Move mouse over images for larger image.
Move mouse over links for preview.
Execution of Mary Queen of Scots is in 1580-1599 Babington Plot and Execution of Mary Queen of Scots.
On 08 Feb 1587 Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in the Great Hall at Fotheringay 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.
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.
On 01 Feb 1587 Queen Elizabeth I (age 53) signed the Death Warrant of Mary Queen of Scot's (age 44) (her first cousin once-removed). Elizabeth gave orders of Mary's jailor Amyas Paulett to complete the task.
On 07 Feb 1587 Mary Queen of Scots (age 44) having been informed that she was to be executed the next day wrote her will ...
From The Last Days of Mary Stuart, Samuel Cowan, 1907 ...
In the name of the Father, son, and Holy Ghost, I, Mary, by the grace of God, Queen of Scotland and Dowager of France, being on the point of death and not having any means of making my will, have myself committed these articles in writing, and I will and desire that they have the same force as if they were made in due form:-.
In the first place, I declare that I die in the Catholic Apostolic and Romish faith. First, I desire that a complete service be performed for my soul in the Church of St. Denis [Map] in France, and another in St. Peter's at Rheims [Map], where all my servants are to attend in such manner as they may be ordered to do by those to whom I have given directions and who are named therein.
Further, that an annual obit be founded for prayers for my soul in perpetuity in such place and after such manner as shall be deemed most convenient. To furnish funds for this I will that my houses at Fontainebleau be sold, hoping that the King will render me assistance, as I have requested him to do in my memorandum.
I will that my estate of Trespagny be kept by my cousin de Guise for one of his daughters, if she should come to be married. In these quarters I relinquish half of the arrears due to me, or a part, on condition that the others be paid, in order to be expended by my executors in perpetual alms. To carry this into effect the better, the documents shall be looked out and delivered according to the assignment for accomplishing this.
I will also that the money which may arise from my lawsuit with Secondat, be distributed as follows:- First, in the discharge of my debts and orders first place mentioned and which are not yet paid; in the first place, the 2000 crowns to Curle, which I desire to be paid without any hesitation, they being a marriage portion, upon which neither Nau nor any other person has any claim, whatever obligation he may hold, inasmuch as it is only fictitious, and the money is mine, not borrowed, which since I did but show him, and afterwards withdrew it; and it was taken from me with the rest at Chartley [Map]; the which I give him, provided he can recover it agreeably to my promise in payment of the four thousand francs as promised at my death, one thousand as a marriage portion for an own sister, and he having asked me for the rest for his expenses in prison.
As to the payment of a similar sum to Nau it is not obligatory, and therefore it has always been my intention that it should be paid last, and then only in case he should make it appear that he has not acted contrary to the conditions upon which I gave it him, and to which my servants were witnesses. As regards the 1200 crowns which he has placed to my account as having been borrowed by him for my use - 600 of Beauregard, 300 from Jervis, and the remainder from I know not whom, he must repay them out of his own money, and I must be quit and my order annulled, as I have not received any part of it, consequently it must be still in his possession, unless he has paid it away. Be this as it may, it is necessary that this sum should revert to me, I having received nothing; and in case it has not been paid away, I must have recourse to his property.
I further direct that Pasquier shall account for the moneys that he has expended and received by order of Nau, from the hands of the servants of Mons. de Chateauneuf, the French Ambassador.
Further, I will that my accounts be audited and my treasure paid.
Further, that the wages and sums due to my household, as well for the last as for the present year, be paid them before all other things, both wages and pensions, excepting the pensions of Nau and Curle, until it is ascertained what there is remaining, or whether they merited any pensioning from me, unless the wife of Curle be in necessity or be ill-treated on my account; the wages of Nau after the same manner.
I will that the 2400 francs which I have given to Jane Kennedy (afterwards married to Sir Andrew Melville; and was drowned by the upsetting of a boat, the year of the marriage of James VI,) be paid to her in money, as it was stated in my first deed of gift, which done, the pension of Willie Douglas shall revert to me, which I give to Fontenay (Nau's brother) for services and expenses for which he has had no compensation.
I will that the 4000 francs of that banker's be applied for and repaid; I have forgotten his name, but the Bishop of Glasgow will readily recollect it; and if the first order be not honoured, I desire that another may be given in the first money from Secondat.
The 10,000 francs which the ambassador has received for me, I will that they be distributed among my servants who are now going away, viz-.
First, 2000 francs to my physician; 2000 francs to Elizabeth Curle; 2000 to Sebastian Page; 2000 to Mary Page, my goddaughter; 1000 to Beauregard; 1000 to Gourgon; 1000 to Jervis.
Further, that out of the rest of my revenue with the remainder of Secondats and all other casualties, I will that:
5000 francs be given to the Foundling Hospital at Rheims; to my scholars 2000 francs. To four mendicants such sum as my executors may think fit, according to the means in their hands; 500 francs to the hospitals; to Martin escuyer de cuisine, 1000 francs; 1000 francs to Annibal, whom I recommend to my cousin de Guise, his godfather, to place in some situation for his life, in his service. I leave 500 francs to Nicholas, and 500 francs to his daughters when they marry. I leave 500 francs to Robert Hamilton, and beg my son to take him and Monsieur de Glasgow, or the Bishop of Ross. I leave to Didier his registership, subject to the approbation of the King. I give 500 francs to Jean Lauder, and beg my cousin of Guise, or of Mayne, to take him into their service, and Messieurs de Glasgow and de Ross to see him provided for. I will that his father be paid his wages and leave him 500 francs; 1000 francs to be paid to Gourgon for money and other things with which he supplied me in my necessity.
I will that if Bourgoyne should perform the journey agreeably to the vow which he made for me to St. Nicholas, that 1500 francs be paid to him for this purpose.
I leave according to my slender means, 6000 francs to the Bishop of Glasgow, and 3000 to the Bishop of Ross.
And I leave the gift of casualties and reserved seigneurial rights to my godson the son of Monsieur de Ruissieu.
I give 300 francs to Laurenz, and 300 to Suzanne; and I leave 10,000 francs among the four persons who have been m y sureties and to Varmy the solicitor.
I will that the money arising from the furniture which I have ordered to be sold in London shall go to defray the travelling expenses of my servants to France.
My coach I leave to carry my ladies, and the horses, which they can sell or do what they like with.
There remain about 300 crowns due to Bourgoyne for the wages of past years, which I desire may be paid him,.
I leave 2000 francs to Sir Andrew Melville, my steward.
I appoint my cousin the Duke of Guise (age 36), principal executor of my will; after him, the Archbishop of Glasgow, the Bishop of Ross, and Monsieur de Ruissieu, my chancellor.
I desire that Le Preau may without obstacle hold his two prebends.
I recommend Mary Page, my goddaughter, to my cousin, Madame de Guise, and beg her to take her into her service, and my aunt de Saint Pierre to get Mowbray some good situation or retain her in her service for the honour of God.
Done this day 7th February, 1587. Execution of Mary Queen of Scots.
On 07 Feb 1587 Mary Queen of Scots (age 44) was informed she was to be executed the following day. During the course of the night she wrote to her former brother-in-law Henry III King France (age 35) ...
To the most Christian king, my brother and old ally,.
Royal brother, having by God's will, for my sins I think, thrown myself into the power of the Queen my cousin, at whose hands I have suffered much for almost twenty years, I have finally been condemned to death by her and her Estates. I have asked for my papers, which they have taken away, in order that I might make my will, but I have been unable to recover anything of use to me, or even get leave either to make my will freely or to have my body conveyed after my death, as I would wish, to your kingdom where I had the honor to be queen, your sister and old ally.
