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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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462 Lady Nitksdales Relation of Lord Nithsdale ' s Escape ,
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subscribe the -petition , which was a thing * I knew my Lord would never submit to , nor , in fact , could I wish to preserve his life on those terms . As the motion had passed generally , I thought I coufd draw from it some advantage in favour of my design .
Accordingly I immediatel y left the House of Lords and hastened to the Tower , where , affecting an air of joy and satisfaction , I told all the guards I passed that I came to bring jo > ful tidings to the prisoners ; 1 desired them to lav aside their fears , for the 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 1 thought that if I were too liberal on the occasion , they mi ^ ht suspect my designs ; and that giving them something would gain their , good-will and services 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 upon 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 nay 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 I had every thing 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 immediately , as we had no time to lose . At the same time I sent for a Mrs . Morgan , to whose acquaintance my dear Evans had
introduced me , which J look 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 taken for her .
Mrs . Mills was then with child , so that she was not only 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 T first opened my design to them , had made them consent without ever thinking of the consequences .
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Oft 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 , which were to serve Mrs . Mills when she left her own behind her . When Mrs . Morgan had taken off what she
brought for my purpose , L conducted her back to the staircase , and , in going , 1 begged her to send me in my maid to dress me , that [ was afraid of being too late to present my last petition that night , if she did not come immediately . 1 dispatched her safe , aud then went partly down stairs to meet Mrs . Mills , wno 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 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 time to shave .
All this provision 1 had before left in the Tower . The poor guards , whom my liberality-the day before had endeared to me , let me go quietly out with my company , and were not so strictly on the watch as they usually had been , and the more 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 rnv >
waiting maid , she certainly cannot reflect how late it is , she forgets that I am to present my petition to-night , and if I let slip this opportunity 1 am undone , 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 aud daughters ,
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1817, page 462, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2467/page/14/
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