Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-01-14

lay down her lie. She cared to keep
it only for her peoples sake For
herself, she saw no great cause
why she should be fond to live, or
fear to die. She was in cruel po-
sition. She was called on to order
the death of a kinswoman, whose
practices had caused her deep dis
tress. She promised to pray God to
illuminate her mind to forsee what
would be for the good of the church
and commonwealth and, admitting
that there would be danger in delay,
she undertook to give her answer
with due conveniency.
On Tuesday, the 9TH of February,
afternoon, says the chronicler, the
Earl of Kent, an austere Puritan,
who looked on Mary as Jezebel her.
self, and Mary's old gaoler, Lord
Shrewsbury, had an interview with
the Scottish queen, and told her that
he had received commission under
the great seal, and that she must pre-
pare to suffer on the following morn
ing.
Mary, who had been hopeful, joy
Gus, and was in excellent health, bore
the news with but little fortitude At
first, she would not believe Shrews-
bury then she tossed her head scorn-
fully, and began to talk wanderingly
about 81 sum of money owing her in
France. At last, she broke down
entirely; and Kent and Shrewsbury
left, fearing suicide or some terrible
struggle on the scaffold. In the
morning her courage returned; she
resolved to die like queen and a
Catholic martyr. The commissions
ers cruelty refusing to let her own
chaplain administer to her the sacra-
ment, she declined the good offices of
an English dean, and contented her.
self with a general confession. Her
priest was told to watch through the
night and pray for her. She supped
cheerfully, drank to her servants
health and afterwards drawing aside
her apothecary, gave him letter and
two diamonds for Mendoza, Philip s
minister. He promised to melt a
lump of some drug and conceal them
in that.
The smallest was for Mendoza, the
largest for the Spanish king. Every
one of her special friends and SER
wants Mary commended to Philips
liberality, and mentioned the rewards
she wished to be bestowed. She read
her will and inventory, went to bed
at her usual hour; slept three or four
hours; then rose to pray and dress
for the execution.
At eight in the morning the pro-
vost marshal knocked at the queens
private door. 1t was locked and no
one answered. On returning, how
ever, with the sheriff, the queen step
ped forth, dressed royalty in printed
black satin, training to the ground,
with long hanging sleeves, trimmed
with jet acorns, the sleeves being cut
to show the purple robe beneath the
under bodice and skirt were of GRIM
son satin her stockings were of blue
worsted, clocked and edged with sill
yer; and her shoes were of rough
Spanish leather. Her gray heir was
hidden with a wig, covered with q
veil of lawn, bowed out with wire,
and edged with some lace. From 8
pomander chain on her neck hung an
Agnus Del, tied with black ribbon
she carried an ivory cruciiX In hel
hand and at her girdle were hel
beads, with golden cross. Led by
two of Paulett' S gentlemen, the sher.
iff walking before, she passed by the
chamber of presence, in which she
had been tried, and Melville, the mas
ter of her household, was kneeling in
tears. Mary, not without tears, stop
ped to comfort him.
'EMelville,' she said, ''you should
rather rejoice than weep, that the enc
of Mary Stuart's troubles is come
Tell my friends | die true Catholic
Commend me to my son; tell him
have done nothing to prejudice his
kingdom of Scotland. So, gooC
Melville, farewell" And she stoop
ed and kissed her faithful old servan
on the cheek. She then asked fo
her chaplain, but he had been refus
ed admission. Her ladies', also, haC
been kept back. Mary, having beg
ged the commissioners to allow he
servants to receive their legal lega
cies, requested that her servant
might be about her at her death, blu
the Earl of Kent blqntly replied the,
would be disturbance to her; and
besides, he feared there would be su
perstition practiced in pressing to dill
their handkerchiefs in her blood.
'tMy lord" said Mary,'I will pas
my word they do no such thing. Alas
poor souls, it will do them good t.
bid their mistress farewell. You
mistress, being maiden queen, TO
womanhood's sake, would not den
me this courtesy. | know she hat
not so straitened your commission
but that you might grant me NOR
than this, if / were of far meane
condition."
The commissioners then consulte
and granted her the nomination Q
six attendants, whom Mary chose
s'AUons Done,' she then said, an
passed on, descending the grea