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taken for her. Mrs. Mills was then with child, so that she was not only of the same height, but nearly the same size, as my lord.

When we were in the coach I never ceased talking, that they might have no leisure to reflect. Their surprise and astonishment when I first opened my design to them, had made them consent without ever thinking of the consequences.

'On our arrival at the Tower, the first I introduced was Mrs. Morgan; for I was only allowed to take in one at a time. She brought in the clothes that were to serve Mrs. Mills, when she left her own behind her. When Mrs. Morgan had taken off what she had brought for my purpose, I conducted her back to the staircase; and in going

petition had passed the House in their favour. I then gave them some money to drink to the lords and his majesty, though it was but trifling; for I thought that if I were too liberal on the occasion, they might suspect my designs, and that giving them something would gain their good humour and service for the next day, which was the eve of the execution. The next morning I could not go to the Tower, having so many things on my hands to put in readiness; but in the evening, when all was ready, I sent for Mrs. Mills, with whom I lodged, and acquainted her with my design of attempting my lord's escape, as there was no prospect of his being pardoned, and this was the last night before the execution. I told her that II begged her to send me in my had everything in readiness, and that I trusted she would not refuse to accompany me,-that my lord might pass for her. I pressed her to come immediateÎy, as we had no time to lose. At the same time, I sent for Mrs. Morgan, then usually known by the name of Hilton, to whose acquaintance my dear Evans (her maid) had introduced me, which I looked upon as a very singular happiness. I immediately communicated my resolution to her. She was of a very tall and slender make, so I begged her to put under her own riding hood one that I had prepared for Mrs. Mills, as she was to lend hers to my lord,that in coming out he might be

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maid to dress me,-that I was afraid of being too late to present my petition that night if she did not come immediately. I despatched her safe, and went partly down stairs to meet Mrs. Mills, who had the precaution to hold her handkerchief to her face, as was very natural for a woman to do when she was going to bid her last farewell to a friend on the eve of his execution. I had, indeed, desired her to do it, that my lord might go out in the same manner. Her eyebrows were rather inclined to be sandy, and my lord's were dark and very thick; however, I had prepared some paint, of the colour of hers, to disguise his with. I also bought

lord and finished dressing him. I had taken care that Mrs. Mills did not go out crying, as she came in, that my lord might the better pass for the lady who came in crying and afflicted; and the more so, because he had the same dress she wore.

'When I had almost finished dressing my lord in all my petticoats, excepting one, I perceived that it was growing dark, and was afraid that the light of the candles might betray us; so I resolved to set off. I went out leading him by the hand, and he held his handkerchief to his eyes. I spoke to him in the most piteous and afflicted tone of voice, bewailing bitterly the negligence of Evans, who had ruined me by her delay. Then said I: "My dear Mrs. Betty, for the love of God run quickly and bring her with you. You know my lodging, and if ever you made despatch in your life, do it at present. I am almost distracted with this disappointment." The guards. opened the doors, and I went down stairs with him, still conjuring to make all possible des

an artificial head-dress of the
same coloured hair as hers; and |
I painted his face with white,
and his cheeks with rouge, to
hide his long beard, which he
had not had time to shave. All
this provision I had before left
in the Tower. The poor guards,
whom my slight liberality the
day before had endeared me to,
let me go quietly with my com-
pany, and were not so strictly
on the watch as they usually
had been; and the more so, as
they were persuaded, from what
I had told them the day before,
that the prisoners would obtain
their pardon. I made Mrs.
Mills take off her own hood,
and put on that which I had
brought for her. I then took
her by the hand, and led her
out of my lord's chamber, and
in passing through the next
room, in which there were
several people, with all the
concern imaginable, I said:
"My dear Mrs. Catherine, go
in all haste and send me my
waiting-maid; she certainly can-
not reflect how late it is; she
forgets that I am to present a
petition to-night, and if I let
slip this opportunity I am un-patch.
done, for to-morrow will be too
late. Hasten her as much as
possible, for I shall be on
thorns till she comes." Every-
body in the room, who were
chiefly guards' wives and
daughters, seemed to compas-
sionate me exceedingly, and
the sentinel officiously opened
the door. When I had seen
her out, I returned back to my

As soon as he had cleared the door, I made him walk before me, for fear the sentinel should take notice of his walk; but I still continued to press him to make all the despatch he possibly could. At the bottom of the stairs I met my dear Evans, into whose hands I confided him.

'I had before engaged Mr. Mills to be in readiness before

and stood half in it, that those in the outward chamber might hear what I said; but held it so close that they could not look

the Tower to conduct him to some place of safety, in case he succeeded. He looked upon the affair as so very improbable to succeed, that his astonish-in. I bid my lord a formal ment when he saw us threw him farewell for that night, and into such consternation, that added, that something more he was almost out of himself; than usual must have happened which Evans perceiving, with the to make Evans negligent on greatest presence of mind, with- this important occasion, who out telling him (Lord Nithsdale) had always been so punctual in anything, lest he should mistrust the smallest trifles; that I saw no them, conducted him to some other remedy but to go in perof her own friends, on whom son; that if the Tower were still she could rely, and so secured open when I finished my busihim,—without which we should ness, I would return that night; have been undone. When she but that he might be assured had conducted him and left that I would be with him as him with them, she returned to early in the morning as I could find Mr. Mills, who by this gain admittance to the Tower; time had recovered himself and I flattered myself I should from his astonishment. They bring favourable news. Then, went home together; and having before I shut the door, I pulled found a place of security, they through the string of the latch, conducted him to it. so that it could only be opened on the inside. I then shut it with some degree of force, that I might be sure of its being well shut. I said to the servant as I passed by, who was ignorant of the whole transaction, that he need not carry candles in to his master till my lord sent for him, as he desired to finish some prayers first. went down stairs and called a coach, as there were several on the stand. I drove home to my lodgings, where poor Mr. Mackenzie had been waiting to carry the petition, in case my attempt failed. I told him there was no need of any petition, as my lord was safe out of the Tower, and out of the hands

