There remained in the queen’s apartments the rope over and above what had served for the ladder taken away by the guards the evening of the frustrated escape:  next day, at the appointed hour, the two prisoners shut up the lamp in the bedroom, so that no light should betray them, and Mary Seyton, approaching the window, let down the cord.  After a minute, she felt from its movements that something was being attached to it.  Mary Seyton pulled, and a rather bulky parcel appeared at the bars, which it could not pass on account of its size.  Then the queen came to her companion’s aid.  The parcel was untied, and its contents, separately, got through easily.  The two prisoners carried them into the bedroom, and, barricaded within, commenced an inventory.  There were two complete suits of men’s clothes in the Douglas livery.  The queen was at a loss, when she saw a letter fastened to the collar of one of the two coats.  Eager to know the meaning of this enigma, she immediately opened it, and read as follows: 

“It is only by dint of audacity that her Majesty can recover her liberty:  let her Majesty read this letter, then, and punctually follow, if she deign to adopt them, the instructions she will find therein.

“In the daytime the keys of the castle do not leave the belt of the old steward; when curfew is rung and he has made his rounds to make sure that all the doors are fast shut, he gives them up to William Douglas, who, if he stays up, fastens them to his sword-belt, or, if he sleeps, puts them under his pillow.  For five months, Little Douglas, whom everyone is accustomed to see working at the armourer’s forge of the castle, has been employed in making some keys like enough to the others, once they are substituted for them, for William to be deceived.  Yesterday Little Douglas finished the last.

“On the first favourable opportunity that her Majesty will know to be about to present itself, by carefully questioning the light each day, Little Douglas will exchange the false keys for the true, will enter the queen’s room, and will find her dressed, as well as Miss Mary Seyton, in their men’s clothing, and he will go before them to lead them, by the way which offers the best chances for their escape; a boat will be prepared and will await them.

“Till then, every evening, as much to accustom themselves to these new costumes as to give them an appearance of having been worn, her Majesty and Miss Mary Seyton will dress themselves in the suits, which they must keep on from nine o’clock till midnight.  Besides, it is possible that, without having had time to warn them, their young guide may suddenly come to seek them:  it is urgent, then, that he find them ready.

“The garments ought to fit perfectly her Majesty and her companion, the measure having been taken on Miss Mary Fleming and Miss Mary Livingston, who are exactly their size.

“One cannot too strongly recommend her Majesty to summon to her aid on the supreme occasion the coolness and courage of which she has given such frequent proofs at other times.”