Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-09-05
Lady Jane Grey's Last Hours.

-s~Ss $1,000
She did not wish to die-at seventeen no
one wants to debut death, in her present
adverse state. appeared as benign angel
rather than a messenger OF gloom and
wrath.
Racked with anguish at the shameful
apostasy of Northumberland to Romanism
just before he was executed, she cried out
in holy wrath, Like as his life was wick
ed, so was his end. / pray God that Meth
er 1 nor friend of mine die so!'' And
kndling with renewed fervor she added,
''Should |, who am so young and IN my
fewer teens, forsake my faith for love OF
life? Nay, God forbid; and much more
he should not, whose fatal course, though
he had lived for years, could not long have
continued. But life is sweet. X God
be merciful to usl''
!, On the fatal morning of February 8,
1858, dressed with extreme care in a black
velvet gown, Lady Jane came forth from
her prison, a prayer-book in her hand, a
heavenly smile On her face. a tender light
in her gray eyes. She walked modestly
across the, green, passed the files Of sol
'diers. mounted the scaffold, and then,
turning her, beautiful face toward the
spectators, calmly said:
= "Good people, am come hither to die.
The act against the queens highness was
unlawful, but touching the procurement
and desire thereof by me, or on my behalf,
Il will wash my hands guiltless thereof,
and deliver to my God soul as pure from
such trespass as it is innocent from in
Justice; but only for that l consented to
the thing l was sinfOrced unto, constralnt
making the law believe that which 1 never
understood" -
y She paused as, if to put away from her
the world, then she added: -
Il pray you all, good Christian people,
to bear me witness that ] die true
Christian woman, and that look to be
saved by no other means than the mercy
of God, in the merits of the. blood of his
only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And
now, good people, while am alive I pray
you to assist me with your prayers"
Kneelng down, she said to Feckenham,
the only divine whom Mary would allow
to come near her:
s'Shall say this psalm?"
The prelate faltered, eyes"
On which she repeated in clear voice
the noble psalm: s'Have mercy upon me,
OGod, after thy great goodness; accord
ing to the multitude of thy mercies do
away with mine Offences
When she had come to the last line, she
rose on her feet, took off her gloves and
kerchlef, which she gave to her gentlewo-
man. The Book Of Psalms she gave to
Thomas Bridges, the ieutenant's deputy,
inswhich she had written these lines: "Call
upon God to incline your heart to his
laws, to quicken You in his way, and not
to take the word Of truth utterly out of
your MOUTH
Then she united her gown, and took off
her bridal gear; the headsman offered to
assist her, but she put his hands gently
aside, and drew a white kerchief around
her eyes. She whispered in his ear few
soft words of pity and pardon as the figure
of the yelled executioner sank at her feet
and begged for forgiveness. In distinct
voice she said to the executioner, "Pray,
dispatch me quickly" Being blinded and
unable to see the block on which to lay
her young head, she was seen to feel about
for it with her hands, and was heard to
say, confused, 20, what shall / do? Where
is it?'' The guard and Feckenham led
her to the right place, and as she laid her
noble head upon the fatal block, before
the death-stroke could reach her, the sweet
lips were heard to murmur, '.Lord, into
thy hands commend my spirit" With
these divine words, the soul of Lady Jane
Grey passed into its everlasting rest, and
the fairest, wisest head in all the English
realm fell from under the cleaning axe
National Repository.