Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-06

SAS SA0SS0SAVA Va AAoA 6SVW0A6
At 8 o'clock on the fatal morning of the 9Th
Of February, Mary Stuart told her ladies "she
had but two hours to live, aud bid them dress
her Ns for festival" Very minute pnrticu.
lars Of that last toilette have b, preserved,
both by French and English historians, and q
contemporary MS. in the Vatican contains a
description Of it from the pen of an eye.wit-
ness Of her death. 1t is there stated that she
wore a widows dress Of black velvet, but
spanglcd all over with gold, black satin pour.
point and kirtlc, and under these petticoat
Of crimson velvet, with body of the same
color, and white veil of the most delicate
texture, Of the fashion worn by prlnccSses Of
the highest rank, thrown over her Golf, and
descending to the ground; also, which is not
mentioned in any ether account, that she had
caused camisOle Of fine Scotch plaid, reach.
ing from the throat to the waist, but without
collar, to be prepared the night before, that
when her upper garments should be removed,
she might escape the distress ofoppcariug un-
covered before so many people.
While her ladies were assisting her TO dress,
she, with the feminine drlcaCy of really
modest woman, earnestly entreatcd them to
be watchful over her in the last terrible mo.
mcnt, when, observed she, ~ shall be lncnpa.
Bile of thinking of this poor body, or hcstow.
ing any care upon it. Oh, then, for the love
Of the blessed Saviour, abandon me not While
under the hands Of the cXecutioner! " They
promised, with streaming eyes, to be near her
and to cover her body ms she fell.
Then she entered her oratory alone, and
kneeling before the miniature altar, ut which
her almoner had been accustomed to celebrate
mass, opened the gold and jewccd ciborium
in which the Pope had sent her u conSCcratcd
wafer with diSpcnsation 10 do what Ind new
er before been permitted to one Of the lAity--
administer the Eucharist to herself prcparito.
ry to her death, If denied the minStration Of
priest. 1t is impossible for a Protestant
biOgraphcr 10 describe The feelings with which
Mary Stuart performed her lonely communion,
under circumstances so strange to n member
Of the Roman Catholic Church. No mortal
eye bched her in that hour; but the following
Latin prayer is well know to have been extern.
porizcd by her during her last devotions on
the morning of her death:
20 Domino Deus? spcrav in tc;
0 care Inc Jcsu, nunc libcra me.
'ln dura catena, in mSera pcna; desidero
Langucndo, gemrudO Gt gcnu leCtendo
Adore, imi lOro, Ut hbrrcS mt"
"My Lord and my God have hoped in Thee
o Jesus, Sweet Saviour, now llbeTate me.
have langui>h.d for Thee in allctlons and chains
Lnmenting AMI slghing through long years Of pains.
Adoring, implOring, un huuIby bowed knee,
Icruve Of Thy mercy BY grace set uc free"
The wintry morning had dawncd before Ma.
ry lett her Oratory. She then concluded her let.
ter to her royal brothcr-in-law, Henry Ill. oi
France, by adding several earnest petitions in
behalf Of her faithful servants, and the final
date "The morning Of my death, this Wed
neSday, 9th February. Signed MARIE r."
She returned to her bed-chamber, where
seating herself beside the fire, she began t
console her weeping maids, by declaring thC
comfort she felt in her approaching release
from her long Affections, aud reminded then
that her uncle, the late Duke Of Guise, had
told in her childhood that she possessed the
hereditary courage of her race, and he thought
she would well know how to die; " vet h,
had never anticipated the possibility Of hrl
suffering the terrible death by which she was
about to verify the truth Of his prediction.
She spoke Of the transitory nature OF human
felicity, and the vanity Of earthly greatness
whereof she was destined to serve as an ex
ample; having been Queen of the realms u
France and Scotland, the one by b.rth, til,
other by marriage; and after being at the
summit Of oil worldly hOnors, had to submit
herself to the hands Of the eXecutioncr, though
innocent, which was her greatest consolation
the crime alleged against her being only q
iiimsy pretext for her destruction.
At the foot Of the stairs-which, on account
Of her lamencSS, she descended slowly ant
with great difficulty, supper cd on each sid,
by two Of PauietS officers, who held her W
under her arms-Shc was met by ANDREW
Melville. who was now permitted to join her
lie threw himself on his knees before her
wringing his hands in an uncomfortable agony
Of grief, the violence of which almost shooL
tho majestic c0lmncss she had hitherto pre-
served. "Woc is me-" cried he, weeping
bitterly, "thot ever Il should be my hard haT
to carry back such heavy tidings 10 Scotland
as that my good and gracious Queen and mis-
trcss has been beheaded in England" "WeeT
not, Melville, my good and faithful servant,
she replied, "thou Shouldst rather rejoice thai
thou shalt now see the end of the long trouble.
Of Mary Stuart; know, Melville, that thi,
world is but vanity and full Of sorrows. an
Catholic, thou Protestant; but as there is hu
one Christ, charge thee in his name to bcal
witness that die tirm to my religion, n tru,
Scotchwoman, and true to France. Commcn,
me to my dearest and most sweet son. Tel
him have done nothing to prejudice him il
his realm, nor to diSparage his dignity; ant
that although could wish he were Of my rc
ligion, yet, if he will live in the fear Of God
according to that in which he has been nur;
ured, doubt not he shall do well. Tell him
from my example, never to rely too much OF
human aid, but to seek that which is from
above. If he follow my advice, he shall hav,
the blessing Of God in Heaven, Ns I now Civ,
him mine on earth" She raised her hand n
she concluded, and made the sign of the cross
to bless him in his absence, and her eye
ovcr1owed with tears.
INLAY God" continued she, "forgive then
that have thirSted for my blood ~ the hear
doth for the brooks Of water. U God, who ar
the author of truth, and tho truth itself, tho,
knowest that have always wished the unioI
Of England and Scotland" One OF the com
miSsioners, doubtless the pitless Earl of Kent
here interrupted her by reminding her "tha
the time was wearing apace." Farewell,
she said, "good Melville. Farewell. PRAY
for thy Queen and MISTRESS" The passionate
grief Of her faithful servant brought infections
tears to her eyes. She bowed herself on hi
neck and wept; and, with like sensibility a
her cousin, Lady Jane Grey, had kissed an,
embraced Feckenham on the scafiold, so di,
she vouchsafc, as sovereign might, withou
disparagement to regal dignity, or departure
from feminine reserve, the like afftctionat
farewell to that true subject who had shAret