The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-12

death She sury syed the sable scfod the block the
the cxecntoner and spectators undauntediy as she
advanced 70 the foot of the scaold Then she paused
for she required assistance, and Sir bnyas Paulct tender
ed her his hand to aid her In ascending the two steep
steps by which it WIS approached Mary accepted the
proffered at enon Of her prosecuting ailor with the
qucsny courtesy that WIS natural to her. 81 thank
you, sir " said she, when he had helped her to mount
the fatal stair ts is the last trouble shall ever give
you
Having calmly seated herself In the chair that had
been prov ided for her, with the two ears standing on
either sde and the executone in front holding the
with the edge towards her Beale sprang upon the sc
fold With nee aacrity, and read tho
In loud voice She listened TO 1t with serene and even
smiling c,ontenance but, as before bowed her hes
aud crossed herse when 1t concluded in token of
her subm' '.son The viii of God. Nov, madam
do" She answered briefly and enphaticsly, 'Do your
duty Il Taen she asked for her almoner that she might
pray with him but th bong denied Dr. Fletcher, the
dean q P' NJ 2ugh sndng directly before her without
the raii and bending his body vey low began to ad
dress her sMr. Dean, trouble not yourself nor me-,
said the Queen, or know that am tiled IN the an
cient Catholic and Romen faith, in defence Whereof by
Gods grace m'nd 70 spend my bloodS' "Madan,'
replied the dean change your opaion and rel mt you
of your former wickedness.' Good Mr.. Dean, re-
jo led she, roube not yourset fny about this
matter was boia II this religion and resolved to
die in this religion The earls, percciving her resou
ton not to be shaken, said Ms fsme will you pray
for Grace with Mr. DcaD that you may have your
mind lightene with the true knowledge of God and his
pray with me- will from my heart thank You but
to pray with you, in your Mariner who not Of the
same religion with me- sim. The ears then bade
the Dean 'ssay according to his pleasure This
he did, not by recting the besuIl office for the dying
the burial sice from Anglican Church, but in
bitter poemc composition of his OWL tending neither
to comfort nor edifcation. Mary Needed hin not,
but began to pray with absorbing and fearful earnestnes
from her brevary and the psalter uniting portions
from the 3lst, 5ls and 9lst Psalms. She prayed in
Latin in French and finally English for God to pardon
Tlu ,AnJ,
for the peace and prosperity Of England and Scotland
for her son. and for Queen Elizabeth not with the os
tcntation of Phasee but the holy bsnevoence of dy
ing Christian At the conclusion OF her last prayer she
arose, and holding up the cruelty, exclaimed, As thy
arms 0 Christ! extended on the CROSS, even 30
ceive into the arms of Thy mercy, and blot out all
| my sins with Thy most precious blood "Madam,
interrupted the Earl of Kent t better for you to
cschew such Popish trumpery, and bear Him in your
| heart sCan H. she mildly answered, 'hold the rep
resentaon of the suerings of my crucifed Redcemer
in my hand without bearing lin, at the same tine =
The two executoners, seeing her preparing to make
herself ready for the block Felt before her and prayed
her forgiveness, II forgive you all and all the world
with all my heart she replied, .for hope this death
will give an end 10 all my troubles e They offered to
assist her in removing her mantle but she drew back
and requested them not to touch her, observing with
smile, II have not been accustomed to be served by
such pages OF honor to srobe before numerous
company. ,cn bcckoning to Jane Kennedy and El'-
abcth Curle who were on their knees in tears below,
they to her the scaod but when they saw for
what psspose they Tequised they began to scream
and cry and too much agitated at first to render
her the assistance she required, that she began to
take out the pins herself thing to which she not
accustomed. '.Do not Weep, said she, tenderly
proving them ~ am very happy to leave this world.
You ought to rejoice to me die In so good cause
Are you not ashamed to weeps Nay you do not give
these lamentations must send you away, for you
know have promised for you.
Then she took of her gold pomander, chain and rosa
ry which she had previously desired of her ladies to
convey TO the Countess Of Arpndel last token of her
regard The executoner sei.ed it, and sccreed it in his
shoe Jane Kennedy with the resolute spirit of brave
Scotch assie snatched 1t from I'm, aud struggle en-
sued Mary, mildly nterpos lg said, 4 Friend, let her
have it. she give you more than IL value in money!;
but he suleny replied, sit is my perquisite = g 1t
would have been strange indeed = observes authority
with sarcastic bitterness f this poor Queen had met
with courtesy from English hangman who had expe-
renced little from the mobiles OF that colnrwitncss
the Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife.
Before Mary proceeded further in her preparations for
the block sie took last farewell Of her weeping ladies,
kissing, embracing, and blessing them, by signing them
with the cross which bencco they received on their
knees.
Her upper garments being removed, she remained in
her pottcoat of crimson velvet and clisoe which laced
behind, and covered her with pair of crimson
velvet sleeves Jane Kennedy drew from her pocket
the god-bordcred handkerchief Maj had given her to
bind her eyes Within this she placed CORPUS Christi
CLOTH probably the In which the consecated wafer
sent to her by the Pope had been enveloped Jane folded
it coIncl yse kissed it, and with trembling hands pre-
pared to execute this last office but she and her
panon burst into fresh paroxysm of hysterica sobbing
and crying. + sss
Mary placed her finger her lips reprovingly.
'.Hush said She IL have promised for you weep not,
but pray for me- When they had pinned the handker
chief the face of their beloved mistress they
compelled to withdraw from the scaffod and she was
left alone to close up the tragedy OF life by herself
which she did with her wonted courage and devotion
Kneeng the cushion she repeated IN her usually clear
firm voice-. e ID nine p.aUi 'In thee, Lord, have
hoped let me be put to confusion. Being then
gdcd by the executioners to find the block, she bowed
her head upon it inrepdly, excaming as she did So
"La tuas' "lnto thy hands, Lord, commend
my spirit The Earl of Shrewsbury raised his baton,
in performance of his duty earl marshall to give the
signal for the grace but he averted his head at the
tme and covered his face with his hand to con-
ceal his agitation and streaming tears momcntary
pause cnsued for the executioners assistant perceived
that the Queen, grasping the block firmly with both
hands, resting her chin upon them, and that they
must have been off mangcd If he had not removed
them which lie did by drawing them dowh and holding
them tightly in his own, while his companion struck her
with the cruel but '1eflectual blow Agitated
alike by the courage OF the royal victim and the sobs
and of tho sympathzng spectators he missed his
aim and inflicted deep wound the side of the skull
She neither screamed stirred but her suerings
too sadly testified by the convulson of her features,
when after the third blow the butcher work was accom-
plished, and the severed head streaming with blood,
held up to the gaze Of the people God save Queen
Elizabeth |" cried the exccuoner $50 let all her ene
mics perish T. exclaimed the Dean of Peterborough; one
solitary voice alone responded "Amen lit was that OF
the Earl Of Kent The silence, the tears, and groans of
the witnesses of the agcdyyea even OF the very assist