[155] "She laying her crucifix upon the stool, one of the executioners took from her neck the Agnus Dei, which she, laying hands of it, gave it to one of her women, and told the executioners that they should be answered in money for it."—See Tanner MSS., [Appendix], p. [254].
[156] "Then came one Bulle, the hangman of London."—Contemporary MSS.
[157] Ashmole MSS. 830, f. 13: "Ne cry point pour moi; ja promys pour vous."
[158] Chantelauze, p. 416.
[159] "And with joy rather than with sorrow helped 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 if she had longed to be gone."—See Ashmole MSS., [Appendix], p. [261].
[160] "The executioners had prepared cords to bind her, but she put them aside."—Vera relazione, Milan, 1587.
[161] "Then being ready to the block ... Mr. Doctor willed her to die in the true faith of Christ. Quoth she, 'I believe firmly to be saved by the Passion and Blood of Jesus Christ, and therein also I believe according to the faith of the ancient Catholic Church of Rome, and therefor I shed my blood.'"—Contemporary MSS.; see also Marie Stuart, by Kervyn de Lettenhove, ii. 377.
[162] "After the which stroke she spoke these words, 'Lord Jesus, receive my soul.'"—Contemporary MSS.
[163] "La plus part la tenoient innocente et, si l'execution eust été publique, il y eust eu rumeur bien grande, et elle eust été secourue et délivrée."—Les derniers propos de la Royne d'Escosse.
[164] "And after, the body lying there headless, bleeding, my Lord 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.'"—See Ashmole MSS., [Appendix], p. [263].