|ANOTHER important escape must be recounted.
In this case the noble fugitive was indebted entirely to his own
exertions for deliverance.
The youth of the Earl of Wintoun was passed in a manner that might have
given him extraordinary notoriety in our own time; but though he ran
away to France, and disappeared for some years, his claim to the title
was never disputed.
Incredible as it may seem, during this period of his career, he hired
himself to a blacksmith, and served as a mere bellows-blower for some
years.
At the same time he acquired considerable mechanical skill, which was
subsequently improved, when he abandoned the hammer and the forge, and
his talent now stood him in good stead.
He was imprisoned in the upper part of the Hall Tower, formerly, as its
name imported, connected with the old palace, and the windows of his
rooms looked into the inner and outer wards.
These windows were strongly grated, but Lord Wintoun derided this
obstacle to escape.
Carefully concealed about his person, he had a couple of small files,
and setting to work with these implements, he so nearly cut through the
bars, that he could immediately remove them when needful.
The main difficulty was now overcome, but the windows were at a
considerable height from the ground; and, moreover, there were sentinels
both at the back and front, who must be eluded before an escape could be
effected.
The Earl of Wintoun, however, was confident in his own ability to manage
the matter, and did not doubt he should find an opportunity of getting
off.
The opportunity occurred.
During the day a fog had prevailed in the City, and of course extended
to the Tower. Indeed, it was thicker there than elsewhere.
Towards night the vapour increased in density. Not only was the
White Tower completely hidden, but all the surrounding buildings were
obscured. The sentinels could scarcely be distinguished on their posts.
Links were lighted, but only served to make the darkness more palpable.
When the fog first came on, the Earl of Wintoun resolved to take
advantage of the chance thus offered him, but he waited patiently till
night.
No extra precaution seemed to be taken by the jailers, except that the
entrance to the Hall Tower from the inner ward was fastened, but this
mattered little, since the fugitive proposed to descend from the window
looking towards the outer ward.
No sooner had the jailer paid his last visit for the night than the earl
removed the bars from the window, tied a couple of sheets together
and fastened them, and then listened intently for the sound of the
sentinel's footsteps, who was pacing to and fro beneath.
So dark was it that Lord Wintoun could not see the man, but he could
hear him, and when he judged by the sound that the sentinel was at the
greatest distance, he let himself down as quickly and noiselessly as he
could.
A sound reached the man's ear, for he suddenly halted and called out:
“Who goes there?”
But receiving no answer, and hearing no further noise, he did not think
it needful to give the alarm.
Meanwhile, the Earl of Wintoun, who had remained perfectly quiet at this
critical juncture, now stole to the further side of the ward, and crept
along the edge of the wall till he got within a short distance of the
Gate Tower.
Here fortune favoured him.
At the very moment of his arrival, a warder who had just come from the
guard-room was opening the wicket to let out some half-dozen persons.
Without hesitation, the earl mixed with the party, and though a link was
brought, he escaped without attracting the warder's attention.
But another portal had still to be passed at the opposite side of the
bridge, and as Lord Wintoun was marching towards it with his companions,
he felt his arm grasped, while a voice whispered in his ear:
“You are one of the rebel lords. Your life is worth a thousand pounds. I
must have that sum, or I will prevent your escape.”
“You shall have the money,” replied the earl, in the same tone.
“Enough,” said the man. “I know you will fulfil your promise. Take that
letter. It will tell you who I am.”
But for this timely aid the earl might have been stopped by the guard at
the Middle Tower.
However, he soon got clear of the fortress, and passing through the
Bulwark Gate, plunged into the fog that enveloped Tower Hill.