The Irish standard., 1895-06-22

gowns, With white aprons, and both
wearing black masks. The execute ner
bore large AK mounted with a short
handle, like those with which they cut
wood. n In front OF the block chairs
1 were placed for my Lords Kent and
Shrewsbury Two other chairs, placed
higher up the room, outside the balus-
4 trade, awaited sPaulet and Drury. Round
/ the scaffold was stationed a guard of
halberdiers, the men Of Huntingdon.
Among the 800 spectators who alone
were permitted to enter the hall, might
be observed Lord Montague, his eldest
son. and Robert Tyrell. A, large crowd
surrounded the castle, kept in order BY 9
troop of horsemen which had arrived the
previous night. The queen had. now
reached the threshold Of the hall. When lei
she perceived the scafold she elevated
the crucitix, which she carried above her
head. and, undismayed by the terflDle
scene before her, advanced With great
dignity Arrived at the scaffold MARY,
unable to ascend the steps without as
sistance, accepted Paulet's arm, saying,
gently: Thanks for your courtesy, SIT
Amyas; this will be the last trouble
shall give you, and the most agreeable
service you have ever rendered me-
her usual grace, She made the sign Of
the cross, then she asked for erchaplafn
in order that she might receive from him
his last blessing. This was denied: The
commission for the execution was read.
The musicians in the yard without play
ed an air commonly played at the exc
cution Of witches. II. this cruelty was
known by Mary nothing in her face. indi-
Gated 1T. Her thoughts could not have
been on worldly affairs. At the conclu-
sion of the reading of the sentence those
present cried out: "Gcd save the queen"
This was not noticed. by Mary. +. She
made the sign of the cross. ShreWs-
bury said to her: MADAME, you hear
what we are commanded to dog" And
Mary replied: s'Do your duty" She
again made the sign. of the cross, and !, !,
says this latest historian, with joyous
countenance, her beauty more apparent
than ever, a bright color in her face
she made speech. 1t was reasser-
tiou Of her adhesion to the CATHOLIC: faith.
The dean OF Peterborough. DR.. FIetch-
er, advanced and offered her consolation.
Mary refused to hear him. He insisted
and she turned her back upon him. The
dean again insisted and Shrewsbury babe
him he silent, A strange scene OF dis
cussion between Mary and Kent took
place.
Shrewsbury now proposed that as the
queen would not listen to the deans ex-
hcrtation they should all pray for her in
common. II thank you, my lords said
Mary, "but l cannot pray with you be-
cause we are not of the same religion.
Pray if you wish. / will also pray,
Fletcher now commenced to pray ID
English that God would grant repent
apce to Mary; that he would bless
Queen Elizabeth in granting her O. long
life, victory over her enemies, and the
triumph Of the Protestant religion. This
prayer was repeated in chorus by the
assembly. Meanwhile the queen prayed
aloud in Latin, repeating some Of the
nenitential psalms, the "Miserere,' In
te Domine-speravi," "Qui habitat in adj
jutorio,'' etc.
- The contrast makes. strange picture
ana must forever remain one OF the most
melancholy in history. When the dean
had finished Mary continued to pray
aloud. She prayed for the triumph Of
her faith, for the Pope and pastors OF
chs church, hoping that God would par
don all, as she had done.'' She even
prayed that 1t would please God to give
Elizabeth His blessing, so that she might
worship Him in the truth. &
She rose and reseated herself. X To
request to say more she replied that
there was nothing more to say. Then.
without notification, she rose and pre-
pared herself for death.
The executioneer his face hidden by a
black mask, advanced to remove her
dress, but the Queen gently moved him
ne
''I.et me do this; understand this busl-
ness better than you; never had. such a
groom of the chamber" She took out
! the pins of her head dress, and calling
Jane Kennedy and Elizabeth Curle. who
were praying at the foot of the scaffold,
she began, with their assistance, to dis
robe, observing that she was not accus-
toned to doing so before SO many. The
poor Women unable to restrain their
emotion, wept bitterly, and uttered heart
rending cries, ...alld crossed themselves
praying In Latin but their mistress
rlaeed her tingelsson their mouths and
child them tenderly. 'Do not weep any
nore," said she.tsI AT, very happy Ito go
from this worlds You should rejoice to
see me die for such g. good quarrel; are
you roe ashamed to cry? II YOU weepSany
more I shall send you away s. 81
{. The Queen then took from her necksthe
geld cross, wishing TO give. it to Jane
kennedy My friend" she said ito tho
executioner, you cannot make use Of
this, leave it to this lady; she will give
YOU more than its value in money But
Bull seized 1t roughly saying: It is my
right" and put 1t into his shoe.
Mary laid aside her mantle and VEIL
her collar and ponrpoint, and remained
In her brown velvet skirt and satin bod
ice. with long sleeves Then she crossed
her servants and baEe them farewell.
She embraced her women apd bid them
farewell Mary raised her head ana
stretched her neck, thinging she was to
! he beheaded with a sword, according to
the privilege granted In France to royal
persons. The executioners, seeing her
mistake, assisted her to rise and con-
Quoted her to the block, They made her
lie fiat with her head on the low block.
only q few inches nigh. The ,executioner
raised his ak, but stopped on a sign. The
Queen had placed her hand under her
chin, It was removed. The Queen con-
tinxed. to pray. In manus tuas Domino
cou,mendo, were her last words. The
executioner struck. The aim Was ILL
assured and only wounded the Queer, but
she neither moved nor made. q sound.
at the third blew the spirit; Of Mary
passed away to Its eternal reward. sa., s. 8
The final horrors are thus given by
Mrs. Maxwell Scott: d 4sy53 ]. l3
M AS soon as the Queen was sdead the ex-
cent Toner Forthwith took the head, and,
raising it and showing It to the people,
he asatd, , according to the custom. God