Tonight, after dinner, I have been advised of my sentence: I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning. I have not had time to give you a full account of everything that has happened, but if you will listen to my doctor and my other unfortunate servants, you will learn the truth, and how, thanks be to God, I scorn death and vow that I meet it innocent of any crime, even if I were their subject. The Catholic faith and the assertion of my God-given right to the English crown are the two issues on which I am condemned, and yet I am not allowed to say that it is for the Catholic religion that I die, but for fear of interference with theirs. The proof of this is that they have taken away my chaplain, and although he is in the building, I have not been able to get permission for him to come and hear my confession and give me the Last Sacrament, while they have been most insistent that I receive the consolation and instruction of their minister, brought here for that purpose. The bearer of this letter and his companions, most of them your subjects, will testify to my conduct at my last hour. It remains for me to beg Your Most Christian Majesty, my brother-in-law and old ally, who have always protested your love for me, to give proof now of your goodness on all these points: firstly by charity, in paying my unfortunate servants the wages due them - this is a burden on my conscience that only you can relieve: further, by having prayers offered to God for a queen who has borne the title Most Christian, and who dies a Catholic, stripped of all her possessions. As for my son, I commend him to you in so far as he deserves, for I cannot answer for him. I have taken the liberty of sending you two precious stones, talismans against illness, trusting that you will enjoy good health and a long and happy life. Accept them from your loving sister-in-law, who, as she dies, bears witness of her warm feeling for you. Again I commend my servants to you. Give instructions, if it please you, that for my soul's sake part of what you owe me should be paid, and that for the sake of Jesus Christ, to whom I shall pray for you tomorrow as I die, I be left enough to found a memorial mass and give the customary alms.
Wednesday, at two in the morning.
Your most loving and most true sister.
Mary R.
08 Feb 1587. Robert Beale (age 46) was an eye-witness to the Execution of Mary Queen of Scots. Those indicated include 1 George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 59), 2 Henry Grey 6th Earl Kent (age 46), 3 Amyas Paulett. The drawing appears to show three events rather than a moment in time: her being led into the Hall, her being disrobed and being beheaded.
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".
08 Feb 1587. This watercolour was made for a Dutch magistrate who compiled an album of historical prints and drawings in 1613. Mary's clothes were burnt to prevent supporters keeping them as relics, and this scene is shown on the far left. The colour of her clothes being black and brown is consistent with the description in the Letter Books of Amias Paulet.
The Death of Mary Queen of Scots. 08 Feb 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.
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.
Letter of Robert Wingfield 08 Feb 1857. 08 Feb 1587. Letter from Robert Wynkfeilde to William Cecil, Lord Burghley, on the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Warrender Papers 168. 10 February 1587. The mannour of the execution of our soveraigne Lady Marie Queene of Scotts whoe was cruellie putt to death in England att Fothrengham Castle the 8 Febr. 1586.
It being certified the 6 of February last to the said Queene by the Earle of Shrewsbery and the Earle of Kent, and also by Sir Amyas Paulett and Sir Drue Drurye her governours, that shee seemed not terrified or dismayed in anie her outward gesturs or behaviour but rather with smilinge and pleasinge countenance and merie cheere, dis- gested and embraced the said admonitions, and prepared her (as shee said) to her unexpect[ed] execution, sayinge that her deathe should be noe lesse welcome unto her then if shee had lived and possessed the greatest kingdome one the earthe, and therfore becaus shee perceaved herselfe enabled by Gods spirit to dye christianlyke in the christian catholicke faithe, mean[ing] the faith professed in the Church of Rome; usinge these words withall, that that soule was to farr unworthie the fruicion of the joye of heavin whose presence (meaninge the bodie) would not in this wourld be contented to endure the stroke of an executioner for a moment : and, that spoken, wept bitterlie and became silent.
The said 8 day of February being come and the time and place appointed [for] the execution as aforesaid, the said Queene being of stature tall [and] corpulent, somewhat roundlie shouldred, her face fatt and broad, double chinned, hasell eyed and blacke haired,' wore a lace-edged headdress, an Agnus Dei about her neck, had a crucifix in her hand, and beads at her girdle with a golden cross at the end of them, and wore also a lawn veil. She was dressed in a black satin printed gown with a train and long sleeves to the ground.
