throne would ensure their total destruction, yet
he escaped them. Aware that a day of trial was
coming, and terrified by the unknown fate of Mar,
some of his numerous friends contrived to acquaint
him that in the Roads of Leith there lay a small
vessel laden with Gascon wine, by which he might
and also a strong rope, with a waxen roll
enclosing an unsigned letter, urging, "that he
should lose no time in escaping, as the king's
minions had resolved that he should die ere the
' morrow's sun set," but that the boats of the French
vessel would await him at the harbour of Leith.
EDINBURGH CASTLE IN 1647. (From Gmda o/ Rofhiemuys Mu#.)
U, the Castle; 6, the Castle ChapeL
escape if he made an effort. It is supposed that
he was confined in David's Tower, for we are told
it was one that arose from the northern verge of
the rock, where the height of the precipice seemed
to preclude the possibility of escape. He had
but one attendant (styled his chalmerchield) left
to wait upon him, and to this follower he revealed
his intention. From the vessel there came to
him two small runlets said to contain wine, and
they were camed to his apartment unexamined,
The duke found that they contained malvoisie,
U b,.
To lull suspicion, Albany invited the captain of
the guard and three of his principal soldiers to sup
with him, and all these he succeeded in partially
intoxicating. They sat drinking and gaming until
the hour grew late ; and then the royal duke found
that the moment of fate had come !
Snatching the captain's long dagger from his
baldrick, Albany buried it again and again in his
glittering breast ; he despatched the intoxicated
soldiers in the same fashion, and, in token of his
hostility, with the assistance of his chalmer-chield
castle rock
castles
:
