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Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I

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The Castle Hill. solid, and her camage winning and affable to her inferiors.? One of the most ardent of her suitors, on the death of ?Glammis, was a man named William Lyon, who, on her preferring Campbell of Skipness, vowed by a terrible oath to dedicate his life to revenge. He thus accused Lady Jane and the three others named, and though their friends were inclined to scoff at the idea of treason, the artful addition of ?sorcery? was suited to the growing superstition of the age, and steeled against them the hearts of many. Examined on the rack, before the newly-constiat that time. She was of ordinary stature, but her mien wa6 majestic; her eyes full, her face oval, her complexion delicate and extremely fair ; heaven designed that her mind should want none of those perfections a mortal creature can be capable of; her modesty was admirable, her courage above what could be expected from her sex, her jud,ment Mercy was implored in vain, and on the 17th of July-three days after the execution of the Master of Forbes-the beautiful and unfortunate Lady Jane was led from the Castle gates and chained to a stake. ?Barrels tarred, and faggots oiled, were piled around her, and she was burned to ashes? within view of her son and husband, who beheld the terrible scene from the tower that overlooked it.? On the following night Campbell, frenzied by grief and despair, attempted to escape, but fell over the rocks, and was found next morning dashed out tuted Court of Justiciary, extremity of agony compelled them to assent to whatever was asked, and they were thus condemned by their own lips, Lady Jane was sentenced to perish at the stake on the Castle HilL Her son, her husband, and the old friar were all replaced in David?s Tower, where the first remained a prisoner till 1542.
Volume 1 Page 84
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