Beneath she wore a kirtle of figured black satin, a petticoat bodice of crimson satin and skirt of erimson velvet. Her shoes were of Spanish leather with the rough side out, her garters, green silk, 'her nether stockings’ woollen, her upper stockings silk trimmed with silver.
Thus apparelled, and with cheerful demeanour, the Queen was 'caried and supported oute of her chamber into an entry next the greate hall by one of Sir Amyas Paulets cheefe gentlemen, Mr. Andrewes the heighe sherife going before.' She 'verie willinglie' proceeded to the place of her execution where she was met by the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, by her custodians, Paulet and Drury, 'and divers knyghts and gentlemen of accompt.' Here Melville, one of her servants, kneeling before her in grief and tears, exclaimed that he was the unhappiest of men to be the messenger of 'such unspeakable sorrowe and heavines as I shalbe when I shall report that my gracious Queene and Mistris is beheaded in England.' Tears drowned further speech, and his mistress 'lykewise pouringe out her dyinge teares,' answered him.
She exhorted him to be of good cheer, because she was nearing the end of her troubles in this world of vanities and sorrows ; and bade him declare how she died true to her religion and 'a true woman of Scotland and France.' Might God forgive them who thirsted for her death. She solemnly averred that she 'was ever willinge that Scotland and England should be united togeather,' and desired to be commended to her son. To the 'state and kingdom of Scotland' she had done nothing prejudicial. Then with tears she kissed 'good Melvin’ farewell, beseeching his prayers.
Thereafter she turned to the lords, to ask some requests of them. One was about a sum of money for her servant Curle ; another, that her servants might enjoy their legacies in peace. Sir Amyas Paulet assured her that he knew about the money and that she could put her mind at rest. Then she requested that her servants might attend her at her death, so that they might 'behold howe patientlie theire Queene and Mistris shall endure her execution and that therby they may be able to make relacioun when they come into theire cuntries howe I died a true constant catholicke in my religion.'
To this the Earl of Kent answered that her desire could not well be granted. It was feared that their behaviour would have a disturbing effect, and that they 'would putt some trumperouse superstitioun in practice,' as, for example, by dipping their handkerchiefs in her blood. The Queen replied that she would answer for them, that they would do none of these things. They, poor souls, would wish to bid their mistress farewell, and surely the Queen of England 'beinge a Maiden Queene will vouchsafe in regard of womanhood that I shall have some of my owen people about me at my deathe.' Seeing, however, that she could not easily obtain her request, 'of meere greefe' she burst into tears, saying that she was the cousin of the Queen, descended of the royal blood of England, 'a maried Queene of France, and anoynted Queene of Scotland.’
Whereupon, after consultation, it was decided at her carnest entreaty to let her have 'halfe a dozen of her best beloved men and weomen.' Of her men she chose Melville, her apothecary and her surgeon, and one other old man; of her women she chose ‘those 2 of her bed chamber.’
After this, being supported by Sir Amyas Paulet’s chief gentleman, and with Melville bearing her train, accompanied by the above lords, knights and gentlemen, preceded by the sheriff, she passed into the hall, and 'with an unapaled countenance, without anie terrour of the place the persons or the preparaciouns of her deathe, steps up to the scaffold.’
The Earl of Shrewsbury sat on her right, the Earl of Kent on her left, the two executioners stood opposite, and the knights, gentlemen and others stood around the rails of the scaffold. Then silence being made, Mr. Beale, clerk of the council, read the Queen’s commission, at the end of which the assembly cried, 'God save the Queen.' The Queen of Scots listened in silence with a careless mien as if the commission concerned her not at all, or as if it had been her pardon. Then Dr. Fletcher, dean of Peterborough, standing beyond the rail, began his exhortation, but she interrupted him, saying she was resolved to spend her blood in defence of the ‘ancient catholicke Romane religion.' He exhorted her to repent and be saved ; and then the two executioners knelt to ask her forgiveness.
