Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1843-02-11
EXECUTION OF QUEEN MARY.

Followed by her servants, md by Melyt
bearing her train, she entered the great hall
AID walked to the scaffnld, which had been
erected at lis upper end. 1t was a raised plat
form, about Two feet in height and twelve
broad, surrounded by a rail, and covered with
black. Upon ii were placed q lew chair and
n cushion, Two other seats and he block. The
Queen regarded II without The least change OF
couhtenance cheerfully mounted the steps and
sat down with The easy grace and dignity with
which she would have occupied her throne.
On her right were seated the Earts Of Ken,
and Shrewsbury, Oh her EFF the Sherifs, and
etgre her the Two ekecUtloners. The Earl Of
Kent, the Dean Of Peterborough, Sir Amias
Paulet, Sir Drowry Beal. the clerk Of the privy
council and others, stood beside the scafold
IN these with the guards, officers, and ten.
dants. and some Of the neighboring gentry,
who had been permitted 10 be present, made
mp an assembly of about two hundred in oil.
Beal then read the warrant Of her death, which
she heard with apparent attention but those
pear her could see, by the sweet and absent
expression of her counfenance. that her
thoughts were far of.-Wben it was finished
she crossed herself, and addressed a few words
10 The persons around the scafold. She spoke
of her rights as . sovereign princess which
had been invaded and trampled on, and of her
long sorrows and Imprisonment. but expressed
the deepest thankfulness 10 God. that being
now about to die for her religion, she was per-
mitted before The company, to testify that she
died a Catholic, and innocent of having in
vented any plot, or consented 10 any practices,
against the Queens life. 4 win here said
she, 'in ny last moments, accuse no one but
when | am gone much will be discovered thnt
is now hid, and the objects ofthose who have
procured my death be more clearly disclosed
TO the world
The Dean Of Peterborough then prayed in
English, being Joined by the noble1ncn and
gentlemen who were ptesent--whiIat Mary
k~neellng apart, repeated portions Of her penn
Tertiary psalms in Latin, and afterwards con-
tlnued her prayers aloud in English BY this
time. The Dean having concluded, there was a
deep silence. SO that every word was heard!
Amid this ILLNESS, she recommended to God
his afflicted Church, her son, the King Of Scot
land, and Queen CHARACTERISTIC declared that
her whole hope rested upon her savior; and,
although she confessed ina, she was a great
sinner, she humbly trustef that the blood Of
that Immaculate Lamb, which bad been shed
for all sinners, would wash all her guilt away:
She then invoked the blessed Virgin and al,
the saints, imploring them to grant her their
prayers with God and finally declared that
she fGrgave all her enemiess 1t was imposSi-
bic for any one TO behold her at this moment
without being deeply affected on her knees,
her hands clasped together and raised to Hea-
ven, an expression of alteration and divine Sc
reni'y lighting mp her features, and upon her
lips the word of forgiveness to her prosecutors.
AS she finished her devotions she kissed the
crHcifix, and, making the sign Of the cross. ex-
t..ual -, .f..- .r-ons ,..a1 "A. 49,.
arms, @ my Ged, were spread out upon the
cross, SO receive me within the arms Of thy
mercy; extend thy pity and forgive my sirs +
She then cheerfuliy suffered herse'fs 10 be
addressed by her two women, Jare Kennedy
and Elizabeth Carrie, and gently aGmonished
them not to distress her by theiG tears aid la
Notwithstanding her fGser upon her lips,
and bidding hem 10 re1nembcr that she had
promised for hem. 1n seeing the execution
TONER come w 10 offer his assistance, she
smiled and playfuIly said, she had not been
used to such groons Of The chamber, nor to
undrssS before 50 many people. When all
was ready she kissed her two women, and
gave them her last blessing !; desired them to
leave her, one of them having first bound her
eyes with the handkerchief which she had cho-
sen for the purpose.
She then sat dowE, and c~lasping her hands
together, held her neck firm and erect expect
ing that she was to be beheaded in the French
fashion with a sword and N a sitting attitude.
Those who were present aad knew nothing of
thfs misconcePtasl, wondered at this ; and in
the pause, Mary, still waiting for the blow, re-
peated the words In thee, O Lord have l
trusted ; let me never be put to confuslon.'
On being made awareAof her mistake, she in.
stantly kne!tdown, and cropping with her hands
fer the block, laid her neck upon it without,
the slightest mark of trembling or hesitation.
Her last words were, Into thy hands | commit
my spirit for thou hast redeemed me, @ Lord
God of truth AT this moment ffe tears and
emotions of the spectators had reached their
height, and appeared unfortunately to have
shaken the nerves and disturbed the aim of
the executloner, 50 that the first blow was i'll
directed and only wounded his victim. She
lay, however, perfectly still and the next
stroke severed the head from the BODY. The
exeeatiener then held The head up ami called
aloud God save the Queen SO lef all
Queen Eiizabeth's enemies perish = was the