On this Day in History ... 8th February

On 8th February 1587 Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in the Great Hall at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].

George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, Henry Grey 6th Earl Kent, Richard Knightley and Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton witnessed her execution.

There are a number of extant primary sources, eye-witness accounts, describing Mary's execution:

Letter of Robert Wingfield to William Cecil, 08 Feb 1587.

The manner of the execution of Mary Queen of Scots.

The manner of the Scottish Queen's execution

Warrender Papers 167. Anonymous.

Warrender Papers 168. Anonymous. Based on the Narration of Richard Wingfield

Ashmole MS. 830, F. 18, in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Jebb's De vita et rebus gestis serenissimæ principis Mariæ Scotorum Reginæ published in French, attributed to her physician Dominique Bourgoin.

letter-books of Sir Amias Poulet, Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots,

the Calendar of State Papers, Spain (known as the Simancas), Volume 4, 1587-1603

Beale's sketch of the execution.

The Letter Books of Amias Paulet Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots Published 1874 Marys Execution. Poulet (age 54), as has already been said, was made Chancellor of the Garter in April, 1587, but he did not retain this preferment for a whole year. He continued in the Captaincy of Jersey up to his death, but he appears to have resided in and near London. In the British Museum are two letters from him of small importance. One, addressed to the Lord High Admiral, is dated, "From my poor lodging in Fleet Street [Map], the 14th of January, 1587," about "right of tenths in Jersey, belonging to the Government." The other, "From my little lodge at Twickenham, the 24th of April, 1588," "on behalf of Berry," whose divorce was referred by the Justices of the Common Pleas to four Doctors of the Civil Law, of whom Mr. Doctor Caesar, Judge of the Admiralty, to whom the letter was written, was one.

His name also occurs in a letter, from Walsingham to Burghley, dated May 23, 1587, while Elizabeth still kept up the farce of Burghley's disgrace for despatching Mary Stuart's death-warrant. "Touching the Chancellorship of the Duchy, she told Sir Amias Poulet that in respect of her promise made unto me, she would not dispose of it otherwise. But yet hath he no power to deliver the seals unto me, though for that purpose the Attorney is commanded to attend him, who I suppose will be dismissed hence this day without any resolution." And on the 4th of January following, together with the other lords of the Council, he signed a letter addressed by the Privy Council to the Lord Admiral and to Lord Buckhurst, the Lieutenants of Sussex, against such Catholics as "most obstinately have refused to come to the church to prayers and divine service," requiring them to "cause the most obstinate and noted persons to be committed to such prisons as are fittest for their safe keeping: the rest that are of value, and not so obstinate, are to be referred to the custody of some -ecclesiastical persons and other gentlemen well affected, to remain at the charges of the recusant, to be restrained in such sort as they may be forthcoming, and kept from intelligence with one another." On the 26th of September, in the year in which this letter was written, 1588, Sir Amias Poulet died.

Poulet was buried in St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London. [Map]. When that church was pulled down to be rebuilt, his remains, with the handsome monument erected over them, were removed to the parish church of Hinton St. George. After various panegyrics in Latin, French, and English inscribed on his monument, a quatrain, expressive apparently of royal favour, pays the following tribute to the service rendered by him to the State as Keeper of the Queen of Scots: Never shall cease to spread wise Poulet's fame; These will speak, and men shall blush for shame: Without offence to speak what I do know, Great is the debt England to him doth owe.Execution of Mary Queen of Scots.

Original Letters Illustrative of English History Second Series Volume III. Ellis notes that "the present narrative is from the Lansdowne MS. 51. art. 46. It is indorsed in Lord Burghley's hand, "8 Feb. 1586. The Manner of the Q. of Scotts death at Fodrynghay, wr. by Ro. Wy. [Possibly Richard Wigmore?]

A Reporte of the manner of the execution of the Sc. Q. performed the viijth. of February, Anno 1586 [modern dating 1587] in the great hall at Fotheringhay [Map], with relacion of speeches uttered and accions happening in the said execution, from the delivery of the said Sc. Q. to Mr Thomas Androwes Esquire Sherife of the County of Northampton unto the end of said execution..

THE READER shall now be presented with the Execution of the Queen of Scots (age 44) which was to the Court or three Statements of this Transaction were There was a Short one copies of which are Manuscripts Jul F vi foll 246 266 b and b Another a Copy of the Account of the Earl to the Lords of the Council dated on the day is MS Calig C ix fol 163 And there is a Office somewhat longer said to have been drawn evidently one of her servants present Narrative is from the Lansdowne MS in Lord Burghley s hand 8 Feb 1586 of Scotts death at Fodrynghay wr by Ro Wy Queen s death have been dressed up from writers but it is here given accurate and entire.

First, the said Scottish Queen, being carried by two of Sir Amias Paulett's (age 54) gentlemen, and the Sheriff (age 46) going before her, came most willingly out of her chamber into an entry next the Hall [Map], at which place the Earl of Shrewsbury (age 59) and the Earl of Kent (age 46), commissioners for the execution, with the two governors of her person, and divers knights and gentlemen did meet her, where they found one of the Scottish Queen's servants, named Melvin [NOTE. Possibly Andrew Melville of Garvock Steward], kneeling on his knees, who uttered these words with tears to the Queen of Scots, his mistress, "Madam, it will be the sorrowfullest message that ever I carried, when I shall report that my Queen and dear mistress is dead." Then the Queen of Scots, shedding tears, answered him, "You ought to rejoice rather than weep for that the end of Mary Stuart's troubles is now come. Thou knowest, Melvin, that all this world is but vanity, and full of troubles and sorrows; carry this message from me, and tell my friends that I die a true woman to my religion, and like a true Scottish woman and a true Frenchwoman. But God forgive them that have long desired my end; and He that is the true Judge of all secret thoughts knoweth my mind, how that it ever hath been my desire to have Scotland and England united together. Commend me to my son, and tell him that I have not done anything that may prejudice his kingdom of Scotland; and so, good Melvin, farewell;" and kissing him, she bade him pray for her.

