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History of England by James Froude is in Tudor Books.
She laid her crucifix on her chair. The chief executioner took it as a perquisite, but was ordered instantly to lay it down. The lawn veil was lifted carefully off, not to disturb the hair, and was hung upon the rail. The black robe was next removed. Below it was a petticoat of crimson velvet. The black jacket followed, and under the jacket was a body of crimson satin. One of her ladies handed her a pair of crimson sleeves, with which she hastily covered her arms; and thus she stood on the black scaffold with the black figures all around her, blood-red from head to foot.1
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.
Note 1. "Her petticoat was of red velvet, and her bodice was of red satin; and having been stripped down to this petticoat, one of her ladies brought her a pair of red satin sleeves, which she put on her arms: and thus she was executed entirely in red."
"Son cotillon estoit de velours rouge et le corps estoit de satin rouge; et estant despouillée jusques à ce cotillon, I'une de ses demoiselles luy ayant apporté una paire de manches de satin rouge laquelle elle mist en ses bras: et ainsy fut exécutée tout en rouge." — Vray Rapport de I'exécution faicte isur la personne de la Royne d'Escosse: Teulet, vol. iv.