The Van Buren press., 1859-10-07
M|gistellanr.
Execution Of Mary Queen of Scot

Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
She arrived in the hall of death. Pale,
but unfiinching, she contemplated the dis
NAL preparations. There lay the block and
the axe. There stood the executioner and
his assistant. All were clothed in mourn
ing. On the hoer was scattered the saw
dust which was to soak her blood, and in
dark corner lay the bier which was to be
her last prison. 1t was nine o'clock when
the Queen appeared in the funeral hail.
Fletcher, dean of Peterborough, and certain
privileged persons, to the number of more
than two hundred, We're assembled. The
hall was hung with black cloth; the scaffoid
which was elevated about two feet and a
half above the ground, was covered with
black frleze of Lancaster; the arm chair in
| which Mary was to sit, the footstool on
which she was to kncel, the block on which
! her head was to be laid, were covered with
black velvet. The Queen was clothed in
mourning like the hall. and as the ensigns
of punishment. Her black velvet robe, with
its high collar and hanging sleeves, was bor-
dered with ermine. Her mantle, lined with
marten sable, was Of satin, with pearl but
tons and a long train. A chain of sweet
| smelling beads, to which was attached a
scapuiary, and beneath that golden cross
| fell upon her bosom. Two rosaries were
suspended to her girdle, and long vail of
white lace, which in some measure softened
this costume of widow and a condemned
criminal. was thrown around her.
Arrived on the scaffold, Mary seated her
self in the chair provided for her, with her
face towards the spectators. The Dean of
Peterborough, in ecclesiastical costume, sat
on the right of the Queen, with black vel
vet foOtstoOl before him. The Earls of
Kent and Shrewsbury were seated like him
on the right, but upon larger chairs. On
the other side of the Queen stood the Sher-
lift Andrews, with white wand In front
of Mary was seen the executioner and his
assistant. distinguished by their vestments
of black velvet, with red Grape round the
left arm. Behind the Queens chair, ranged
by the hall. wept her attendants and maid
ems. In the BODY of the hall. the mobiles
and citizens from the neighboring counties
were guarded by the musketeers of Sir Am
vas Paulet and Sir Drew Drewry. Beyond
the balustrade was the bar of the tribunal.
The sentence was read The Queen pro-
tested against it in the name of royalty
and innocence, but accepted death for the
sake of her faith. She then knelt down
before the block, and the executioner pro-
ceeded to remove her vail. She repelled
him by gesture. and turning towards the
earls, with blush ON her forehead, " am
not accustomed to be undrcssed," said she,
before so numerous company, and by the
hands of such grooms of the chamber
| She then called Jane Kennedy, and Eliz-
abeth Curle, who took off her mantle, her
vail, chains, cross, scapulary. On their
touching her robe the Queen told them to
nnloose the corsage, and fold down the er-
mine collar, so as to leave her neck bare
for the ak. Her maidens weepingly yield
ed her these last services. Melvil and three
other attendants wept and lamented, and
Mary placed her finger on her lips to signi-
fy that they should be silent.
She then arranged her handkerchief, EN-
broidercd with thistles Of gold, with which
her eyes had been covered by Jane Kenne-
dy. Thrice sic kissed the cruciix each
time repeating, Lord, in,c thy hands
commend my spirit" She knelt ai;ccw,
and bent her head on that block, already
scored with deep marks +; and in this sol
emn attitude she again recited some verses
from the Psalms. The executioner inter
rupted her at the third verse by stroke oi
the ak but its trembling stroke only
grazed her neck !; she groaned slightly, and
the second blow severed the head from the
body.
AN ANCIENT TRIAL.-William F. Good
win. Esq. of Concord, wishing for copy
of criminal trial, wrote to publishing
firm in New York, and by due course Of
mail he received letter informing him that
the copy of the trial he desired had been
sold, but that they would procure another
copy for him, and that their business was
so extensive both IN this country and Eu.
rope, that they could furnish Rim scith a copy
Of any trial he might desire. Mr.. G. having
been placed in the same position several
times by attempting to purchase catalogue
4 books with the prices annexed, he wrote
back the following short but pithy note:
i CoNcoRD, n. H., July 2, 1859.
GENTLEMEN: Yours Of the Both of june
is at hand. Be kind enough to procure for
me, as soon as,may be, one copy OF the tri
al of the .fro there's who were hanged
lone on the right hand and another on the
left of our Saviour when he was crucifed, y
and very much oblige
Your obedient servant,
| w. F. GooDwIx.
P. S.-Be very careful and get the edi
tion that contains the Indictment, for hav,
never been able to find out what those tws
rascals stole. VIZ. G. :
| The above letter is to be preserved in tn
New York Historical Society Archives, ant
r