Then she turned to the Lords and told them that she had certain requests to make unto them. One was for a sum of money, which she said Sir Amyas Paulet knew of, to be paid to one Curle her servant; next, that all her poor servants might enjoy that quietly which by her Will and Testament she had given unto them; and lastly, that they might be all well entreated, and sent home safely and honestly into their countries. "And this I do conjure you, my Lords, to do.".

Answer was made by Sir Amyas Paulet, "I do well remember the money your Grace speaketh of, and your Grace need not to make any doubt of the not performance of your requests, for I do surely think they shall be granted.".

"I have," said she, "one other request to make unto you, my Lords, that you will suffer my poor servants to be present about me, at my death, that they may report when they come into their countries how I died a true woman to my religion.".

Then the Earl of Kent, one of the commissioners, answered, "Madam, it cannot well be granted, for that it is feared lest some of them would with speeches both trouble and grieve your Grace, and disquiet the company, of which we have had already some experience, or seek to wipe their napkins in some of your blood, which were not convenient." "My Lord," said the Queen of Scots, "I will give my word and promise for them that they shall not do any such thing as your Lordship has named. Alas! poor souls, it would do them good to bid me farewell. And I hope your Mistress (age 53), being a maiden Queen, in regard of womanhood, will suffer me to have some of my own people about me at my death. And I know she hath not given you so straight a commission, but that you may grant me more than this, if I were a far meaner woman than I am." And then (seeming to be grieved) with some tears uttered these words: "You know that I am cousin to your Queen [NOTE. They were first-cousin once-removed], and descended from the blood of Henry the Seventh [NOTE. She was a Great Granddaughter of Henry VII King England and Ireland 1457-1509], a married Queen of France [NOTE. She had married Francis II King France King Consort Scotland], and the anointed Queen of Scotland.".

Whereupon, after some consultation, they granted that she might have some of her servants according to her Grace's request, and therefore desired her to make choice of half-a-dozen of her men and women: who presently said that of her men she would have Melvin, her apothecary, her surgeon, and one other old man beside; and of her women, those two that did use to lie in her chamber.

After this, she being supported by Sir Amias's two gentlemen aforesaid, and Melvin carrying up her train, and also accompanied with the Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen aforenamed, the Sheriff going before her, she passed out of the entry into the Great Hall [Map], with her countenance careless, importing thereby rather mirth than mournful cheer, and so she willingly stepped up to the scaffold which was prepared for her in the Hall, being two feet high and twelve feet broad, with rails round about, hung and covered with black, with a low stool, long cushion, and block, covered with black also. Then, having the stool brought her, she sat her down; by her, on the right hand, sat the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Earl of Kent, and on the left hand stood the Sheriff, and before her the two executioners; round about the rails stood Knights, Gentlemen, and others.

Then, silence being made, the Queen's Majesty's Commission for the execution of the Queen of Scots was openly read by Mr. Beale, clerk of the Council (age 46); and these words pronounced by the Assembly, "God save the Queen." During the reading of which Commission the Queen of Scots was silent, listening unto it with as small regard as if it had not concerned her at all; and with as cheerful a countenance as if it had been a pardon from her Majesty for her life; using as much strangeness in word and deed as if she had never known any of the Assembly, or had been ignorant of the English language.

Then one Doctor Fletcher, Dean of Peterborough (age 42), standing directly before her, without the rail, bending his body with great reverence, began to utter this exhortation following: "Madam, the Queen's most excellent Majesty," &c, and iterating these words three or four times, she told him, "Mr. Dean, I am settled in the ancient Catholic Roman religion, and mind to spend my blood in defence of it." Then Mr. Dean said: "Madam, change your opinion, and repent you of your former wickedness, and settle your faith only in Jesus Christ, by Him to be saved." Then she answered again and again, "Mr. Dean, trouble not yourself any more, for I am settled and resolved in this my religion, and am purposed therein to die." Then the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Earl of Kent, perceiving her so obstinate, told her that since she would not hear the exhortation begun by Mr. Dean, "We will pray for your Grace, that it stand with God's will you may have your heart lightened, even at the last hour, with the true knowledge of God, and so die therein." Then she answered, "If you will pray for me, my Lords, I will thank you; but to join in prayer with you I will not, for that you and I are not of one religion.".

Then the Lords called for Mr. Dean, who, kneeling on the scaffold stairs, began this prayer, "O most gracious God and merciful Father," &c, all the Assembly, saving the Queen of Scots and her servants, saying after him. During the saying of which prayer, the Queen of Scots, sitting upon a stool, having about her neck an Agnus Dei, in her hand a crucifix, at her girdle a pair of beads with a golden cross at the end of them, a Latin book in her hand, began with tears and with loud and fast voice to pray in Latin; and in the midst of her prayers she slided off from her stool, and kneeling, said divers Latin prayers; and after the end of Mr. Dean's prayer, she kneeling, prayed in English to this effect: "For Christ His afflicted Church, and for an end of their troubles; for her son; and for the Queen's Majesty, that she might prosper and serve God aright." She confessed that she hoped to be saved "by and in the blood of Christ, at the foot of whose Crucifix she would shed her blood." Then said the Earl of Kent, "Madam, settle Christ Jesus in your heart, and leave those trumperies." Then she little regarding, or nothing at all, his good counsel, went forward with her prayers, desiring that "God would avert His wrath from this Island, and that He would give her grief and forgiveness for her sins." These, with other prayers she made in English, saying she forgave her enemies with all her heart that had long sought her blood, and desired God to convert them to the truth; and in the end of the prayer she desired all saints to make intercession for her to Jesus Christ, and so kissing the crucifix, and crossing of her also, said these words: "Even as Thy arms, O Jesus, were spread here upon the Cross, so receive me into Thy arms of mercy, and forgive me all my sins.".

Her prayer being ended, the executioners, kneeling, desired her Grace to forgive them her death; who answered, "I forgive you with all my heart, for now, I hope, you shall make an end of all my troubles." Then they, with her two women, helping of her up, began to disrobe her of her apparel; she never changed her countenance, but with smiling cheer she uttered these words, "that she never had such grooms to make her unready, and that she never put off her clothes before such a company.".

Then she, being stripped of all her apparel saving her petticoat and kirtle, her two women beholding her made great lamentation, and crying and crossing themselves prayed in Latin; she, turning herself to them, embracing them, said these words in French, "Ne criez vous; j'ay promis pour vous;" and so crossing and kissing them, bade them pray for her, and rejoice and not weep, for that now they should see an end of all their mistress's troubles. Then she, with a smiling countenance, turning to her men servants, as Melvin and the rest, standing upon a bench nigh the scaffold, who sometime weeping, sometime crying out aloud, and continually crossing themselves, prayed in Latin, crossing them with her hand bade them farewell; and wishing them to pray for her even until the last hour.

This done, one of the women having a Corpus Christi cloth lapped up three-corner ways, kissing it, put it over the Queen of Scots' face, and pinned it fast to the caul of her head. Then the two women departed from her, and she kneeling down upon the cushion most resolutely, and without any token or fear of death, she spake aloud this Psalm in Latin, "In te, Domine, confido, non confundar in eternum," &c. [Ps. xxv.]. Then, groping for the block, she laid down her head, Putting her chin over the block with both her hands, which holding there, still had been cut off, had they not been espied. Then lying upon the block most quietly, and stretching out her arms, cried, "In manus tuas, Domine," &c, three or four times. Then she lying very still on the block, one of the executioners holding of her slightly with one of his hands, she endured two strokes of the other executioner with an axe, she making very small noise or none at all, and not stirring any part of her from the place where she lay; and so the executioner cut off her head, saving one little grisle, which being cut asunder, he lifted up her head to the view of all the assembly, and bade "God save the Queen." Then her dressing of lawn falling off from her head, it appeared as grey as one of threescore and ten years old, polled very short, her face in a moment being so much altered from the form she had when she was alive, as few could remember her by her dead face. Her lips stirred up and down a quarter of an hour after her head was cut off.

Then Mr. Dean said with a loud voice, "So perish all the Queen's enemies;" and afterwards the Earl of Kent came to the dead body, and standing over it, with a loud voice said, "Such end of all the Queen's and the Gospel's enemies.".

Then one of the executioners pulling off her garters, espied her little dog which was crept under her clothes, which could not be gotten forth but by force, yet afterward would not depart from the dead corpse, but came and lay between her head and her shoulders, which being imbrued with her blood, was carried away and washed, as all things else were that had any blood was either burned or clean washed; and the executioners sent away with money for their fees, not having any one thing that belonged unto her. And so, every man being commanded out of the Hall, except the Sheriff and his men, she was carried by them up into a great chamber lying ready for the surgeons to embalm her.

The Letter Books of Amias Paulet Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots Published 1874 Marys Execution. The inventory of the property of the Queen of Scots (age 44), alluded to in the foregoing letter, is printed in Prince Labanoff's collection, in which it occupies more than twenty pages. Poulet (age 54) compiled it by summoning Mary's servants before him, and requesting each of them to give him a written note of all that the Queen had given them. A comparison of this inventory, made after Mary's death, with a former one, dated June 13, 1586, which Prince Labanoff found amongst M. de Chateauneuf's papers enables us to see that Mr. Froude has been led into a curious error respecting Mary Stuart's dress at the scaffold by the anonymous writer whose account he follows in preference to the narratives drawn up by responsible witnesses. It may seem to be of little importance, but as Mr. Froude has chosen to represent the last moments of Mary's life as "brilliant acting throughout," he should at least have been accurate in his details. He even goes so far as to say that she was deprived of the assistance of her chaplain for "fear of some religious melodrame." As to her dress, he says, "She stood on the black scaffold with the black figures all around her, blood-red from head to foot. Her reasons for adopting so extraordinary a costume must be left to conjecture. It is only certain that it must have been carefully studied, and that the pictorial effect must have been appalling." And he quotes from the Vray Rapport the words, "Ainsy fut executee toute en rouge. [Translation: So was executed all in red]".

The rouge was not "blood-red," but a dark red brown. Blackwood says that she wore, with a pourpoint or bodice of black satin, "une Juppe de vellours cramoisi brun," and the narrative called La Mort de la Royne d'Escosse says the same. There it is in the June inventory, "Une juppe de velloux cramoisy brun, bandee de passement noir, doublee de taffetas de couleur brune." In the inventory taken after her death it is wanting. As it happens, if she had wished to be "blood-red," she might have been so, for in the wardrobe there was "satin figure incarnat," "escarlate," and "satin incarnate." These figure both in the June and February inventories. When she was dressed "the most neatly that she could and better than usual¹," she said to her maids of honour, "My friends, I would have left you sooner this attire than that of yesterday, but it is necessary that I go to death a little honorably, and that I have something more than the ordinary²." "The tragedy ended," continues Blackwood, "The poor maidens, careful of the honor of their mistress, addressed themselves to Paulet her guardian, and begged him that the executioner no longer touch the body of Her Majesty, and that it be allowed for them to undress her, after the crowd would have withdrawn, so that no indignity might be done to the body, promising to return the spoil, and all that he might ask. But this cursed and frightful Cerberus harshly sent them away, commanding them to leave the hall. Meanwhile, the executioner removed her shoes, and handled her at his discretion. After he had done all that he wished, the body was carried into a chamber adjoining that of her servants, securely locked for fear that they might enter to render their respects. This greatly increased their distress, they saw her through the keyhole half-covered with a piece of coarse cloth that had been torn from the billiards table, which we have spoken of above, and prayed to God at the door, which Paulet noticing, had the hole plugged³.".

The executioner snatched from her hand the little gold cross that she took from her neck. "Her Majesty took from her neck a gold cross, which she wanted to give to one of her ladies, saying to the master of works, 'My friend, this is not for your use, leave it to this lady she will give you in Silver more than it is worth;' he snatched it from her hands very rudely, saying, 'It is my right.' It would have been a wonder if she had found courtesy in an English executioner, who had never been able to find it among the most honorable of the country, except as much as they could derive profit from it⁴." It was worthy of Poulet to insist that, even though everything Mary wore was to be burnt and the headsman was to lose his perquisites lest he should sell them for relics, it was to be by his hands that they should be taken from the person of his victim.

