath and seton. Then,
without regarding the cries of Mary Stuart, he set off
in his turn at a gallop, leaving the Queen without
other guard than the little escort of twenty men which
Douglas had chosen for her. Douglas sighed, alas, said the Queen,
(32:28):
hearing him. I am not a soldier, but there it
seems to me is a battle very badly begun. What
is to be done, replied Douglas. We are every one
of us infatuated from first to last, and all these
men are behaving to day like madmen, are children. Victory, victory,
said the Queen. The enemy is retreating fighting. I see
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the banners of Seton and Arbroth floating near the first
houses of the village. Oh, my brave lords, cried she,
clapping her hands. Victory. But she stopped suddenly on perceiving
a body of the enemy's army advancing to charge the
victors in flank. It is nothing, it is nothing, said Douglas.
So long as there is only cavalry, we have nothing
(33:12):
much to fear. And besides, the Earl of Argyll will
fall in time to aid them. George, said Little William Well,
asked Douglas, don't you see. The child went on stretching
out his arms toward the enemy's force, which was coming
on at a gallop. What each horseman carries a footman
armed with an arquebus behind him, so that the troop
(33:32):
is twice as numerous as it appears. That is true
upon my soul. The child has good sight. Let someone
go at once full gallop and take news of this
to the Earl or Argyll I, I cried little William.
I saw them first. It is my right to bear
the tidings. Go then, my child, said Douglas, And may
God preserve thee. The child flew quick as lightning, not
(33:56):
hearing or feigning not to hear, the Queen who was
recalling him. He was seen across the gorge and plunge
into the hollow road at the moment when Arkell was
debouching at the end and coming to the aid of
Seaton and Arbroth. Meanwhile, the enemy's detachment had dismounted its infantry,
which immediately formed up was scattering on the sides of
the ravine by paths impracticable for horses. William will come
(34:17):
too late, cried Douglas, or even should he arrive in time.
The news is now useless to them. Ah madmen, madmen,
that we are. This is how we have always lost
all our battles. Is the battle loss, then demanded Mary,
growing pale. No, Madam, No, cried Douglas. Heaven be thanked,
(34:38):
not yet, but through too great haste we have begun badly.
And William, said Mary Stuart, he is now serving his
apprenticeship in arms. For if I am not mistaken, he
must be at this moment, at the very spot where
those marksmen are making such quick firing. Poor child, cried
the Queen. If ill should befall him, I shall never
(34:59):
consent all myself alas Madam replied Douglas. I greatly fear
that his first battle is his last, and that everything
is already over for him. For unless I mistake, there
is his horse returning riderless. Oh my God, my God,
said the Queen, weeping and raising her hands to heaven.
(35:19):
It is then decreed that I should be fatal to
all around me. George was not deceived. It was William's horse,
coming back without his young master and covered with blood.
Madame said Douglas. We are ill placed here. Let us
gain that hillock on which is the castle of Crookstone.
From thence we shall survey the whole battlefield. No, not there,
(35:42):
not there, said the Queen, in terror. Within that castle
I came to spend the first days of my marriage
with Darnley. It will bring me misfortune. Well beneath that
yew tree, then said George, pointing to another slight rise
near the first. But it is important for us to
lose no detail of his engagement. Everything depends on, perhaps,
(36:02):
for your majesty, on an ill judge, maneuver, or a
lost moment guide me, then said the Queen. For as
for me, I no longer see it. Each report of
that terrible cannonot echoes to the depths of my heart.
However well placed as was this eminence, for overlooking from
its summit the whole battlefield, the reiterated discharge of cannon
(36:25):
and musketry covered it with such a cloud of smoke
that it was impossible to make out from it anything
but masses lost amid a murderous fog. At last, when
an hour had passed in this desperate conflict, through the
skirts of this sea of smoke, the fugitives were seen
to emerge and disperse in all directions followed by the victors.
