The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-04-06

HESTOK RIO f. XTk a CT .
The Last Hours Of Mary Queen
Of Scots.
Trnox rRpUDE's HISTORY or ExcLAxp.]

own pcopie WIN ucrj auu ScIect tnen
herself. She chose her physician Bur.
goyue, Andrew Melville, the upothecary
Gorion, aud her scrgeon, with two la
dies, Elizabeth Kennedy aud Curlc's
young w'te, arbara Mowbray, whose
child she had baptized. Gallons done
she then said-''Let us CO." aud passing
out attended by the earls, aud leaning
on the arm of an officer of the guard,
he descended the great staircase to the
hall. The news had spread far through
:hc country. Thousands ofpcoplc were
collected outside the walls. About three
huudrcd knights aud gentlemen Of the
county had been admitted to witness the
execution The tablcs and forms had been
removed, and great wood fire was bla
zing in ,he chimney. AT the upper
end OF the hall, above the Fireplace, but
near it, stoud the scuffold, twelve feet
square aud two feet al. i u half high. 1t
was covered with black cloth; low
rail ran round it covered with black
cloth also, and the shcrif's guard of
halbcriiers were ranged on the floor
below on the four sides to keep off the
crowd On the Scatlold was the block,
black like the rest; a square black cush
ion was placed behind it, and behind
the cushion black chair on the right
were two other chairs for the e.rls.
tho axe Icant against the rail, and two
mask figures stood like mu,cs on either
side at the back. The Queen Of Scots, us
she swept in, seemed us if coming to
take Il part in some solemn pageant
Not Il muscle Of her face could be seen
to quiver; she assembled the scaffold
with absolute composure, looked around
her smiling, and sat down. Shrcws-
bury and ke,t followed, aud took their
places; the sheriff stood ut her lett
hand, aud Bealc then mounted plat
form, nGd read the warrant aloud In
all the assembly Mary Stuart appeared
the person least interested in the words
which were consigDing her to death.
MADAM" said Lord Shrewsbury to her,
when the reading was ended, you hear
what we are commanded to do" you
will do your duty" she answered, aud
rose as il to kncel and pray. The Dean
of Peterborough, DR.. Fletcher, approach
cd the rail- "Malam," he began with
~" "ctiSaHCt, luC SucCU . uIoSI eN-
cell,nt Majesty" "AIadam the Queen 5
NEST excellent Majesiy"-thricc he
comlmcnccd his scntcucc, wanting words
to pursue it. When he repeated the
words fourth time, she cut BIN
short "Mr. Dcan," she said, I'll
am Catholic, aud must die Catholic
II is useless to attempt to move nc, and
your prayers will avail me but little. >"
Change your opinion, Madam" he
cried, his tongue being Iooscd at last;
''rrrent of your sins, settle your faith
in Christ, by him to DC saved 4" "Troubc
not yourself amy further, Mr.. Dean" !"
she answered IL am settled in my own
faith, for which mean to she'd my
bool.' IL am sorry, madam" said
Shrewsbury. Ito sec you SO addicted to
P"prry" That image OF Christ you
h"ih there" said kent. "will not profit
you il lie be not engraved in your
heart" She did not reply, and turn>
ing her back on Flctchcr knelt for her
own levotions. Ilc had been evidently
instructed to impair the Catholic com
rlcXion OF the scene, and the Queen of
Scots was determ!ucd that he should
not succeed. When she knclt he com
mcnccd an extemporc prayer in which
the assembly joined. AS his voice
sounded out in the hall she raised her
own, reciting with powerful deep chcstcd
tones the pcnitcntial Psalms in Latin,
introducing English sentences at inter.
walls, that the audience might know what
she was saying, and praying with esp
cial distinctncss Tor her holy father
the Pope From time to time. with con
spicuous vchcmcnce, she struck the cru
elk against her bosom, and then. rs the
Dean gave up the struggle. leaving her
Latin, she prayed in English, wholly,
still clear and loud She prayed for
the church which she had been ready
to bc;ray, for her son. whom she had
disinhcrtel, for the Queen whom she
has! cn'lcavored to murder. She prayed
God 10 avert his wrath from England,
that England which she had scnt laS!
message to Philip to bcScech him to III
wade. She for.ave her enemies. whom
she had invited Philip not to forget, and
then. raging to the saints to intcrc"dc
for her with Christ, and kissing the cru>
cillX and crossing her own breast, Given
as thy arms, oh Jesus" she cried. "wcrc
spread upon tho cross, SO receive me
into thy mercy and forgive my sins. "
With these words she rose; the black
mates stepped forward, and in tho usual
form begged her forgiveness. 81 for
give you" she said, "for now hope
you shall end all my troubles" They
offered their help in arranging her d"ess
"Truly, my lords" she said with smile
to the Earls, IL never had such grooms
waiting on me before" Her ladies were
allowed to come up upon tho scallold
to assist her; for the work to be done
was considerable, and hn,hbccn prepared
with no common thought. She laid hen
crncilix on her chair The chief cxccu
toner took it as II pcrquisitc, but was
ordered instantly to lay it down. The
lawn veil was lifted carefully off, not to
disturb the hair, and was hung upon the