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pretty ways of Jean's would have deceived them。 The constancy of
behaviour which is vouched for； not only by the memorialist but by other
writers； stayed with her until the axe fell。
％ III
‘‘She was but a woman and a bairn； being the age of twenty…one
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years；'' says the Memorial。 But； ‘‘in the whole way； as she went to the
place of execution； she behaved herself so cheerfully as if she had been
going to her wedding； and not to her death。 When she came to the
scaffold； and was carried up upon it； she looked up to ‘‘the Maiden'' with
two longsome looks； for she had never seen it before。''
The minister…memorialist； who attended her on the scaffold； says that
all who saw Jean would bear record with himself that her countenance
alone would have aroused emotion； even if she had never spoken a word。
‘‘For there appeared such majesty in her countenance and visage； and such
a heavenly courage in her gesture； that many said； ‘That woman is
ravished by a higher spirit than a man or woman's！' ''
As for the Declaration and Confession which； according to custom；
Jean made from the four corners of the scaffold； the memorialist does not
pretend to give it verbatim。 It was； he says； almost in a form of words；
and he gives the sum of it thus：
The occasion of my coming here is to show that I am； and have been；
a great sinner； and hath offended the Lord's Majesty； especially； of the
cruel murdering of mine own husband； which； albeit I did not with mine
own hands； for I never laid mine hands upon him all the time that he was
murdering； yet I was the deviser of it； and so the committer。 But my God
hath been always merciful to me； and hath given me repentance for my
sins； and I hope for mercy and grace at his Majesty's hands； for his dear
son Jesus Christ's sake。 And the Lord hath brought me hither to be an
example to you； that you may not fall into the like sin as I have done。
And I pray God； for his mercy； to keep all his faithful people from falling
into the like inconvenient as I have done！ And therefore I desire you all
to pray to God for me； that he would be merciful to me！
One wonders just how much of Jean's own words the minister…
memorialist got into this； his sum of her confession。 Her speech would
be coloured inevitably by the phrasing she had caught from her spiritual
advisers； and the sum of it would almost unavoidably have something of
the memorialist's own fashion of thought。 I would give a good deal to
know if Jean did actually refer to the Almighty as ‘‘the Lord's Majesty；''
and hope for ‘‘grace at his Majesty's hands。'' I do not think I am being
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oversubtle when I fancy that； if Jean did use those words； I see an element
of confusion in her scaffold confessionthe trembling confusion
remaining from a lost hope。 As a Scot； I have no recollection of ever
hearing the Almighty referred to as ‘‘the Lord's Majesty'' or as ‘‘his
Majesty。'' It does not ring naturally to my ear。 Nor； at the long distance
from which I recollect reading works of early Scottish divines； can I think
of these forms being used in such a context。 I may beI very probably
amall wrong； but I have a feeling that up to the last Jean Livingstone
believed royal clemency would be shown to her； and that this belief
appears in the use of these unwonted phrases。
However that may be； Jean's conduct seems to have been heroic and
unfaltering。 She prayed； and one of her relations or friends brought ‘‘a
clean cloath'' to tie over her eyes。 Jean herself had prepared for this
operation； for she took a pin out of her mouth and gave it into the friend's
hand to help the fastening。 The minister…memorialist； having taken
farewell of her for the last time； could not bear the prospect of what was
about to happen。 He descended from the scaffold and went away。 ‘‘But
she；'' he says；
as a constant saint of God； humbled herself on her knees； and offered
her neck to the axe； laying her neck； sweetly and graciously； in the place
appointed； moving to and fro； till she got a rest for her neck to lay in。
When her head was now made fast to ‘‘the Maiden'' the executioner came
behind her and pulled out her feet； that her neck might be stretched out
longer； and so made more meet for the stroke of the axe； but she； as it was
reported to me by him who saw it and held her by the hands at this time；
drew her legs twice to her again； labouring to sit on her knees； till she
should give up her spirit to the Lord！ During this time； which was long；
for the axe was but slowly loosed； and fell not down hastily； after laying of
her head； her tongue was not idle； but she continued crying to the Lord；
and uttered with a loud voice those her wonted words； ‘‘Lord Jesus；
receive my spirit！ O Lamb of God； that taketh away the sins of the world；
have mercy upon me！ Into thy hand； Lord； I commend my soul！''
When she came to the middle of this last sentence； and had said； ‘‘Into thy
hand； Lord；'' at the pronouncing of the word ‘‘Lord'' the axe fell； which
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was diligently marked by one of her friends； who still held her by the hand；
and reported this to me。
％ IV
On the 26th of June； 1604； Robert Weir； ‘‘sumtyme servande to the
Laird of Dynniepace；'' was brought to knowledge of an assize。 He was
‘‘Dilaitit of airt and pairt of the crewall Murthour of umqle Johnne
Kincaid of Wariestoune； committit the first of Julij； 1600 yeiris。''
Verdict。 The Assyse； all in ane voce； be the mouth of the said
Thomas Galloway； chanceller； chosen be thame； ffand； pronouncet and
declairit the said Robert Weir to be ffylit； culpable and convict of the
crymes above spec