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


of thinking Of this poor body or bestowng upon
it. Oh then for the love Of the blessed Saviour aban-
don not while under the hands Of the executionHr L!
They promised with streaming eyes, to bc her and
to cover her body as she fell. uF
Then she entered her oratory alone and kneeling be-
fore the miniature altar at which her almoner hci been
accustomed to celebrate mass opened the gold and ow
eed ciborium in which the Pope had sent her
Grated wafer with dispensaton to do what had never
before been permitted to one of the laityadminster
the Eucharist to herself preparatory to her DEATH if de-
MED the minstraon OF priest 1t is impossible for
Protestant bographer to describe the feelings with which
Mary Stuart performed her lonely communion, under
circumstances 30 strange to member Of the Ronan
Catholic Church No mortal eye beheld her IN that
hour but the following Latin prayer is well known to
have been exemporzcd by her during her last deyotons
on the morning of her death
Domino Deus speravi in to; uis
o Jcsu, nunc iibcra
Languendo gcmendo genu dectendo
-H Adore, mploro, ut There's me J" M
Ny Lord my bnve hoped in iaec
o Jesus, Sweet t vlour, liberate @
have angushed for Thee in affections and chnins
Irnenting and signing through long years of pains
Adoring implorlng on humbly bowed knee,
crave Of Thy mercy by grace set mo free.'
The wintry morning had dawned before Mary left her
oratory She then concluded her letter to her royal
brothernlaw Henry Ill of France, by adding several
earnest petitions in behalf of her faithful servants and
the final date "The morning of my DEATH this Wednes
day, 8th February. Signed MARIE r.
She returned to her bed chamber, where, seating her
self beside the fro she began to console her weeping
maids by declaring the comfort she felt in her approach
ing release from her long Affections, and reminded
them that her uncle the late Duke of Guse, had told
her in her childhood shat she possessed the hereditary
courage Of her race, and he thought she would well
know how to die : yet he had never anticipated the
possibility Of her suffering the terrible death by which
she about to verify the truth of his prediction She
spoke OF the trar STORY nature OF human felicity and the
vanity of earthly greatness whereof she destined to
example; having been Queen of the realms
Of France and Scotland the by BIRTH the other by
marriage and ater being at the summit of all worldly
honors had to submit herself to the hands of the
TONER though innocent, which her greatest
ation the crime elleged agar her being only fnsy
pretext for her destruction
At the foot Of the stars--which, account Of her
ameness she descended slowly and with great difficulty,
supported each side by two Of Paulets officers who
held her up under her arms-she was met by Andrew
Melville who permitted to join her. He threw
himself his knees before her wringing his hands in
uncomfortable agony of grief the violence of which al
most shock the majestic camnes she had hitherto pre-
served. Woe is me- cried he, weeping bitterly, that
it should be my hard hap to carry back such heavy
tdngs to Scotland that my good and gracious Queen
and mistress has been beheaded n England Weep
not Melville my good and faithful servant she replied
.'thou shoudst rather rejoice that thou shalt
the end of the long troubles of Mary Stuart know Mel
vjlle that this world but vanity and full Of
am Catholic, thou Protestant but there is but one
Christ charge thee in His to bear witness that
die firm to my religion true Scot hwoman, and true
to France Commend me to my dearest and most sweet
son. Tell him have done nothing to prejudice him in
his realm, to disparage his dignity; and that al
though could wish he of my religion yet, If he
will live in the fear of God according to that 4 which he
has been nurtured, doubt not he shall do we'll Tell
him, from my example, never to rely too much human
aid but to seek that which is from above. If he follow
my advice he shall have the blessing of God in Heaven,
as now give him mine earth" She raised her hand
she concluded and made the sign of the cross to bless
him in his absence and her eyes ovcrowed with tears
May God continued she, orgive them that have
hted for my blood the heart doth for the brooks of
water. 0 God, who art the author of truth and the
truth ITSELF thou knowest that have always wished the
union of England and scotland One of the commits
soners doubtless the psless Earl of Kent, here inter-
ruptcd her by reminding her "tha the time was wear
ing apace. " Farewell, she said, good Melville.
Farewell Pray for thy Queen and mistress. The pas
sonac grief of her faithful servant brought infectious
tears to her eyes She bowed herself his neck and
wept; and, with like scnsbility her COUSIN Lady
Jane Grey, had kissed and embraced Fcckenha the
scaold 80 did she youchsac, sovereign might with
out dsparagement to regal dignity departure from
feminine reserve, the like aectonate farewell to that
true subject who had shared her prison. and follow
ing her to death She who had experienced the ngrat
tude of Moray q Lethipgton, and Mar could well
appreciate the faithful love of Andrew Melville.
Another gentleman to kiss Mary Stuart's hand,
and bid her farewell her way to execution, With dem
onstrations of deep respect and tender sympathy to-
geher with expressions of regret and Indignation that
her blood should be cruelty shed while under his roof
This Sir William Fitz-Wi lam, of Milton, who at
that TIME held Fothernghay Castle on lease from tho
tTOWn VI very ulHtTenp spirit from AnyVS Iauct,
this fine old English gentleman had showl the royal
prisoner all the kind attention in his power. Mary
thanked him for his gentle entreamen of her while in
his house, and begged him ITO accept and keep
memorial of her grateful appreciation of his courtesy
the portrait of the King her son, which he would find
hanging at her beds head being her last remaining pos
session that she had not bequcathed,"
The procession proceeded in the following order First
the sheriff and his next, Marys keepers, Sir
Amyas Pauet and Sir Drue Druy the Earl Of Kent and
Bcalc; then the Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl Marshal
bearing his baton raised Immediately preceding the Royal
VICTIM who having rallied all the energies of her
agcous spirit to vanqush bodily infrmty, moved with
proud, firm step. She was followed by Melville who
bore her tran and her two weeping ladies' clad in
ing weeds The brought up by Bourgoigne
Gourion AID Gsrvais, her three medical attendants
platform twelve feet square and two and half high
covered with black cloth, and surrounded with rail-
had been erected at the upper end of the great banquet
ing hall at Fctheringhay the fire place. in which
account OF the codness OF tho weather large fire
was burning On the scalold placed the block the
axe chair covered also with black CLOTH for the Queen
with cushion of crimson velvet before it, and two stools
for the Earls of Kent and Shrewsbury About hun
dred gentleman who had been admitted to behold the
mournfu spectacle stood at the lower end of the hall
but the scafod barrcaded, and strong guard of
the sheriff and earl marshals enyironed it to pre-
vent the possibility of a rescue.
The dignied composurc and melancholy sweetness OF
her countenance in which the intellectual beauty of re-
nacve middle ad thn in