great re viewed, not only by the numerous partizans of Mary, Camden, q. 528, The king of France Jends over an ambaf fador to in sercede Mary's Life. James, king of Scotland, znakes figned to her fervants, and conveyed to France, to repofe in a catholic country, with the facred relics of her mother, Meanwhile this extraordinary fentence was fpread into all parts of Europe, and great efforts were made by foreign powers with Elizabeth to prevent it from being carried into execution. The king of France was among the foremost that attempted to avert the threatened blow. He with Eli- fent over Believre, as an extraordinary ambaffador, with abeth for a profeffed intention of interceding for the life of Mary. But James of Scotland, her fon, was, as in duty obliged, fill more preffing in her behalf. He difpatched fir William Keith, a gentleman of his bedchamber, with a letter to Elizabeth, conjuring her to fpare the life of his parent, and mixing threats of vengeance in cafe of a refufal. Soon after, James fent the mafter of Gray and fir Robert Melvil, to enforce the remonftrances of Keith, and to employ with the queen every expedient of argument and menaces. Elizabeth, however, treated his remonftrances with the utmoft indignation; and when the Scottish ambassador begged that the execution might be put off for a week, fhe anfwered with great emotion, "No, not for an hour." Thus Elizabeth, when folicited by foreign princes to pardon the queen of Scots, feemed difpofed to proceed to extremities against her; but when her minifters urged her to ftrike the blow, her fcruples and reluctance, or rather an affectation of them, always returned. Arong applications in her fasour. When Elizabeth thought, that as many importunities had been used, and as much delay interpofed, as decency required, the at last determined to carry the fentence into execution. But, in order to alarm the vulgar, rumours were previously difperfed, that the Spanish fleet was arrived in Milford Haven; that the Scots had made an irruption into England; that the duke of Guise was landed in Suffex with a strong army; that the queen of Scots was escaped from prison, and had raised an army; that the northern counties had begun an infurrection; that a new confpiracy was forming to affaffinate the queen, and fet the city of London on fire; nay, that the queen was actually affaffinated. Elizabeth, affecting to be in terror and perplexity, was observed to fit much alone, pensive and filent, and fometimes to mutter half fentences, importing the difficulty and diftrefs to which fhe was reduced. She at laft called Davifon, a man of parts, but eafy to be impofed on, and who had lately, for that very Camden, p. 5340 reason, reafon, been made fecretary, and the ordered him privately to draw a warrant for the execution of the queen of Scots; which, fhe afterwards faid, the intended to keep by her, in cafe any attempt fhould be made for the deliverance of that princefs. After figning the warrant, the commanded Davifon to carry it to the chancellor, in order to have the great-feal appended to it. Next day the fent Killigrew to Davifon, enjoining him to forbear, fome time, executing her former orders; and when Davifon came and told her, that the warrant had already paffed the great-feal, fhe feemed to be fomewhat moved, and blamed him for his precipitation. Davifon, being in per plexity, acquainted the council with the whole tranfac tion; and they endeavoured to perfuade him to fend off Beale with the warrant. If the queen fhould be difpleafed, they promised to justify his conduct, and to take on themfelves the whole blame of this measure. The fecretary, not fufficiently aware of their intention, complied with their advice, and the warrant was dispatched to the earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, and fome others, ordering them to see the sentence executed on the queen of Scots. The two earls came to Fotheringay caftle, and being A. D.1587% introduced to Mary, informed her of their commiflion, and defired her to prepare for death next morning at eight Feb. 7. o'clock. She feemed no wife terrified, though fomewhat Execution of the furprised, with the intelligence. She faid, with a chearqueen of ful countenance, that fhe did not think the queen, her Scots. fifter, would have executed the fentence upon a perfon not subject to the jurisdiction of England. She even abjured her being privy to any confpiracy against Elizabeth, by laying her hand upon a New Teftament which happened to lie on the table. She defired that her confeffor might be permitted to attend her; a request which, however, thofe zealots refufed. After the earls retired, fhe ate fparingly at fupper, while, with a chearful countenance, the comforted her attendants, who continued weeping and lamenting their miftrefs; telling them, they ought not to mourn, but rejoice, at the profpect of her fpeedy deliverance from a world of mifery. Towards the end of fupper fhe called in all her fervants, and drank to them. They pledged her in order on their knees, and craved her pardon for any paft neglect of their duty. She