Note 1. "le plus proprement qu'elle put et mieux que de coutume"

Note 2. "Mes amies, je vous eusse laisse plustost cet accoustrement que celui d'hier, sinon qu'il faut que j'aille a la mort un peu honnorablement, et que j'aye quelque chose plus que le commun"

Note 3. "La tragédie finie" continues Blackwood "les pauvres damoiselles, soigneuses de rhonneur de leur maistresse s'adresserent a Paulet son gardien, et le prierent que le bourreau ne touchast plus au corps de sa Majeste, et qu'il leur fust permis de la despouiller, apres que le monde seroit retire, afin qu'aucune indignite ne fust faitte au corps, promettant de luy rendre la despouille, et tout ce qu'il pourroit demander. Mais ce maudict et espouventable Cerbere les renvoya fort lourdement, leur commandant de sortir de la salle. Cependant le bourreau la dechausse, et la manie a sa discretion. Apres qu'il eust fait tout ce qu'il voulust, le corps fut porte en une chambre joignante celle de ces serviteurs, bien fermee de peur qu'ils n'y entrassent pour luy rendre leurs debvoirs. Ce qui augmenta grandement leur ennuy, ils la voyoient par le trou de la serrure demy couverte d'un morceau de drop de bure qu'on avoit arrache de la table du billard, dont nous avous parle cy dessus, et prioyent Dieu a la porte, dont Paulet s'appercevant fist boucher le trou".

Note 4. "Sa Majeste osta hors de son col line croix d'or, qu'elle vouloit bailler a mie de ses filles, disant au maistre d'oeuvres, Mon amy, cecy n'est pas k vostre usage, laissez la a cette damoiselle elle vous baillera en Argent plus qu'elle ne vaut; il luy arracha d'entre les mains fort rudement, disant, C'est mon droit. C'eust este merveille qu'elle eust trouve courtoisie en un bourreau Anglois, qui ne I'avoit jamais sceu trouver entre les plus honestes du pais, sinon tant qu'ils en pouvoient tirer de profit."

The Letter Books of Amias Paulet Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots Published 1874 Marys Execution. Several narratives of the execution exist. The most complete, attributed to Bourgoin, is printed in Jebb. Sir H. Ellis and Robertson print the official report of the Commissioners. Then there is Chateauneuf's Report to Henry III, February 27, 1587, N.S., in Teulet, and a narrative drawn up for Burghley by R. W. (Richard Wigmore). Blackwood also furnishes an interesting and trustworthy description. The anonymous Vray Rapport will be found in Teulet. Mr. Froude appears to have selected it, partly because it was possible to expand the Realistic description of the dissevered head, and in particular the inevitable contraction of the features, into the gross and pitiless caricature which he permits himself of the poor wreck of humanity; partly too, because the Vray Rapport, in direct contradiction to the other accounts, supports his assertion that Mary was "dreadfully agitated" on receiving the message of death from the two Earls. To convey the impression that the writer was bodily present on that occasion, Mr. Froude introduces him as "evidently an eye-witness, one of the Queen of Scots' (age 44) own attendants, probably her surgeon." But the narrative shows us that the writer, whoever he was, could not have been one of Mary's attendants, nor even acquainted with them, for he designates the two ladies who assisted their mistress at the scaffold as "deux damoiselles, I'une Francoise nommee damoiselle Ramete, et l'autre Escossoise, qui avait nom Ersex." There were no such names in Mary's household. The two ladies were both Scottish, Jane Kennedy and Elspeth Curie, Gilbert Curle's sister. Mr. Froude says, "Barbara Mowbray bound her eyes with a handkerchief." It was Jane Kennedy who performed for her this last service.

Poulet's (age 54) inventory, amongst other things, contains the following entry: "Memorandum that the Priest claimeth as of the said late Queen's gift, a silver chalice with a cover, two silver cruets, four images, the one of our Lady in red coral, with divers other vestments and necessaries belonging to a Massing Priest." When the scaffold had been taken away, the Priest was allowed to leave his room and join the rest of the household. On the morning after the execution he said Mass for Mary's soul; but on the afternoon of that day Melville and Bourgoin were sent for by Poulet, who gave orders that the altar should be taken down, and demanded an oath that Mass should not be said again. Melville excused himself as he was a Protestant and not concerned; the physician stoutly refused. Poulet sent for the Priest, and required the coffer in which the vestments were kept to be brought to him. Du Preau, who was evidently a timid man, took the oath that Poulet insisted on, little thinking that he was pledging himself for six months. "II jura sur la bible de ne faire aucune office de religion, craignant d'estre resserre en prison".

Relations Politique Book 4. The true account of the execution carried out upon the person of the Queen of Scots on February 8, a Wednesday, at around ten o'clock in the morning, in the great hall of Fotheringhay Castle, before the Earl of Shrewsbury and their commissioners, in the presence of Sir Amias Paulet, knight and governor of the said castle, Messrs. Andrew Foulkes, provost of Northampton, and various others, including knights, squires, and gentlemen of lower rank. In the year of Our Lord 1587.¹

Biblioth, impér. Fonds de St-Germ. Harl., n. 222, t. XI, f^o 31. Cop. du temps.

Le vray rapport de l'exécution faicte sur la personne de la Reyne d'Escosse le VIII février, le mercredy, sur les dix heures devant midy, en la salle du chasteau de Fotheringay devant le comte de Shrosbery et leurs commissaires, en la présence du sieur Amias Paulet, chevalier et gouverneur dudict chasteau, Messieurs Andrau Fluzier, prévosl de Northampton, et divers autres, tant chevalliers qu'escuyers et gentilshommes de plus basse condition. Anno Domini 1587.

Note 1. Two English accounts of the execution of Mary Stuart are known: one provided by the Earl of Shrewsbury, the other by Richard Wigmore, a secret agent of Lord Burghley. The Prince Labanoff, in his sample volume Lettres inédites de Marie Stuart (Unpublished Letters of Mary Stuart), Paris, 1839, octavo, published a third account translated from English, the original of which appears to have been written by a Protestant eyewitness. Lastly, the letter from M. de Châteauneuf to Henry III, dated February 27 (see below, p. 169), contains a detailed narrative of the event.

