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of Christ； for an end to the persecution of Catholics； arid for the
happiness of her son's reign； then she said； in accents full of faith
and fervour； that she hoped to be saved by the merits of Jesus
Christ； at the foot of whose cross she was going to shed her blood。
At these words the Earl of Kent could no longer contain himself； and
without respect for the sanctity of the moment
〃Oh； madam；〃 said he； 〃put Jesus Christ in your heart； and reject
all this rubbish of popish deceptions。〃
But she； without listening； went on； praying the saints to intercede
with God for her； and kissing the crucifix； she cried
〃Lord！ Lord！ receive me in Thy arms out stretched on the cross； and
forgive me all my sins！〃
Thereupon；she being again seated in the chair； the Earl of Kent
asked her if she had any confession to make； to which she replied
that； not being guilty of anything； to confess would be to give
herself； the lie。
〃It is well；〃 the earl answered； 〃then； madam； prepare。〃
The queen rose； and as the executioner approached to assist her
disrobe
〃Allow me； my friend；〃 said she； I know how to do it better than you；
and am not accustomed to undress before so many spectators； nor to be
served
by such valets。〃
And then； calling her two women； she began to unpin her coiffure； and
as Jeanne Kennedy and Elspeth Curle； while performing this last
service for their mistress； could not help weeping bitterly
〃Do not weep；〃 she said to them in French； 〃for I have promised and
answered for you。〃
With these words； she made the sign of the cross upon the forehead of
each； kissed them； and recommended them to pray for her。
Then the queen began to undress； herself assisting； as she was wont
to do when preparing for bed； and taking the gold cross from her
neck； she wished to give it to Jeanne； saying to the executioner
〃My friend； I know that all I have upon me belongs to you； but this
is not in your way： let me bestow it； if you please； on this young
lady； and she will give you twice its value in money。〃
But the executioner； hardly allowing her to finish； snatched it from
her hands with
〃It is my right。〃
The queen was not moved much by this brutality； and went on taking
off her garments until she was simply in her petticoat。
Thus rid of all her garb； she again sat down； and Jeanne Kennedy
approaching her； took from her pocket the handkerchief of gold…
embroidered cambric which she had prepared the night before； and
bound her eyes with it； which the earls； lords； and gentlemen looked
upon with great surprise； it not being customary in England； and as
she thought that she was to be beheaded in the French waythat is to
say； seated in the chairshe held herself upright； motionless； and
with her neck stiffened to make it easier for the executioner； who；
for his part； not knowing how to proceed； was standing； without
striking； axe in hand： at last the man laid his hand on the queen's
head； and drawing her forward； made her fall on her knees： Mary then
understood what was required of her； and feeling for the block with
her hands； which were still holding her book of Hours and her
crucifix； she laid her neck on it； her hands joined beneath her chin；
that she might pray till the last moment： the executioner's assistant
drew them away； for fear they should be cut off with her head； and as
the queen was saying； 〃In manes teas； Domine；〃 the executioner raised
his axe； which was simply an axe far chopping wood； and struck the
first blow； which hit too high； and piercing the skull； made the
crucifix and the book fly from the condemned's hands by its violence；
but which did not sever the head。 However； stunned with the blow；
the queen made no movement； which gave the executioner time to
redouble it； but still the head did not fall； and a third stroke was
necessary to detach a shred of flesh which held it to the shoulders。
At last； when the head was quite severed； the executioner held it up
to show to the assembly； saying
〃God save Queen Elizabeth！〃
〃So perish all Her Majesty's enemies！〃 responded the Dean of
Peterborough。
〃Amen；〃 said the Earl of Kent； but he was the only one： no other
voice could respond； for all were choked with sobs。
At that moment the queen's headdress falling； disclosed her hair； cut
very short； and as white as if she had been aged seventy： as to her
face； it had so changed during her death…agony that no one would have
recognised it had he not known it was hers。 The spectators cried out
aloud at this sign； for； frightful to see； the eyes were open； and
the lids went on moving as if they would still pray； and this
muscular movement lasted for more than a quarter of an hour after the
head had been cut off。
The queen's servants had rushed upon the scaffold； picking up the
book of Hours and the crucifix as relics； and Jeanne Kennedy；
remembering the little dog who had come to his mistress； looked about
for him on all sides； seeking him and calling him； but she sought and
called in vain。 He had disappeared。
At that moment； as one of the executioners was untying the queen's
garters； which were of blue satin embroidered in silver； he saw the
poor little animal； which had hidden in her petticoat； and which he
was obliged to bring out by force； then； having escaped from his
hands； it took refuge between the queen's shoulders and her head；
which the executioner had laid down near the trunk。 Jeanne took him
then； in spite of his howls； and carried him away； covered with
blood； for everyone had just been ordered to leave the hall。
Bourgoin and Gervais stayed behind； entreating Sir Amyas Paulet to
let them take the queen's heart； that they might carry it to France；
as they had promised her； but they were harshly refused and pushed
out of the hall； of which all the doors were closed； and there there
remained only the executioner and the corpse。
Brantome relates that something infamous took place there！
CHAPTER X
Two hours after the execution； the body and the head were taken into
the same hall in which Mary Stuart had appeared before the
commissioners； set down on a table round which the judges had sat；
and covered over with a black serge cloth； and there remained till
three o'clock in the afternoon； when Waters the doctor from Stamford
and the surgeon from Fotheringay village came to open and embalm
theman operation which they carried out under the eyes of Amyas
Paulet and his soldiers； without any respect for the rank and sex of
the poor corpse； which was thus exposed to the view of anyone who
wanted to see it： it is true that this indignity did not fulfil its
proposed aim； for a rumour spread about that the queen had swollen
limbs and was dropsical； while； on the contrary； there was not one of
the spectators but was obliged to confess that he had never seen the
body of a young girl in the bloom of health purer