' In the meanwhile, as I had pretended to have sent the young lady on a message, I was obliged to return up-stairs and go back to my lord's room, in the same feigned anxiety of being too late; so that everybody seemed sincerely to sympathize with my distress. When I was in the room, I talked to him as if he had been really present, and answered my own questions in my lord's voice, as nearly as I could imitate it. I walked up and down, as if we were conversing together, till I thought they had time enough thoroughly to clear themselves of the guards. I then thought proper to make off also. I opened the door,

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of his enemies; but that I did not know where he was.

'I then desired one of the servants to call a chair, and I went to the Duchess of Montrose, who had always borne a part in my distresses. When I arrived, she left her company to deny herself, not being able to see me under the affliction which she judged me to be in. By mistake, however, I was admitted; so there was no remedy. She came to me; and as my heart was in an ecstasy of joy, I expressed it in my countenance as she entered the room. I ran up to her in the transport of my joy. She appeared to be exceedingly shocked and frighted, and has since confessed to me that she apprehended my trouble had thrown me out of myself, till I com

'I discharged the coach, and sent for a sedan-chair, and went to the Duchess of Buccleuch, who expected me about that time, as I had begged of her to present the petition for me, having taken my precautions against all events. I asked if she were at home, and they answered that she expected me, and had another duchess with her. I refused to go up-stairs, as she had company with her, and I was not in a condition to see any other company. I begged to be shown into a chamber below stairs, and that they would have the goodness to send her grace's maid to me, having something to say to her. I had discharged the chair, lest Imunicated my happiness to her. might be pursued and watched. She then advised me to retire When the maid came in, I de- to some place of security, for sired her to present my most that the king was highly dishumble respects to her grace, pleased, and even enraged, at who they told me had company the petition I had presented to with her, and to acquaint her him, and had complained of it that this was my only reason severely. I sent for another for not coming up-stairs. I also chair; for I always discharged charged her with my sincerest them immediately, lest I might thanks for her kind offer to be pursued. Her grace said accompany me when I went she would go to court, and see to present my petition. how the news of my lord's added that she might spare escape was received. When herself any further trouble, as the news was brought to the it was now judged more advis-king, he flew into an excess of able to present one general passion, and said he was bepetition in the name of all: trayed, for it could not have however, that I should never been done without some conbe unmindful of my particular federacy. He instantly deobligations to her grace, which spatched two persons to the I would return very soon to Tower, to see that the other acknowledge in person. prisoners were secure, lest they

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should

follow the example. Some threw the blame upon one, some upon another. The duchess was the only one at court who knew it.

'When I left the duchess, I went to a house which Evans had found out for me, and where she promised to acquaint me where my lord was. She got thither some few minutes after me, and told me that, when she had seen him secure, she went in search of Mr. Mills, who by this time had recovered himself from his astonishment; that he returned to her house, where she had found him, and that he had removed my lord from the first place, where she had desired him to wait, to the house of a poor woman directly opposite to the guard - house. She had but one small room, up one pair of stairs, and a very small bed in it. We threw ourselves upon the bed, that we might not be heard walking up and down. She left us a bottle of wine and some bread, and Mrs. Mills brought us some more in her pocket the next day. We subsisted on this provision from Thursday till Saturday night, when Mrs. Mills came and conducted my lord to the Venetian ambassador's. We did not communicate the affair to his excellency, but one of his servants concealed him in his own room till Wednesday, on which day the ambassador's coach-and-six was to go down to Dover to meet his brother. My lord put on a livery, and

went down in the retinue, without the least suspicion, to Dover, where Mr. Mitchell, the ambassador's servant, hired a small vessel, and immediately set sail for Calais. The passage was so remarkably short, that the captain threw out this reflection, that the wind could not have served better if his passengers had been flying for their lives, little thinking it to be really the case.

'For my own part, I absconded to the house of a very honest man in Drury Lane, where I remained until I was assured of my lord's safe arrival on the Continent. I then wrote to the Duchess of Buccleuch— everybody thought till then that I was gone off with my lord— to tell her that I understood I was suspected of having contrived my lord's escape, as was very natural to suppose; that if I could have been happy enough to have done so, I should be flattered to have the merit of it attributed to me; but that a bare suspicion, without proof, could never be a sufficient ground for my being punished for a supposed offence, though it might be motive enough to me to provide a place of security; so I entreated her to procure leave for me to go with safety about my business. So far from granting my request, they were resolved to secure me if possible. After several debates, Mr. Solicitor-General (Mr. Fortescue Aland), who was an utter stranger to me, had the humanity to say, that since I showed so

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