Thereupon they began to unrobe her. She laid her crucifix upon the stool, and when one of the governors took the Agnus Dei from her neck, she seized it, saying she would give it to one of her women and that the executioner should be paid for it. During the whole course of the unrobing she maintained 'a kynd of gladnes and smiling,’ lent a helping hand, and made pleasantries about ‘such groomes to make her unready.’
At length when she was 'stripped of her apparell savinge her petticoat and kertle,' her women fell into 'such a mournfull and lamentable plight,' that she embraced and blessed them, exhorting them to pray for her and rejoice that she had come to the end of her troubles.
Then she turned to her menservants, who were standing on a bench near the scaffold, weeping, crossing themselves and praying in Latin. She likewise crossed them, bade them farewell and besought their prayers 'even to the last hower.’
That done, one of her women folded a Corpus Christi cloth cornerwise, kissed it, and with it bound her mistress’s head. Then the two women retired mournfully, and the Queen, kneeling on the cushion, recited, in Latin, the psalm In te Domine confido.
Again and again she entreated Mr. Dean to trouble her no further, because she was determined to die staunch to her own religion. When the Earls offered to pray for her, she thanked them, 'but to joyne in prayer with you my lords, who are not of one and the same religion with me, yt were a sinne and I will not doe yt.’
Then Mr. Dean was bidden again to pray, but the Queen 'furnished with her superstitious trumperie' began with tears and in a ‘loud voice and verie fastlie to pray in Lattin and never harkned to Mr. Deane.' At one time when 'by reason of over much weepinge and mourninge as yt seemed, shee began to slyd from the stoole’ she continued her prayers on her knees. When the Dean had finished she went on to pray for the Church, for her son, for the Queen of England, and for her enemies.
Thereafter, having kissed the crucifix and made her confession, she groped for the block, and quietly laid down her head, stretching out her arms and legs, and crying three or four times, In manus tuas Domine recommendo spiritum meu.
At last, one of the executioners held her 'slightlie with one of his hands,' while the other with two strokes of his axe severed her head 'savinge ane litle grisle.' When this had also been cut off, he held up her head, crying, 'God save the Queen.' Then the lawn dressing fell away, whereupon her head 'appeared as graye as if shee had bine 60 and tenne yeares old, her face beinge in a moment soe much altered from the forme which shee had when shee was alyve.' ... 'Her lipps stirred up and doune almost an quarter of an hower, after her head was cutt off.'
Then Mr. Dean said, 'Soe perishe all the queens enimies,’ and the Earl of Kent, standing beside the dead body, wished likewise.
Then one of the executioners, in pulling off her shoes, found her little dog hidden under her clothes. It 'could not be gotten furth but by force, and afterward would not depart from the dead corps but came and ley betwixe her head and shoulders, a thinge diligentlie noted.' The dog was carried away to be washed of the blood-stains. All things blood-marked were washed, except such as were buried1. The executioners were paid entirely in money, 'not havinge anie one thinge that belonged unto her.’
Afterwards the hall was cleared except for the Sheriff and his men, who carried the body into a 'greate chamber' to be embalmed by the surgeons.
'And thus I hope I have certified your honour of all circumstances as hapned by her, or anie other at her deathe, of which things manie might well have bine omitted as not worth the notinge, yet becaus your honour desyred to knowe all, I have certified all. Soe rests att your Honouris command and take my leave from this 10 February 1586.’
Copy, 7 pp. Vol. A, 192.
This is in substance the Narration of Richard Wingfield, printed in Trial of Mary Queen of Scots (A. F. Steuart), pp. 173-184. Various accounts of the Queen’s death, all more or less similar, are to be found in C.S.P., ix.; Historical MSS. Commission, 9th Report, Part 1, p- 867 ; Ellis, Original Letters, 2nd series, vol. iii., p. 113; Maxwell Scott, The Tragedy of Fotheringay, 249-265.
Calendar of State Papers of Spain Volume 4 1587 1603. 28 Feb 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 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.
Bodleian Library Ashmole MS830 F18. 08 Feb 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.
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.