Only at that distance it was impossible to make out
(36:45):
who had gained or lost the battle, and the banners,
which on both sides displayed the Scottish arms, could in
no way clear up this confusion. At that moment there
was seen coming down from the Glasgow Hill sides saw
the remaining reserve of Murray's army. It was coming at
full speed to engage in the fighting. But this maneuver
might equally well have for its object the support of
defeated friends as to complete the rout of the enemy. However,
(37:07):
soon there was no longer any doubt, for this reserve
charged the fugitives, amid whom it spread fresh confusion. The
Queen's army was beaten. At the same time, three or
four horsemen appeared on the hither side of the ravine,
advancing at a gallop. A Douglas recognized them as enemies. Fly, Madame,
cried George, fly without loss of a second. For those
(37:28):
who are coming upon us are followed by others. Gain
the road while I go check them. And you, added
he addressing the escort be killed to the last man,
rather than let them take your queen. George, George cried
the Queen, motionless and as if riveted to the spot.
But George had already dashed away with all his horses speed,
(37:48):
and as he was splendidly mounted, he flew across the
space with a lightning rapidity, and reached the gorge before
the enemy. There he stopped, put his lance in rest,
and alone against five bravely awaited the encounter. As to
the Queen, she had no desire to go, But on
the contrary, as if turned to stone, she remained in
the same place, her eyes fastened on this combat, which
was taking place at scarcely five hundred paces from her.
(38:11):
Suddenly glancing at her enemies, she saw that one of
them born in the middle of his shield a bleeding
heart the Douglas arms. Then she uttered a cry of pain,
and drooping her head, Douglas against Douglas, a brother against
the brother. She murmured, it only wanted this last blow, Madam. Madam,
cried her escort. There is not an instant to lose.
(38:32):
The young master of Douglas cannot hold out long. Thus
alone against five, let us fly, let us fly, And
two of them, taking the Queen's horse by the bridle,
put it to the gallop at the moment when George,
after having beaten down two of his enemies and wounded
a third, was thrown down in his turn in the dust,
thrust to the heart by a lan's head. The queen
groaned on seeing him fall. Then, as if he alone
(38:53):
had detained her, and as if he being killed, she
had no interest in anything else. She put Rosabel to
the gallop, and as she and her troop were splendidly mounted,
they had soon lost sight of the battlefield. She fled
thus for sixty miles, without taking any rest, and without
ceasing to weep or to sigh. At last, having traversed
the counties of Renfrew and Ayr, she reached the Abbey
(39:13):
of Dundrennan in Galloway, and, certain of being for the
time at least sheltered from every danger, she gave the
order to stop. The prior respectfully received her at the
gate of the convent. I bring you misfortune and ruin, father,
said the queen, alighting from her horse. They are welcome,
replied the porter, since they come accompanied by duty. The
(39:35):
queen gave Rosabel to the care of one of the
men at arms who had accompanied her, and, leaning on
Mary Seaton, who had not left her for a moment,
and on Lord Harry's, who had rejoined her on the
road she entered the convent. Lord Harries had not concealed
her position from Mary Stuart. The day had been completely lost,
and with the day, at least for the present all
hope of reascending the throne of Scotland. There remained but
(39:55):
three courses for the Queen to take to withdraw into France,
Spain or England. On the advice of Lord Harry's, which
accorded with her own feeling, she decided upon the last,
and that same night she wrote this double missive in
verse and in prose to Elizabeth, my dear sister, I
have often begged you to receive my tempest tossed vessel
into your haven during the storm. If at this pass
(40:17):
she finds a safe harbor there, I shall cast anchor
there for ever. Otherwise the bark is in God's keeping,
for she is ready and calked for defense on her
voyage against all storms. I have dealt openly with you,
and still do so. Do not take it in bad part.
If I write thus, it is not in defiance of
you as it appears, For in everything I rely on
your friendship. This sonnet accompanied the letter one thought alone
(40:42):
brings danger and to light bitter and sweet change places
in my heart with doubt and then with hope it
takes its part till peace and rests alike are put
to flight. Therefore, dear sister, if this card pursue that
keen desire by which I am oppressed to see you,
tis because I live distresses unless some swift and sweet
resultant sue beheld. I have my ship compelled by fate
(41:05):
to seek the open sea. When close to port and
calmus day's break into storm and gale. Wherefore, foo grieved
and fearful is my state. Not for your sake, but
since an evil sort fortune so oft snap's strongest rope
and sail. Elizabeth trembled with joy at receiving this double letter.
