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aforesaid full and sufficient discharge for ever。
〃Done and given in our house at Greenwich； the first day of February
（10th February New Style）； in the twenty…ninth year of our reign。〃
Mary listened to this reading with great calmness and great dignity；
then； when it was ended； making the sign of the cross
〃Welcome；〃 said she； 〃to all news which comes in the name of God！
Thanks； Lord； for that You deign to put an end to all the ills You
have seen me suffer for nineteen years and more。〃
〃Madam；〃 said the Earl of Kent； 〃have no ill…will towards us on
account of your death； it was necessary to the peace of the State and
the progress of the new religion。〃
〃So；〃 cried Mary with delight； 〃so I shall have the happiness of
dying for the faith of my fathers； thus God deigns to grant me the
glory of martyrdom。 Thanks； God；〃 added she； joining her hands with
less excitement but with more piety； 〃thanks that You have deigned to
destine for me such an end； of which I was not worthy。 That； O my
God； is indeed a proof of Your love； and an assurance that You will
receive me in the number of Your servants； for although this sentence
had been notified to me； I was afraid； from the manner in which they
have dealt with me for nineteen years； of not yet being so near as I
am to such a happy end； thinking that your queen would not dare to
lay a hand on me； who； by the grace of God； am a queen as she is； the
daughter of a queen as she is； crowned as she is； her near relative；
granddaughter of King Henry VII； and who has had the honour of being
Queen of France； of which I am still Dowager； and this fear was so
much the greater；〃 added she； laying her hand on a New Testament
which was near her on the little table； 〃that； I swear on this holy
book； I have never attempted； consented to； or even desired the death
of my sister； the Queen of England。〃
〃Madam；〃 replied the Earl of Kent； taking a step towards her and
pointing to the New Testament； 〃this book on which you have sworn is
not genuine； since it is the papist version； consequently； your oath
cannot be considered as any more genuine than the book on which it
has been taken。〃
〃My lord；〃 answered the queen； 〃what you say may befit you； but not
me； who well know that this book is the true and faithful version of
the word of the Lord； a version made by a very wise divine； a very
good man； and approved by the Church。〃
〃Madam；〃 the Earl of Kent returned； 〃your Grace stopped at what you
were taught in your youth； without inquiry as to whether it was good
or bad： it is not surprising； then； that you have remained in your
error； for want of having heard anyone who could make known the truth
to you； this is why； as your Grace has but a few hours longer to
remain in this world； and consequently has no time to lose； with your
permission we shall send for the Dean of Peterborough； the most
learned man there is on the subject of religion； who； with his word；
will prepare you for your salvation； which you risk to our great
grief and that of our august queen； by all the papistical follies；
abominations； and childish nonsense which keep Catholics away from
the holy word of God and the knowledge of the truth。〃
〃You mistake； my lord；〃 replied the queen gently； 〃if you have
believed that I have grown up careless in the faith of my fathers；
and without seriously occupying myself with a matter so important as
religion。 I have； on the contrary； spent my life with learned and
wise men who taught me what one must learn on this subject； and I
have sustained myself by reading their works； since the means of
hearing them has been taken from me。 Besides； never having doubted
in my lifetime； doubt is not likely to seize me in my death…hour。
And there is the Earl of Shrewsbury； here present； who will tell you
that； since my arrival in England； I have； for an entire Lent； of
which I repent； heard your wisest doctors； without their arguments
having made any impression on my mind。 It will be useless； then； my
lord；〃 she added； smiling； 〃to summon to one so hardened as I the
Dean of Peterborough； learned as he is。 The only thing I ask you in
exchange； my lord； and for which I shall be grateful to you beyond
expression； is that you will send me my almoner； whom you keep shut
up in this house； to console me and prepare me for death； or； in his
stead； another priest； be he who he may； if only a poor priest from a
poor village； I being no harder to please than God； and not asking
that he have knowledge； provided that he has faith。〃
〃It is with regret； madam；〃 replied the Earl of Kent； 〃that I find
myself obliged to refuse your Grace's； request； but it would be
contrary to our religion and our conscience； and we should be
culpable in doing it； this is why we again offer you the venerable
Dean of Peterborough； certain that your Grace will find more
consolation and content in him than in any bishop； priest； or vicar
of the Catholic faith。〃
〃Thank you； my lord；〃 said the queen again； 〃but I have nothing to…do
with him； and as I have a conscience free of the crime for which I am
about to die； with God's help； martyrdom will take the place of
confession for me。 And now； I will remind you； my lord； of what you
told me yourself； that I have but a few hours to live； and these few
hours； to profit me； should be passed in prayer and meditation； and
not in idle disputes。〃
With these words； she rose； and； bowing to the earls； Sir Robert
Beale； Amyas； and Drury； she indictated； by a gesture full of
dignity； that she wished to be alone and in peace； then； as they
prepared to go out
〃Apropos； my lords；〃 said she； 〃for what o'clock should I make ready
to die？〃
〃For eight o'clock to…morrow； madam；〃 answered the Earl of
Shrewsbury； stammering。
〃It is well；〃 said Mary； 〃but have you not some reply to make me；
from my sister Elizabeth； relative to a letter which I wrote to her
about a month ago？〃
〃And of what did this letter treat； if it please you； madam？ 〃asked
the Earl of Kent。
〃Of my burial and my funeral ceremony； my lord： I asked to be
interred in France； in the cathedral church of Rheims； near the late
queen my mother。〃
〃That may not be； madam；〃 replied the Earl of Kent； 〃but do not
trouble yourself as to all these details： the queen； my august
mistress； will provide for them as is suitable。 Has your grace
anything else to ask us？〃
〃I would also like to know；〃 said Mary； 〃if my servants will be
allowed to return； each to his own country； with the little that I
can give him； which will hardly be enough； in any case； for the long
service they have done me； and the long imprisonment they have borne
on my account。〃
〃We have no instructions on that head； madam；〃 the Earl of Kent said；
〃but we think that an order will be given for this as for the other
things； in accordance with your wishes。 Is this all that your Grace
has to say to us？〃