On connaît deux relations anglaises de l'exécution de Marie Stuart, l'une donnée par le comte de Slircwsbuiy, l'autre par Richard Wigmord, agent secret de Burleigli. Le prime Labanoff, dans son volume-spécimen, Lettres inédites de Marie Stuarl, Paris, 1839, in-8°, a publié une troisième relatioi', traduite de l'anglais, dont l'original paraît avoir été rédigé par un protestant, témoin oculaire; enfin, la lettre de M. de Cliâteauneuf à Henri III, en date du 27 février (voyez ci-après, p. 1C9), contient un rècil détaillé de cet événement. Néanmoins, nous avons pense qu'on lirait avec intérêt cette nouvelle relation, qui contient, notamment sur le costume de Marie Stuart et sur les circonstances de son exécution, des détails qu'on ne trouve pas dans les trois autres.

The Life and Death of Mary Queen of Scots Volume 2. 8th February 1587. Her Majesty (age 44), as well as her attendants, thought that they intended to sever her head in the French manner, with a sword. Thus, while she was sitting, assuming that this was how they would proceed, she held herself rigidly, extending her neck with joined hands, without being bound in any way. Clutching her crucifix, which she never let go of, she recited aloud, "In te, Domine speravi," and so on, with great fervor. Then, the two executioners took her, one on each side, by the shoulders, and made her kneel. Wanting to lay her down, and she, expecting the blow, extended her neck as if singing, continuously praying to God. They continued to lay her down on her stomach the length of her body, making her place her neck on a block prepared for this purpose, towards the end of the scaffold. Having placed their hand under her chin, perhaps to allow her to speak freely, it was removed for fear that it might be cut off with her head. The master executioner, wielding a wide axe with a blade like those used to split wood, delivered a blow as she loudly said, "In manus tuas." This poorly aimed blow only touched the back of her head and did not penetrate deeply. He struck again for the second time, cutting a significant portion of the neck, which he finished severing on the third attempt.

Sa Majesté, comme aussi ses serviteurs pensoient qu'on luy voulut trancher la teste à la façon de France, avec un espée, & partant assise qu'elle estoit, cuidant que là on la luy trancheroit, se tenoit roide, & estendoit le col, les mains jointes, sans estre liée en aucune forte, & tenant son crucifix qu'elle ne laissa jamais, disoit à haute voix, In te, Domine speraui, & c . In manus tuas, & c . d'une grande affection . Lors les deux maistres la prirent, un d'vn costé, l'autre de l'autre, par les espaules, & la mirent à genoux: iceux la voulant coucher, & elle qui attendoit le coup, estendoit le col comme decant, toufiours priant Dieu, jusques à ce qué eux continuant de la coucher sur le ventre tout de son long, luy firent mettre le col sur vn billot apresté pour cest effet, vers le bout de l'échaffaut, où ayant mis sa main dessous son menton, pour avoir, comme je croy, sa parole libre, fut oftee de peur que elle ne fust coupee avec la teste: là le maistre levant une haché large par le taillant de la façon de celles qui feruent à fendre le boys, luy donna un coup comme elle disoit à haute voix, In manus tuas, lequel coup mal adresse toucha seulement le derriere de la teste, & n'entra pas beaucoup avant, dont redouble pour le second qui coupa une grande partie du col, qu'il acheva de couper à la troisiesme fois .

Calendar of State Papers of Spain. 28th February 1587. Paris [Map]. Bernardino De Mendoza (age 47) to the King (age 59). Note. Assumed to be the Spanish King Philip II.

The English ambassador sent the confidant (i.e., Charles Arundel (age 54)) to me this morning to say that as it was so important that your Majesty should be informed instantly of the news he had received last night from England, that he sent to tell me of it, and openly to confess me his anxiety to serve your Majesty. He offered himself entirely through me, in the assurance that your Majesty would not order him to do anything against the interest of his mistress the Queen (age 53), who however, he could plainly see, had not long to live now that she had allowed the execution of the Queen of Scotland (age 44). It happened in this way. The Lord Treasurer (age 66) being absent through illness, the earl of Leicester (age 54), Lord Hunsdon (age 60), Lord Admiral Howard (age 51) and Walsingham (age 55), had represented to the Queen that the Parliament would resolutely refuse to vote any money to maintain the war in Holland, or to fit out a naval force to help Don Antonio, unless she executed the Queen of Scotland. Under this pressure she consented to sign a warrant, as they called it, that the Parliament might see, but which was not to be executed, unless it were proved that the Queen of Scotland conspired again against her life. As Secretary Walsingham was ill this warrant was taken to the Queen for her signature by Davison (age 46), and after she had signed it she ordered him not to give it to anyone unless she gave him personally her authority to do so. Davison, who is a terrible heretic and an enemy of the Queen of Scotland, like the rest of the above-mentioned, delivered the warrant to them. They took a London executioner and sent him with the warrant to the justice of the county where the Queen of Scotland was. The moment the justice received it, on the 8th [NOTE. Appears to be a typo; original says 18th], he entered the Queen of Scotland's chamber with Paulet (age 54) and Lord Grey (age 46), who had charge of her, and there they had her head cut off with a hatchet in the presence of the four persons only. The Queen orders her ambassador to inform this King of it, and assure him, as she will more fully by a special envoy, that the deed was done against her will, and although she had signed the warrant she had no intention of having it carried out. She cannot avoid blaming herself for having trusted anyone but herself in such a matter. The ambassador is begging earnestly for an audience and is keeping the matter secret until he tells the King. In order that no time may be lost in informing your Majesty, I send this special courier in the name of merchants, by way of Bordeaux, whence he will go post to Irun; and as God has so willed that these accursed people, for His ends, should fall into "reprobrium sensum," and against all reason commit such an act as this, it is evidently His design to deliver those two kingdoms into your Majesty's hands. I thanked the ambassador in general terms for his offer, saying that I would give an account thereof to your Majesty. As I have formerly said, it will be most advisable to accept it, and pledge him to give us notice of any machinations here and in England against us. He reports that the fitting out of ships continues but in no greater number than he previously advised, although the rumour is current here that there would be 60 English, besides the Hollanders, but that the crews, etc. were not raised and no time fixed for the departure. The ambassador says he will have full information on the point when a gentleman of his has arrived whom he had sent to England to gain intelligence, as Cecil only writes now to say that the execution of the Queen of Scotland has been against his will, as he, the ambassador knew; and that the King, her son, was in great danger of suffering a similar fate. The execution was known in London on the 20th when the executioner returned, and great bonfires had been lit for joy all over the countryside. They did not even give her time to commend her soul to God. .