For the eight years that her enmity had been daily
(41:26):
increasing to Mary Stuart, she had followed her with her
eyes continually as a wolf might a gazelle. At last,
the gazelle sought refuge in the wolf's den. Elizabeth had
never hoped as much. She immediately despatched an order to
the Sheriff of Cumberland to make known to Mary that
she was ready to receive her. One morning a bugle
was heard blowing on the sea shore. It was Queen
Elizabeth's envoy come to fetch Queen Mary Stuart then arose
(41:50):
great entreaties to the fugitive not to trust herself thus
to arrival in power, glory and beauty. But the poor
dispossessed Queen was full of confidence in her. She called
her good sister, and believed herself going free and rid
of care, to take at Elizabeth's court the place due
to her rank and her misfortunes. Thus she persisted, in
spite of all that could be said. In our time
(42:10):
we have seen the same infatuation sees another royal fugitive, who,
like Mary Stuart, confided himself to the generosity of his
enemy England. Like Mary Stuart, he was cruelly punished for
his confidence and found in the deadly climate of Saint Helena,
the scaffold of Fatheringay. Mary Stuart set out on her journey,
and then with her little following, arrived at the shore
(42:31):
of Solway Firth. She found near the warden of the
English Marches. He was a gentleman named Lother, who received
the Queen with the greatest respect, but who gave her
to understand that he could not permit more than three
of her women to accompany her. Mary Seton immediately claimed
her privilege. The Queen held out her hand alas Mignon
said she, but it might well be another's turn. You
(42:54):
have already suffered enough for me and with me. But Mary,
unable to reply, clung to her hand, making a sign
with her head that nothing in the world should part
her from her mistress. Then all who had accompanied the
Queen renewed their entreaties that she should not persist in
this fatal resolve, And when she was already a third
of the way along the plank placed for her to
enter the skiff, the prior of Dunrennan, who had offered
(43:15):
Mary Stuart such dangerous and touching hospitality, entered the water
up to his knees to try to detain her, but
all was useless. The Queen had made up her mind.
At that moment. A Luther approached her. Madame said he
except the knew my regrets that I cannot offer a
warm welcome in England to all who would wish to
follow you there. But our Queen has given us positive orders,
(43:36):
and we must carry them out. May I be permitted
to remind your majesty that the tide serves positive orders?
Cried the prior. Do you hear, Madame? Oh, you are
lost if you quit this shore back while there is
yet time back, Madame in Heaven's name to me, sir knights,
to me, he cried, turning to Lord Harry's and the
other lords who had accompanied Mary Stuart. Do not allow
(43:58):
your queen to abandon you. Were it needful to struggle
with her and the English at the same time, hold
her back, my lords in Heaven's name withhold her? What
means this violence, Sir Priest, said the warden of the Marches.
I came here at your Queen's express command. She is
free to return to you, and there is no need
to have recourse to force for that. Then, addressing the Queen,
(44:21):
Madame said he do you consent to follow me into
England in full liberty of choice? Answer? I entreat you,
for my honor demands that the whole world should be
aware that you have followed me freely. Sir replied Mary Stuart.
I ask your pardon in the name of this worthy
servant of God and his Queen for what he may
have said of offense to you. Freely, I leave Scotland
(44:42):
and place myself in your hands, trusting that I shall
be free either to remain in England with my royal sister,
or to return to France to my worthy relatives. Then
turning to the priest, your blessing Father and God protect you.
Alas Alas murmured the abbot, obeying the Queen. It is
not we who are in need of God's protection, but
(45:04):
rather you, my daughter. May the blessing of a poor
priest turn aside from you the misfortunes I foresee, go,
and may it be with you as the Lord has
ordained in his wisdom and in his mercy. Then the
queen gave her hand to the sheriff, who conducted her
to the skiff, followed by Mary Seton and two other women.
Only The sails were immediately unfurled, and the little vessel
(45:26):
began to recede from the shores of Galloway to make
her way towards those of Cumberland. So long as it
could be seen, they who had accompanied the queen lingered
on the beach, waving her signs of adieu, which standing
on the deck of the shallop which was bearing her away.
She returned with her handkerchief. Finally the boat disappeared, and
all burst into lamentations or into sobbing. They were right
(45:46):
for the good prior of Don Drennan's presentiments were only
too true, and they had seen Mary Stuart for the
last time. End of Chapter seven, recording by John Vanstand Savannah, Georgia,
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