The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-10-29
gxeeat,ou Of Mary 0ueeo OF srots.

and all her basy schemes, her dreams OF
vengeance, her visions of revolution,
with herself ascending ont of the convul-
sion and seating herself on her rivals
throne--wcrc gone. She had payed
deep, and the dice had gone against
her.
Her last night WAS a busy one. As
she said herself, there was much TO lie
doae and the time was short. few
lines to the King of France were dated
two hours after midnight. They were
TO insist, for the last time, that she was
innocent of the conspiracy, that She
was dying for religion, and tor having
asserted her right to the crown and to
beg that out OF the sum which he owed
her, the servants wages might be paid,
and masses provided for her soul. After
this she slept for three or four hours,
then rose, and with the most elaborate
care prepared to encounter her end.
At eight in the morning the provost
marshal knocked at the outer door
which communicated with the suit OF
apartments. 1t was locked and no one
answered, and he went back in some
trepidation lest the fears might prove
true which had been entertained the
preceding evening. On his returning
with the sheriff, however, few MINUS
later, the door was open, and they were
confronted with the tall majestic figure
of Mary Stuart standing before them in
splendor. The plain grey dress had
been exchanged for robe of black sat
in her jacket was of the black satin al
so, looped and slashed and trimmed
with velvet. Her false hair was arrang-
ed studiously with coIf, and over her
head and falling down over her back
was white veil of delicate lawn. a
crucifx of gold hung from her neck.
In her hand she held crucIfix of ivory,
and a number Of jcweled patcrnosters
were attached to her girdie. Led by two
of Paulet's gentlemen, tie sehriff walk
ing before her, she passed to tho cham
Der of presence in which phe had been
tried, where Shrewsbury, Kent, Paulet,
Drury, aud others were waiting TO re-
ceive her. Andrew Melville, Sir Roberts
brother, who had been master
of her household, was kneeling j tears
"Mellville," she said, "you should rath-
rejoice than weep that the end Of my
troubles is come. Tell my friends l die
"A true Catholic. Commend mo to my son.
Tell him | have done nothing to pre-
iudicc his kingdom Of Scotland and so,
good Melville, farewell" She kissed
him, and turning, asked for her chap
lain.
"Let us CO." she then said, and pass
ing out attended by the earls, and lean
ing on the arm OF an officer of the guard,
she descended the great staircase to the
hall. The news was spread far through
the country. Thousands Of people were
collected outside the walls. About three
hundred knights and gentlemen Of the
country had been admitted TO witness
the execution. The tables and forms
had been removed, and great wood fire
was blazing in the chimney. AT the up
per end of the hall, above the fireplace,
but near it, stood the scaffold, twelve
feet square and two feet and half high.
1t was covered with black cloth; a
low rail ran round if, covered with
black cloth also, and the shorIff's guard
OF halberdiers were ranged on the floor
below on the four sides TO keep off the
crowd. On the scaffold was the block,
black like the rest, square black cush-
ion was placed behind it, and behind
the cushion black chair on the right
were two other chairs for the earls. The
axe leant against the rail, and two mask
ed figures stood like mutes on either side
at the back. The Queen ofScots, as she
swept IN seemed as if coming to take
part in some solemn pageant. Not a
muscle of her face could be seen TO quv-
er; she ascended the scafold with alb
solute composure, looked round her
smiling, and sat down. Shrewsbury
and Kent followed and took their places,
the sheriff stood at her left hand, and
Beale then mounted a platform and read
the warrant aloud.
In all the assembly Mary Stuart ap.
peared the person least interested in the
words which were consignIng her to
death.
"Madam," said Lord Shrewsbury to
her when tho reading was ended, "you
hear what we are commanded to do"
"You will do your duty she answer
cd, and rose as if to kncel and pray.
She land her srucifix on her chair. The
chief executioner took it as a perquisite,
but was ordered instantly to lay il down.
Tho lawn veil was lifted carefully off,
not to disturb the hair, and was hung
upon the rail. The black robe was next
removed. Below it was a petticoat of
crimson velvet. The black Jacket fol-
lowed, and under the jacket was a body
of crimson satin. One of her ladies hand
ed her a pair Of crimson sleeves, with
which she hastily covered her arms
ard 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 extraordi-
nary costume must be left to coniec-
ture. 1t is only certain that it must
have been carefully studied, ,and that the
pictorial effect must have been appal-
ling.
The women, whose firmneSs had hith-
erto borne the trial, began nov to give
way, spasmodic sobs bursting from them
which hey could not check. "Ne crier
vons, she said, LAY promis pour veus.
Struggling bravely, they crossed their
breasts again and again, she crossing
them in ;urn and biddlnd them pray tor
her. Then she knelt on the cushion.
Barbara Mowbray bound her ewes with