Bodleian Library Ashmole MS830 F18. 8th February 1857. The manner of the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, anno 1586 [1687], the 8th of February, in the presence of such whose names be underwritten.

First, after she was brought down by the Sheriff to the place prepared in the hall for the purpose, by the command of us the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, her Majesty's commission was openly read, and then, according to a direction given before to Mr. Doctor Fletcher, Dean of Peterborough, he was willed to use some short and pithy speech which might tend to admonish her of the dreariness of her death and the only means of salvation in Christ Jesus. As soon as he began to speak she interrupted him, saying she was a Catholick, and that it was but a folly, being so resolutely determined as she was, to move her otherwise, and that our prayers would do her little good. Nevertheless a prayer was read by the said Dean, which was pronounced (sic) by all the assembly, That it would please God if it were His will to send her His Spirit and true repentance to bless her Majesty and confound her enemies. During which time of prayer she, being come down with many superstitions, crosses, and a pair (praier) of beads, prayed also aloud. When the Dean had done then she openly pronounced a prayer to this effect: To beseech God to send her His Holy Spirit, and that she trusted to receive her salvation in His blood, and of His grace to be received into His kingdom. She besought God to forgive her enemies as she forgave them, and to turn His wrath from this Island, to bless the Queen's Majesty that she might serve Him, likewise to be merciful to her son, and to have compassion of His afflicted Church, and though she was not worthy to be heard, yet she had a confidence in His mercy, and prayed all the saints to pray unto her Saviour to receive her. After this, turning aside towards her servants, she desired them to pray for her that her Saviour would receive her. Then upon petition made by the executioners, she pardoned them, and said she was glad that the end of all her sorrows was so near, then she misliked the whining and weeping of her women, saying that they ought rather to thank God for her resoluteness, and so kissing them willed them to depart the scaffold, and again with a cross, with her hands towards her said servants, she bade them farewell, and so resolutely kneeled down, and having a kerchief bound over her eyes, laid down her neck, whereupon the executioners proceeded, she repeating these words, "In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum," and certain other verses of the Psalms.

The names of them that were present at the execution:—

Ea. Shrewsbury

Ea. Kent

Am. Paulett

R. Knightley

R. Wingfeild

R. Beale

Th. Andrewes

Th. Montague

Jo. Wingfild

Jo. Crues

Finis.

Bodleian Library Ashmole MS830 F13. The manner of the Scottish Queen's execution performed the 8th of February 1586 [1587] in the great hall within the Castle of Fotheringham.

The said Scottish Queen being attended by the sheriffs and supported by two of Sir Amias Paulet's gentlemen, came out of her chamber down into an entry next to the hall about 10 of the clock, at which place the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Earl of Kent, commissioners for the execution, with the two governors of her person, and divers knights and gentlemen, justices of the peace within the County of Northampton, going out of the hall did meet her, where they found one of her servants named Melvin kneeling on his knees uttering these words, "Madam, it will be the sorrowfullest message that ever I carried when I shall report that my Queen and mistress is dead." Then the Queen of Scots weeping answered him, "You ought to rejoice rather than weep, for that the end of all Marie Stuard's troubles is now come; thou knowest, Melvin, that all this world is but vanity and full of troubles, but carry thou this message unto my son, and tell my friends that I die a true woman to my religion, true Scottish and true French. God forgive them that have long desired my end, but God, the true Judge of all secret thoughts, knoweth my mind, how that ever it hath been my desire to have Scotland and England united together. But commend me to my son once again, and tell him that I have not done anything that can be prejudicial to his state, and say unto him from me that he trust not too much to practices and policies, for practices and policies will have an end. Farewell." And kissing him she bade him pray for her. Then she turned her face to the Lords, the commissioners, and told them she had certain requests to make unto them, one was for a sum of money to be paid to one Curle her servant; secondly, that all her poor servants might enjoy that quietly which by her will and testament she gave them; next, that they may be all well entreated and sent home safely and honestly into their countries. "And this as I crave so do I conjure you, my Lords, to do." Answer was made by Sir Amias Paulet. "Your grace need not to make any doubt of the not performance of your request, for I am sure they shall be well used." "I have," said the Queen of Scots, "another request to make unto you my Lords, which is that you would suffer my poor servants to be present about me at my death, that they may report when they come into their countries how I died a true woman to my religion." Then my Lord of Kent, one of the commissioners, answered, "Madam, it cannot well be granted, for that it is feared lest some of them would with speeches both trouble and grieve your grace and disquiet the company of which already we have some experience, or seek to wipe their napkins in some of your blood, which is not convenient." "My Lord," said the Queen of Scots, "I will give my word and promise for them that they shall not do any such thing as your lordships have named. Alas! poor souls, it will do them good to bid me farewell. I hope your mistress, being a maiden Queen, in regard of womanhood will suffer me to have some of my own people about me at my death, and I know she hath not given you so straight a commission but you might grant me more than this if I were far meaner than I am." And then seeming to be much grieved, with some tears, uttered these words: "You know that I am cousin to your Queen, and descended from the blood of Henry the 7th, and have been a married Queen of Scotland." Where upon some consultation they granted that she might have some of her servants according to her request, and therefore they desired her to make choice of some 6 of women and men. Who presently said that of her men she would have Melvin, her apothecary and physician, and one other old man beside; and of her women, those two that did lie in her chamber. After this she being supported by the two gentlemen aforesaid, and accompanied with the lords, knights, and gentlemen above named, and the sheriffs going before her out of the entry into the great hall, her countenance careless, importing rather mirth than mourning, and so with silence she went up to the scaffold which was prepared for her in the hall, being two foot high and twelve foot broad, with rails round about hanged and covered with black cotton. Then having the stool brought her she sat her down, by her on the right hand on two stools the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Earl of Kent, her majestie's commissioners; on the left hand stood Mr. Thomas Andrewes, sheriff, and before her the two executioners; round about the rails stood the knights and gentlemen and the halberdiers, and without the rails directly before her stood Mr. Doctor Fletcher, Dean of Peterborough. Then silence being made the Queen's majesty's commission for the execution of the said Queen of Scots was openly read by Mr. Beale, clarke of the county, and after that these words pronounced by the assembly, God save the Queen. During the reading of which commission the said Queen of Scots used silence but listed unto it with small regard, as if it had not concerned her at all, and with a cheerful countenance using as much strangeness in word and deed as if she had never known any of the assembly or had been ignorant of the English language. Then Mr. Dean of Peterborough, bending his body with great reverence, began to utter his exhortation, beginning thus, "Madam, the Queen's most excellent majesty," etc., as it is before written; and uttering these words three or four times, she said, "Mr. Dean, Mr. Dean, trouble me not; I am settled and persuaded in the Catholick Roman faith and mind to spend my blood in defence of it." Then Mr. Dean said, "Madam, lay aside those unclean dregs of superstition which you have about you, and repent you of your sins and settle your faith only on Jesus Christ by him to be saved." Then she answered again and again, "I am settled and resolved in the Catholick Roman faith, and am purposed therein to die." Then the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, perceiving her so obstinate, told her that since she would not hear the exhortation began by Mr. Dean, we will pray for your grace that if it stand with God's will you may have your heart lightened even at the last hour with the true knowledge of God. Then she answered: "If you pray for me, my Lords, I will thank you, but to join in prayer I will not, your prayers will do me no good, for that you and I am not of one religion." The Lords called for Mr. Dean, who, kneeling upon the scaffold staires, began this prayer:—

