The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-25
Lady Jane Crews Last Hours.

She did not wish to dle-at seventeen no
one wants to die-but death, In her present
adverse state, appeared as benign angel
rather than messenger of gloom and wrath.
Hacked 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 wicked, so
was his end. Ipray God that neither nor
friend of mine die so! And kidding with
renewed fervor she added, s'Should I, 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.
God be merciful to us ~
On the fatal morning of February 8, 1858,
dressed with extreme care in black velvet
gown, Lady Jane came forth from her
prison, prayer-book in her hand, heaven
ly smile on her face, tender light in her
grey eyes. She walked modestly across the
green, passed the file of soldiers, mounted
the scaffold. and then turning her beautiful
AoS0 WV d " tAC SpCCtdlOIS, CdIuily SatQ
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, will
wash my hands guiltless thereof, and deliver
to my God a soul as pure from such trespass
as 1t is innocent from injustice; but only
for that consented to the thing was en-
forced into, constraint making the law be-
lieve that which never understood"
She paused as il to put away from her the
world, then she added:
81 pray you all, good Ceristian people, to
bear me witness thatI 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 1 pray you to assist me with
your prayers"
Kneeling down she said to Feckenham,
the only divine whom Mary would allow to
come near her:
''Shall say this psalm?"
The prelate faltered, "Yes."
On which she repeated in clear voice the
noble psalm: s'Have mercy upon me, o God,
after thy great goodness; according to the
multitude Of thy mercies do away with mine
Offences"
When she had come to the last line che
rose on her feet, took off her gloves and kerr
chief, which she gave to her gentlewoman.
The book OF psalms she gave to Thomas
Bridges, the Lieutenant's deputy, in which
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 white kerchief around her eyes. She
whispered In his ear few soft words of pity
and pardon as the figure Of the yelled execu-
toner sank at her feet and begged for for
giveness. In distinct voice she said to the
execdtioner, ''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, "Oh, 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.-Nat,onal
! Repository.