This may seem improbable .
The episode was lifted from the real story of William Maxwell , 5th Earl of Nithsdale , who escaped from the Tower of London the night before his execution in 1716 dressed as a woman .
This may seem improbable , but the episode was lifted from the real story of William Maxwell , 5th Earl of Nithsdale , who escaped from the Tower of London the night before his execution in 1716 dressed as a woman .