A Prayer

All the assembly except the Queen of Scots and her servants saying after him, during the time of which prayer the Queen of Scots, sitting upon her stool, having about her necke an Agnus Dei, in her hand a Crucifix, at her girdle a pair of beads with a medal at the end of them, and a Latin primer in her hand, began with loud and fast voice to pray in Latin, and in the midst of her prayers she slided off her stool, and kneeling said divers Latin prayers, and after the end of Mr. Dean's prayer she kneeling prayed in English to this effect—for Christ's poor afflicted Church, and for an end of all their troubles, for her son that he might prosper and fear God, and for the Queen that she might prosper and serve God aright; she confessed that she hoped to be saved by the blood of Christ, at the foot of whose crucifix she would shed her blood. Then said my Lord of Kent, "Madam, settle Christ Jesus in your heart and leave these trumpery things." She prayed that God would avert his wrath from this Island, and that God would give her grief and forgiveness for all her sins. These with other prayers she made in English, saying she forgave her enemies with all her heart that had long sought her blood, and desired God to convert them to the truth, and in the end of her prayer she desired all the company of heaven to make intercession for her, and so kissing her crucifix and crossing herself said these words, "Even as the arms of Jesus are spread here upon the cross, so receive me unto thy mercy and forgive me all my sins." Her prayer being ended the two executioners, kneeling on their knees, desired her grace to forgive them, who answered, "I forgive you with all my heart, for now I hope you shall make an end of all my troubles." Then they, with her two women keeping her up, begin to disrobe her of her apparel. Then she letting fall her crucifix, one of the two hangmen took from her neck the Agnus Dei, which she, laying hand on, gave it to one of her women, and told one of the executioners that he should be answered money for it. Then she suffered her two women to disrobe her of her chain of pomander beads and all other her apparel most willingly, and with joy rather than with sorrow helping to make unready herself, putting on a pair of sleeves with her own hands which they had pulled off, and that with some haste, as though she longed to be gone; all the time they were putting off her apparel she never changed her countenance, but with smiling cheer she uttered these words—That she never had such women to make her unready, and that she never put off her clothes before such a company. Then she being stripped of all her apparel saving her petticoat and kirtel, her two women began to cry and lament, then she turned her to them, and embracing them, said these words in French: "Ne cry point pour moi. Ja promys pour vous." And so crossing and kissing them both she told them that they had more cause to rejoice than to weep, for that now they should see an end of their mistress's troubles. Then she with a smiling countenance turning to her men-servants, as Melvin and the rest standing upon the bench near the scaffold, crossing them with her hand bade them farewell, and bade them pray for her until the last hour. This done she went alone to the block and kneeled down, then one of her women, having a corpus cloth lapped three-corner-wise, kissing it, put it over her face and pinned it fast to the caul of her head, and so kneeling upon the cushion most resolutely and without any token of the fear of death she spake aloud certain verses of the Psalms in Latin. "In te, Domine, confido, non confundes in eternum." Then groping for the block she laid down her head, putting her chin over the block with both her hands under it, which had been cut off had they not been preseen. Then lying upon the block and stretching out her body, she cried aloud, "In manus tuas Domine," etc., three or four times, then one of the executioners kneeling held her down by the middle and the other gave the stroke, missing her neck cut into the bone of the head behind, but she moved not, and at the second time he cut off her head save only one sinew, which, being sawed asunder with the axe, lifted up the head to the view of all the standers by and bid God save the Queen. And the Dean said, "And so perish all her enemies." Her head was grey as one of 70 years of age, polled very short, her face being so much altered immediately from the form she had when she was alive as few could remember for her dead face; she gasped after her head was cut off by the space of half a quarter of an hour, and after, the body lying there headless bleeding, my Lord of Kent standing by it said with a loud voice, "This be the end and reward of all that hate the gospel and her Majesty's government." Then one of the executioners putting off her stockings, her little, waiting dog was got under her clothes, which could not be gotten forth but by force, which afterwards came and lay betwixt her head and her shoulders, which being imbrued with her blood was carried away and washed, and the executioners departed with money for their pains, and not having any one thing that belonged to her, either of her apparel or any other thing that was hers. And so the dead body and the head was carried by the Sheriff and his men into the great chamber, lying there ready for the chirurgeons to embalme her. Finis.

