The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-03-18
Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The following is Mr. Froudc's account
of tho execution Of Mary Suart, Queen
Regnant of Scotland. Queen Dow
ager of France, and heir to tho throne
of England, from advance sheets of his
work in Hours at Home. How any gen.
tleman Of ordinary tenderness Of feeling
could so far forget himselfas to follow an
unfortunate lady through the terrible
scenes ola cruel execution, grinning ut
her in her hour Of pain and death. and
treating her sublime heroism rs only q fine
piece Of acting,-how any gentleman
could do this, we say, is marvel to Us.
Still, tho ghostly story is worth reading
She laid her crucifx on her chair. The
chief executioner took it as a perquisite,
but was ordered instantly to lay it down.
The lawn veil was lifted carefully, of, not
TO disturb the hair, and was hung upon
the rail. The black robe was next re-
moved. Below it was n 'petticoat of
crimson velvet. The black jacket fol-
lowed, and under the jacket was body
OF crimson satin. One of her ladies hand
cd her Q pair Of crimson sleeves with
which she hastily covered her arms and
thus she stood on the back scaffold with
the black figures all around her, blood red
from head to foot.
Her reasons for adopting so cxtraordi-
nary costume must be left TO conjecture.
It;is only certain that it must have been
carefully studied, and that the pictorial
effect must have been appalling. .-- !,
The women whose firmness had hither-
to borne the trial, began now TO give way,
spasmodic sobs bursting from them which
they could not check. me cricz." W she
said ..j'ay promis pour vous."i Strug-
Cling bravely, they crossed their breasts
again and again. she crossing them in
turn and bidding them pray for her. Then
she knclt on the cushion. Barbara Now
bray bound her eyes with handkerchief.
"Adieu.n she said. smiling for the last
time. and waving. her hand to them.
"Adieu. au revoir." They stepped back
from of the scafrold and LEFT her alone.
On her knees she repeated the psalm, ain
tc. Domino, coniido. In thee, D Lord,
have l put my trust" Ilcr shoulders
being exposed. two scars became visible,
one on either side, and the csrls being
now little behind her, Kent pointed to
them with his white wand aud looked in
duiringly at his companion. Shrewsbury
whispered that they were the remains OF
two abscosses from which she had suffered
while living with him Mt Sheffield.
When the psalm was finished she felt
for the block. and laying down her head
muttere,l :-"In manus, Domino, tuas,
oommendo amman meam." The har,i
wood seemed to hurt her, for she placed
her hands under her neck, Tho execu-
TONERS gently removed them, lest they
should dcadcn the blow, and then one Of
them holding her slightly. tho other raised
the axe and struck. The scene had been
too trying even for the practiccd headman
OF the Tower. His arm wandered. Tho
blow fell on the knot Of the handkerchief.
and scarcely broks the skin. She neither
spoke nor moved. Fle struck again. this
time effectively. The head hung by5a
shred of skin. which he divided without
Withdrawing tho axe; and at once q met
amorphosis was witnessed, -strangc rs
was ever wrought by wand OF. fable en-
chanter. The Golf fell of and the false
plaits. The labored illusion vanished.
The lady who had knelt before the block