locked them behind her, and then threw the keys into the lake. Mary ran with precipitation to the boat that was provided for her, and on eaching the shore was received with the utmost joy by Douglas, Lord Seaton, and Sir James Hamilton, who, with a few attendants, waited for her. She instantly mounted on horseback, and rode full speed to Niddriè, Lord Seaton's seat, in West-Lothian: there she arrived that night, without being pursued or interrupted. After halting three hours, she

by the queen mother, for security, in an inaccessible isle, in the lake of Minteith; and the queen appointed, as her companions there, four girls of her daughter's age, from the respectable families of Livingston, Fleming, Seton, and Beatoun, who played, and were educated, with her.-Chalmers' Life of Mary Queen of Scots, v. i. p. 5. When Mary was sent to France, at five years old, she was attended by Lady Fleming, the natural daughter of James IV.; and accompanied by her four Maries. They were her schoolfellows and playmates, at present; they were designed to be her attendants and friends through life; endeared to her by the recollection of their youthful hours having been passed in a happy communion together. They attended upon her, even after her marringe, and they returned with her to her distracted kingdom.lb. p. 10.

set off for Hamilton; and, travelling at the same pace, she reached it next morning.*

In the course of a few days the liberated queen found herself once more surrounded by a crowd of courtiers; and at the head of six thousand men ; in whose presence she protested against the resignation which she had signed, asserting that it had been drawn from her by threats and coercion. This declaration being confirmed by Sir Robert Melville, a council of nobles immediately pronounced that it was forced and illegal; and formed an association for the defence of her person, and the support of her authority. Once again the fortunes of Mary assumed an auspicious aspect: a large army was arrayed in her favour; and an opportunity appeared to offer itself for the re-possession of the power which she had heretofore enjoyed. But, deficient in judgment herself, she had, unhappily, entrusted with the chief direction of her affairs one, (the Archbishop of St. Andrew's,) who, merely pursuing the gratification of his own ambition, was both disinclined and unable to adopt those measures of caution Robertson, v. i. p. 453.

and prudence, which the critical situation of his mistress especially demanded. Although already superior in force to the troops of the Regent, she had still to receive a considerable augmentation of it from Huntly, Ogilvie, and the northern clans; public opinion had shifted round to her favour; the commiseration of the "fond many" had warmed into a revived attachment to her person; and nothing seemed wanting to her general popularity, and ultimate success, but the allowing of time for the partial sentiment to become universal, and for increasing her army to an overwhelming and irresistible force. The Archbishop, however, blinded himself to this reasonable and obvious policy, and prevailed upon the luckless Mary to give battle to the army of Murray.

This act of imprudence, in resolving to fight, was not greater than the ill conduct of the queen's generals in the battle. "Between the two armies, and on the road towards Dunbarton, there was an eminence called Langside Hill. This the Regent had the precaution to seize, and posted his troops in a small village, and among some gardens and

In this advantageous

inclosures adjacent. situation, he waited the approach of the enemy, whose superiority in cavalry could be of no use to them on such broken ground. The Hamiltons, who composed the vanguard, ran so eagerly to the attack, that they put themselves out of breath, and left the main battle far behind. The encounter of the spear-men was fierce and desperate; but, as the forces of the Hamiltons were exposed, on the one flank, to a continued fire from a body of musqueteers; attacked, on the other, by the Regent's most choice troops; and not supported by the rest of the Queen's army; they were soon obliged to give ground, and the rout immediately became universal. Few victories, in a civil war, and among a barbarous people, have been pursued with less violence, or attended with less bloodshed. Three hundred fell in the field; in the flight, scarcely any were killed. The Regent and his principal officers rode about, beseeching the soldiers to spare their countrymen. The number of prisoners was great, and among them many persons of distinction. The Regent marched back to

Glasgow, and returned public thanks to God for this great, and, on his side, almost blood

less victory.

"During the engagement, Mary stood on a hill, at no great distance, and beheld all that passed in the field, with such emotions of mind as are not easily described. When she saw the army, which was her last hope, thrown into irretrievable confusion, her spirit, which all her past misfortunes had not been able entirely to subdue, sunk altogether. In the utmost consternation, she began her flight, and so lively were her impressions of fear, that she never closed her eyes till she reached the Abbey of Dundrenan in Galloway, full sixty Scottish miles from the place of battle."*

Deplorable as the condition was, to which Mary had been reduced by the fatal issue of the conflict of Langside, still it was not utterly desperate. Her friends were numerous, though dispersed: the popular feeling in her behalf would have grown with her increased misfortunes; and the neighbourhood to which she had retired, promised her shelter and p. 457.

* Robertson's Hist. Scot. v.