The Escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Loch Leven Castle (colour litho)

The Escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Loch Leven Castle. While in captivity at Loch Leven, Mary encouraged the advances of George Douglas, son of the lady of the castle, with whose assistance she made an unsuccessful attempt to escape on 25 March 1568. The second attempt, made on 2 May, was more successful; while Lady Douglas was at supper, the keys were stolen and Mary hastened from the castle by a postern gate to the shore of the lake. She was rowed to the mainland and met by George Douglas, Lord Seton and others, who accompanied her to Hamilton, where received by the nobles of her party at the head of three thousand followers. Illustration for Hutchinson's History of the Nations (Hutchinson, c.1920).