mself to the generosity of his enemy England: like Mary Stuart, he was
cruelly punished for his confidence, and found in the deadly climate of
St. Helena the scaffold of Fotheringay.

Mary Stuart set out on her journey, then, with her little following.
Arrived at the shore of Solway Firth, she found there the Warden of the
English Marches: he was a gentleman named Lowther, who received the queen
with the greatest respect, but who gave her to understand that he could
not permit more than three of her women to accompany her. Mary Seyton
immediately claimed her privilege: the queen held out to her her hand.

"Alas! mignonne," said she, "but it might well be another's turn: you
have already suffered enough for me and with me."

But Mary, unable to reply, clung to her hand, making a sign with her head
that nothing in the world should part her from her mistress. Then all who
had accompanied the queen renewed their entreaties that she should not
persist in this fatal resolve, and when she was already a third of the
way along the plank placed for her to enter the skiff, the Prior of
Dundrennan, who had offered Mary Stuart such dangerous and touching
hospitality, entered the water up to his knees, to try to detain her; but
all was useless: the queen had made up her mind.

At that, moment Lowther approached her. "Madam," said he, "accept anew
my regrets that I cannot offer a warm welcome in England to all who would
wish to follow you there; but our queen has given us positive orders, and
we must carry them out. May I be permitted to remind your Majesty that
the tide serves?"

"Positive orders!" cried the prior. "Do you hear, madam? Oh! you are
lost if you quit this shore! Back, while there is yet time! Back; madam,
in Heaven's name! To me, sir knights, to me!" he cried, turning to Lord
Herries and the other lords who had accompanied Mary Stuart; "do not
allow your queen to abandon you, were it needful to struggle with her and
the English at the same time. Hold her back, my lords, in Heaven's name!
withhold her!"

"What means this violence, sir priest?" said the Warden of the Marches.
"I came here at your queen's express command; she is free to return to
you, and there is no need to have recourse to force for that". Then,
addressing the queen--

"Madam," said he, "do you consent to follow me into England in full
liberty of choice? Answer, I entreat you; for my honour demands that the
whole world should be aware that