Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-01-21

THE EXECUTION OF MARY
STUART

The seventh volume OF tho Lives OF the
Qieens Of Scotland" by Agnes Strickland,
has just been published. Tho accomplished
authorcss brings her narrative down TO the
close Of the life Of Queen Mary. The cir
cumsianccs attending the last scenes in the
lfe OF Mary Stuart have often been descri-
bed but never moro wildly than by Miss
Strickland. who writes:
AtG O'Clock on the fatal morning Of the
sth Of February. Mary Stuart told her Ia.
dies +" she had but two hours to live, and
babe them dress her as for festival. -
Very minute particulars Of that toilette
have been preserved, both by French and
English historians, and a cotcmporary Ms.
ia the Vatican contains a description Of
1t FROM the pen OF an eyewitness Of her
death. II is ,hcrc stated that she wore a
widows dress Of black velvet. but spanslcd
all over with gold. black satin pourpoint
and kir,lc. and under this a pctticoli of
crimson velvet, with a body Of the same
color, and q white veil Of the most delicate
texture. ot the fashion worn by prinec,scs
Of the highest rank. thrown over her colt,
and descending 10 the ground also, which
Is not mentioned in any other account, that
.he had caused q camisole of fine scotch
plaid. reaching from the throat to the wai',
hut without collar, To DO prepared the
hight before, that when her upper garments
should bc removed, she might oscap, the
distress OF appearing uncovered before 50
many people.
While her ladies were assisting her TO
dress, she, with the feminine delicacy Of a
really modest woman. earnestly entreatei
them to be- wa,chful over her in the las,
terrible moment, "whcn." observed she.
81 shalt be incapable of thinking Of thu.
poor body, or bc.iowing any care upon IT,.
oh, then for N, love of the blessed Saviour.
abandon me not while under the hands Of
the cS'cutioncr'' they promised with
streaming eyes, % b' near her and to cover
her body when she fcll.
Then .he entered her ora,ory alone, and
kncclins before the miniature altar. at
which her almoner had been accustomed To-
celebrate mas, opened the gold aDd jswe.lcd
ciborium in which the Pop, bad sent her a
cou>ecntsd waller with a di,p,na,ion to 30
what had never before boon permitted u
one of tie laiiy--adnini,ter the Eucharist
70 herself preparatory To her death, II de-
nisl the minis,ration Of a priest. IL 10 i'm.
possible Tor Protestant 5iosrapher To de-.
.crib, the feelings with which Mary Stuar,
performed her lonely communion, under
circumstance, - s'rang, 10 q member OF
tie Roman Catholic Church. No mortal
eye bcheld her in that hour but the follow.
rug LATIN prayer - well kuown to have
been eH,emrorit,d by her during her 6r't
dr,o,ious on the morning Of her death
"N, Iorl anI ray Cod, have hoped IN thee;
q Js.us. sweet ,iour. now l,b,p,e me.
| have hpgui.hed ir Thee 10 aalislion. anl
chhin';
i,nen,iug aad .ighing ihroush long years Il pains,
Adouas. ,npln,iag on humbi, bowel knsc,
I cia'c. of Thy n,rcy, by gace .et nae free.
The wintry morning had dawnel before
Mary Lad LETT her orltory. She then con.
cluicd her letter to hcr Royal brO,her.in.
law. Henry III, of France, by adding
several carne., petitions in behalf Of her
faithful servants, and the Gnal date" The
morning Of NV death, thi, Wednesday, s,h
February.