Warrender Papers 167. February 1586-7. The death of the Scotische quene.

On Veddnisday the aucht of Februar 1586 thair assemblit at the castell of Fothringay in Northamptoune the erles of Schreusburrie and Kent with dyvers knychtis and gentilmen justices of peace in those cuntreyis about 8 of clok. The erles and sheref of the schyir vent up to the Scottis quene quhome they fand praying on hir kneyis with hir gentil vemen, and the sheref remembering hir that the tyme wes at hand, scho arose and said scho vas reddie. Then scho wes laid be the armes from hir chalmer unto the chalmer of presens quhair with mony exhortatiounes to hir peopill to feir God and leif in obedience, kissing hir vemen, scho gawe hir hand to hir men to kiss, praying them all not to sorrow bot to rejose and pray for hir. Scho wes brocht downe the stair [by] soldiers. Then, being below, scho stayed, and luiking bak scho said scho wes ewill attendit upon, and besoucht the lordis for vemenheid saik, scho micht hawe tuo of hir vemen to await upon hir. They said they var onlie withhaldine that it ves feirit, that by thair passionat crying they valde mutche disquyet hir spreit and trubill the executioune. Scho said, I vill promeis for them they sall not so do. Then twa quhome scho vald var brocht to hir.

Then did scho speik mutche to Melweill¹ hir man and charget as he vald be answerable befor God to delyver hir speitches and messeges unto hir sone in sutche sort as scho did speik them, all wiche villit him to governe in the feir of God, to tak heid to quhome he betuik his cheifest trust and nocht to be ane occasioune to be ewill thocht by the quene of England hir gud sister, to certefie him scho deit ane trew Scott and ane trew Frensche and ane trew catholique.

About ten of the clok scho vas brocht in the grit hall quhair in the midst of the hous aganis the chimnay (in the wiche ther wes ane grit fyir) wes ane scaffold sett up of two futt heicht and twelf fit bred, having two steppis to cum up. About the scaffold vent ane tawill half ane yaird hie round, covered about with blak cottoune. So wes the stoole the buirdis and the blok and the pillow to kneill upon. Thair did sitt on the scaffold the two erles the schirve and the executiouneris. Quhen they var sett Mr. Beill clerk of the counsall did reid hir majesteis commissioune for the executioune under the brod seill.

Eftir wiche the dene of Petirburrow, from direction off the lordis being provydit to speik unto hir for hir bettir preparatioune to die ane penitent cristian in the trew faith of Chryst, began at the motioune of the erle of Shreusberrie his exhortatioun, wiche als sone as he hed begun, scho said with a loud voce, Peice Mr. Dene, I vill not heir yow. Then he said, Madam, I am commandit by hir Majesteis counsall to do this dewtie. I will say nothing bot that wiche I vill justifie befor the majestie of the Most Hiest. So procedand, scho cryed a loud agane, Peace Mr. Deane, I have nothing to do with yow nor ye hawe nothing to do with me. Then wes he villing to silence for ony forder molesting hir mynd. Scho said, So it is best, for I am fullie settlet and resolvet to die in the catholique Romische fayth. Quiche quhen the lordis hard, the erle of Kent said, Albeit Madam yow refuis to heir the offred mereitis of God, yit we will offer our prayeris for yow, howping He vill heir us. And gewe it will stand with his guid vill He vill wichaif² to oppin your eyis and to lichtin your hairt to the trew knawledge of his vill and to die therin. Scho [said], That ye may do and I vill pray. Then the dene kneiling doune pronuncit ane prayer wiche standeris by followet. All wiche tyme scho, having a crucifix in hir handis, prayed mutche lowder in the Latine. The prayer being endit, scho knellit doune and prayed to this effect, for Crystis afflicted churche and for ane end of thir trubillis, for hir sone that he micht trewlie and uprichtlie be convertit to the catholique Romische churche. Scho prayed that the quenes majestie micht long and peciablie prosper and serve God. Scho confest that scho houped onlie to be saiffed by the blood of Jesus Chryst, at the feit of quhose pictour presented on the crucifix scho vald villinglie sched hir blood. Scho prayed for all the sanctis of heavine to pray for hir, that the God of heavine of his guidnes vald divert his plaig from this sillie Iland, that God vald grant hir lyfe and forgewe hir hir sinnes, and that he vald reccawe hir saull in his heavinlie handis.

And then scho arose up, and wes by tuo of hir vemen and the two executioneris disrobed in hir pitticott, and then scho said, Scho wes nevir vont to be drest befor sutche a number nor by sutche groomes. Then scho kissed her vemen and the on³ began to cry. Scho said, Peice, ery not, I hawe promeist the contrare. Cry not for me, bot rejose; and liftit up hir handis and blisset them, so lykvyes hir men, kneiling not far of.

Then sudentlie scho kneillit doune most resolutelie, with the leist takin of feir of death that micht be. Eftir ane of hir vemen had knut ane kerscheiff about hir eyis scho spak aloud thus in Latine, In te Domine confido ne confundar in æternum, etc. And then lay scho doune verrie quietlie streitching out hir body and, laying out hir nek ower the blok, cryet, In manus tuas Domine, etc. On of the executionaris held doune hir handis, and the other did at tua straikis with ane ax cut of hir heid, wiche fallin out of hir attyir semit sumequhat gray; so, halding it up to the peopill cryed, God sawe the Quene and so perische all the enemeis of the gospell. All thingis about hir, belonging to hir, var takin from the executionaris and nocht sufferet so mutche to hawe ther aprones befor they war vesched, the blodie clothes the blok and quhatsumevir ellis var brunt in the chalmer, hir bowallis takin out im- balmed seired and drest to buriall.

Copy, 2 pp. Vol. A, 232.

Note 1. Sir Andrew Melville of Garvock, Mary's steward. A similar 'Account of Mary's Death' is given in C.S.P., ix. no. 300, but the narrative has been rendered very imperfect through decay of the document.

Note 2. Voucesafe.

Note 3. the on i.e. one of them.