death, but submitted not the less willingly to her fate." She earnestly requested the assistance of a Catholic priest; but this favour, although granted to the worst of criminals, was cruelly denied to her. The Queen then wrote her will, and short and affectionate letters to her friends in France.—Amidst the tears and lamentations of her attendants, she distributed her little valuable among them, and desired them to keep them for her sake. This occupied the evening before the day appointed for her execution.
On the 8th February, 1587, the Queen still maintaining the same calm and undisturbed appearance that she had displayed at her trial was brought down to the great hall of the Castle of Fotheringay, where a scaffold was erected on which was placed a block and a chair, covered with black cloth. As she passed through the hall Sir Andrew Melville, the master of her household, was permitted to take a last leave of the mistress whom he had served long and faithfully. He burst into tears, loudly bewailing her fate and lamenting his own in being destined to carry such news to Scotland.
"Weep not, my good Melville," said the Queen "but rather rejoice, for thou shalt this day see Mary Stuart relieved from all her sorrows."
She obtained permission with some difficulty, that her maids should be permitted to accompany her to the scaffold.
