Page:Life and history of Mary, Queen of Scots.pdf/13

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MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.
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insulting language was used towards her by the populace. A banner was exhibited before her, displaying on the one side the portrait of Darnley as he lay murdered under a tree in the fatal orchard, with these words embroidered, "Judge and avenge my cause, O Lord!" and on the other side the little prince on his knees, holding up his hands, as if praying to Heaven against his father's murderers; and as the Queen rode through the streets, with her hair loose, her garments disordered, covered with dust, and overpowered with grief, the multitude loudly upbraided her with having been an accomplice in her husband's murder.

The Lords of the confederacy, however, apprehending danger to their cause from some symptoms of returning loyalty amongst the better order of citizens, conveyed her to the strong Castle of Lochleven, which stands on a little island surrounded by a lake of the same name, and detained her as a prisoner.

Bothwell escaped in a boat to Denmark, but being suspected of plundering some vessel at sea, he was thrown into prison; and, after languishing ten years in confinement, died without the sympathy of one friendly tear.

Mary was imprisoned in a rude and inconvenient tower, where there was scarcely room to walk thirty yards, and her brother the Earl of Murray, was made Regent of the kingdom during the minority of her son. They even compelled