The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-21
THE EXECUTION OF MARY STUART.
BY WILHELM CONSTANT.

From seventh volume OF the Lives OF the Queens oil
Scotland by Agnes Strickland
At six O'Clock on the fatal morning of the
9Th Of February, Mary Stuart told her ladies
" che had but two hours to live, and bid them
dress her as for festival" Very minute par
ticulsrs Of that last toilette have been preserved
both by French and English historians, and a
coten porsry manuscript in the Vatican con.
tains q desert ption of it, from the pen of an
ye-witness Of her death. 1t is there stated
that she wore a widows dress of black velvet
but spangled all over with gold, black satin
pourpoint and kirtle, and under these petit
coat Of crimson velvet, with a body of the same
color, and white veil Of the most delicate tex
ture, Of the fashion worn by princesses of the
highest rank, thrown over her Golf, and de-
gcending TO the ground also, which il not
mentioned in any other account, that she had
caused a camiso.s of fine Scotch plaid, reach.
ing from the throat to the waist but without a
collar, to be prepared the night before, that
when her upper garments should be removed,
she might eecape the distress of appearing IN.
covered before so many people.
While her ladies were assisting her to dress,
she, with the feminine delicscy of q really mod
est woman, earnestly entreated them TO be
watchfrl over her in the last terrible moment.
when, observed she, " | shall be incapable of
thinking Of this poor body, or bestowing any
care upon it. On, then, for the love of the
blessed Saviour, abandon me not while under
the hands Of the executioner They prom
iced, with streaming eyes, to be near her, and
TO cover her body as abe fell.
Then she entered her orstory alone, and
knesliDg b.fore the miniature altar, at which
her a!rEoner had been accustomed to celebrate
mass opened the gold and jewelled ciborium
u which the Pope had sent her q consecrated
wafer, with dispensstion to do what had never
before been permitted to one of the laity-ad.
minister the Eucharist to herself, preparatory
to her death, if denied the ministration of a
priest. Ii is impossible for Protestant biog
rapher to describe the feelings with which Mary
Stuart performed her lonely communion, under
circumstances SO strange to q member of the
Roman Catholic church. No mortal eye be.
held her In that hour; but the following Latin
prayer is well known to have been extempo.
rized by her during her last devotions On the
morning of her death:
30 Domino Deus. speravi in te;
care me Jesu, nunc lihera me.
la dura catena, IN msera pBna desidero
Languendo, gemendO Ell genu leclendo
Adore, ITnplOro, ut There's me
My Lord and my Sod, | have hoped in Thee;
@ Jesus, sweet Saviour. now hberaie me
have langushed for Thee in Affections and chains ;
AdoIing lmpOriDg on hunbly bowed knee,
crave OF Thy mercy, by grace set me free"
The wintry morning had dawned before Mary
left her orstory. She then concluded her letter
to her royal brother-in-lsw, Henry III of France,
by adding several earnest petitions in behalf
CT her faithful servants, and the final date
80 The morning of my death, this Wednes-
day, S!h February. Signed MARIE R."
She returned to her bed-chamber, where, seat.
ing herself beside the fire, she began to console
her weeping maids, by declaring the comfort
che felt IN her approaching release from her
long I'll ctions, and minded them " that her
uncle, the late Duke of Guise, had told her in
courage of her race, and lie thought she would
well know bow to die; y" yet he had never an.
her childhood, that she possessed the hereditary
ticipated the possibility of her suffering the
terrible death by which she was about to verify
the truth of his prediction. She spoke of the
transtory nature of human felicity, and the
vanity Of earthly greatness, whereof she was
destined TO serve as an example having been
Queen of the realms of France and Scotland,
the one by birth, the other by marriage and
after being al the summit of all worldly honors,
had to submit herself to the hands of the exc
cutIoner, though innocent which was her great.
est consolation, the crime alleged against her
being only himsy pretext for her destruction
At the foot of the stsirs-which, on account
OF her lsmeness, she descended slowly and with
great difficulty, supported Oh each side by two
OF Paulet's officers, who held her up under her
nrms-sbe was met by Andrew Melville, who
was now permitted to Join her. He threw him.
self on bis knees before her, wringing his hands
III an uncomfortable agony of grief, the violence
of which almost shook the majestic calnness
she bad hitf erto preserved. "Woe is me-"
cried be, weeping bitterly, "thst ever it should
he my. forl hon, tn h,o Il
dlngs TO Scotland as that my good and gracious
Queen arc mistress has been beheaded in Epg-
land weep not, Melville, my good and
iahhiCl servant" she replied, "thou shouldst
rather rejoice that thou shslt now see the end
OF the long troubles Of Mary Stuart know
Melville, that this world is but vanity and full
Of sorrows. | am Catholic, thou Protests mt !:
but as there is but one Christ, | charge thee in
dis name to bear witness that | die firm to nv
religion, true Scotchwoman, and true to
France. Commend me TO my dearest and most
sweet son. Tell him have done nothing to
prejudice him in ia realm, nor to disparage
lis dignity; and that although could wish he
were OF my relgl' n, yet, if he will live in the
fear OF Gcd, according to that in which he has
been nurtured, doubt not he shall do we'll.
Tell him, from my example, never to rely too
much on human aid, but to seek that which If
from above. II be follow my advice he shall
have the blessing of God in Heaven, as | now
give him mine on earth" She raised her hand
as she concluded, and made the sisn of tbe
cross, 10 bless him in his absence, and her ewes
oyerfowed with tears.
May God" continued she, forgive them
that have thirsted for my blood as the hart
doth for The brooks of water. o God, who ar
the author of truth, and the truth itself, thou
knouest that | have always wished the unior
of England and Scotland" One of the com
Inissicners, doubtless the pitiless Earl of Kent
here interrupted her BY reminding her I" tina
The time was wearing apace." FAREWELL
ehe ea;d, good Melville. Farewell PRAY 70
thy Queen and mistress" The passionat
grief of her faithful servant brought infection
tesrs to her eyes. She bowed on his neck ant
wep;; and, with Ike sensibity as her cousin
Lady Jane Grey, had kissed and embrace,
Feckenham On the scaffold, go did she vouch
safe, as sovereign might, without disparagemen
10 regal dignity, or departure from feminine
reserve, the like sffectionate farewell to tina
true subject who had shared her prison, an,
was following her 10 death. She, who had ex
perienced the ingrstitude of Moray, a Leth
lngton, and Mar, could well appreciate tn
faithful love of Andrew Melville.
Another gentleman cameto kiss Mary Stuart
hand and bid her farewell on her way to execr
ton, with demonstrations of deep respect an
tender sympathy, together with expressions sc
regret and Indignation that her blood should
cruelty shed while under his roof" This wa
Sir William Fiizwilliam, of Milton, who at tbs
time held Fotheringhsy Castle on lease fror
the Crown. Ola very different spirit from 81
Amyas Paulet, this fine old English gentlems
had shown the royal prisoner all the kind after
ton in bis power. Mary thanked him for b
ageutIe entreatment of her while in his house,
and begged him " to accept, and keep az m,
mortal of her grateful appreciation Of his cou
teev the portrait of the King her sop. which