deigned, in return, to ask their pardon for her offences towards them; and a plentiful effufion of tears atttended this laft folemn feparation. Mary Mary then perused her will, in which the had provided for her fervants by legacies. She ordered the inventory of her goods, cloaths, and jewels to be brought her; and fhe wrote down the names of thofe to whom the bequeathed each particular. To fome she distributed money with her own hands; and fhe adapted the recompence to their different degrees of rank and merit. She wrote also letters of recommendation for her fervants to the French king, and to her coufin, the duke of Guife, whom she made the chief executor of her teftament. At her ufual time fhe went to bed, flept fome hours, and then rifing, fpent the rest of the night in prayer. Towards the morning the dreffed herself in a rich habit of filk and velvet, the only one which fhe had reserved to herfelf. She told her maids, that fhe would willingly have left them this drefs rather than the plain garb which she wore the day before; but it was neceffary for her to appear at the enfuing folemnity in a decent habit. Thomas Andrews, the under-fheriff of the county, then entering the room, he informed her that the hour was come, and that he must attend her to the place of execution. She replied that fhe was ready; and bidding adieu to her fervants, fhe leaned on two of fir Amias Paulet's guards, because of an infirmity in her limbs; and fhe followed the fheriff with a ferene compofed afpect. In paffing through a hall adjoining to her chamber, fhe was met by the earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, fir Amias Paulet, fir Drue Drury, and many other gentlemen of diftinction. Here the alfo found fir Andrew Melvil, who flung himself on his knees before her, and wringing his hands, cried aloud, “Ah, madam! unhappy me! what man was ever before the meffenger of fuch heavy tidings as I muft carry, when I fhall return to my native country, and fhall report, that I faw my gracious queen and mistress beheaded in England?" His tears prevented farther speech; and Mary too felt herself moved, more from fympathy than affliction. "Ceafe, my good fervant (faid fhe), ceafe to lament: thou haft caufe rather to rejoice than to mourn; for now fhalt thou fee the troubles of Mary Stuart receive their long expected termination." After faluting him fhe turned to the noblemen who attended her, and requested that her fervants might be well treated, be allowed to enjoy the prefents which she had made them, and be fent fafely into their own country. She next requested, that they might be permitted to attend her at her death, in order, the faida faid, that their eyes might behold, and their hearts bear witnefs, how patiently their queen and mistress can fubmit to her execution, and how conftantly the perseveres in her attachment to her religion. This defire was oppofed by the earl of Kent, who told her, that they would be apt, by their speeches and cries, to disturb both herself and the fpectators. But at laft the commiffioners gave permiffion for her being attended by four men and two maid-servants. She then paffed into another hall, where was erected the fcaffold, covered with black. Here the warrant for her execution was read to her; and during this ceremony fhe was filent, but fhewed, in her behaviour an unconcern, as if the business had no wife regarded her. Fletcher, dean of Peterborough, ftepped forth, and repeated a long exhortation, which the defired him to forbear, as fhe was firmly refolved to die in the catholic religion. The room was crowded with fpectators, who beheld her with pity and diftrefs, while her beauty, though faded by years and affliction, was ftill remarkable in this fatal moment. The earl of Kent obferving, that in her devotions she made frequent use of the crucifix, could not forbear reproving her, and exhorted her to have Christ in her heart, not in her hand. She replied, with prefence of mind, that it was difficult to hold fuch an object in her hand without feeling her heart touched for the fufferings of him whom it reprefented. She now began, with the aid of her two women, to undress for the block; and the executioner also lent his hand to affift them. She fmiled, and faid, that she was not accustomed to undrefs herself before fo large a company, nor to be ferved by fuch valets. Her fervants bursting into tears and lamentations, fhe turned about to them, put her finger upon her lips, as a fign of impofing filence upon them; and having given them her blefling, defired them to pray for her. The two executioners kneeling, and asking her pardon, fhe faid the forgave them, and all the authors of her death, as freely as the hoped forgiveness from her Maker, and then once more made a folemn proteftation of her innocence. One of her maids, whom the had appointed for that purpose, covered her eyes with a handkerchief; fhe laid herself down without any fign of fear or trepidation, and, by two ftrokes of the executioner, her head was fevered from her body. He inftantly held it up, streaming with blood, Jebb, p. 307. 492, t |