MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.
From the Collection of Mrs. Fraser-Tytler, at Woodhouselee.

In the beginning of February 1587 Elizabeth was thirsting for the blood of the Queen of Scots. From the contemporary records of the time she would seem to have been getting neither rest nor sleep; and until the culminating act of the drama had been accomplished there was no rest for her. This act, which was to disgrace her memory for all time, was now to be un fait accompli. The following paper is the text of the royal commission to those who were intrusted with the execution of the Scottish Queen—the most discreditable commission which was ever given by a Sovereign to a subject. It is not too much to say that these men, who had the awful duty to perform compulsorily, must have had a heavy weight on their consciences for the remainder of their lives.

We reproduce the text of the commission by Elizabeth to the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Earl of Kent, and others, to proceed to the execution of the Queen of Scots, February 1587:—

“Elizabeth by the grace of God, etc., To our right trusty and well-beloved cousins, George, Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl Marischal of England; Henry, Earl of Kent; Henry, Earl of Derby, George, Earl of Cumberland; Henry, Earl of Pembroke, greeting:—Whereas the sentence given by you and others of our Council, nobility, and judges against the Queen of Scots, Mary, daughter and heir of James the Fifth, late King of Scots, commonly called the Queen of Scotland and Dowager of France, as to you is well known. All the states in our late Parliament assembled did not only deliberately, with great advice, allow and approve the sentence as just and honourable, but did also with all humbleness and earnestness, at sundry times require, solicit, and press us to proceed to the publishing of the same, and thereupon to direct such further execution against her person as they did adjudge her to have duly deserved, adding that the forbearing thereof was and would be a certain and undoubted danger, not only to our own life but to themselves, their posterity, and the public state of this realm, as well for the cause of the gospel and the true religion of Christ as for the peace of the realm. Whereupon we did, though the same was with some delay of time, publish the sentence by proclamation, and yet hitherto have forborne to give direction for the further satisfaction of the aforesaid request made by the states of Parliament whereby we understand by all sorts of our loving subjects, both nobility and council, and also of the wisest and best devoted of all other our subjects of inferior degrees, how greatly and deeply from the bottom of their hearts they are grieved and afflicted with daily, yea and hourly, fear of our life, and thereby consequently with a dreadful doubt and expectation of the ruin of this present godly and happy state of the realm, if we shall forbear the final execution as it is desired, and neglect their general and continual requests, prayers, counsels, and advices. And thereupon, contrary to our own natural disposition, being overcome with the evident weight of their counsels and the daily continuance of their intercessions, importing such a necessity as appears directly tending to the safety not only of ourselves but also of the weal of the realm. We have condescended to suffer justice to take place, and for the execution thereof upon the special trust, experience, and confidence which we have in your loyalty, faithfulness, and love, both towards our person and the safety thereof, and also to your native country, whereof you are noble and principal members. We do, will, and by warrant hereof do direct, and authorise you, as soon as you shall have time convenient, to repair to our castle of Fotheringay, where the Queen of Scots is in custody of our right trusty servant and counsellor Sir Amias Paulet, and there, taking her into your charge, to cause by your commandment execution to be done upon her person in the presence of yourselves and the said Sir Amias Paulet, and of such other officers of justice as you shall command to be there, to attend upon you for that purpose. And the same to be done in such manner and form, and such time and place, there and by such persons as to you (five, four, three of you) shall be thought convenient, notwithstanding any law, statute, or ordinance to the contrary. And this our Letters Patent, sealed with the Great Seal of England, shall be to you and every one of you, and to all who shall be present or shall be by you commanded to do anything appertaining to the aforesaid execution, a full, sufficient warrant and discharge for ever. And further, we are also pleased and contented, and by these presents we do, will, command, and authorise our Chancellor of England to deliver to each of you the duplicates of these Letters Patent, to be for all purposes duly made, dated, and sealed with our Great Seal of England as these presents are.

“Elizabeth R.”

The following letter was written by Queen Mary to her almoner de Prean the evening before her death, 7th February 1587:—

“I have striven this day for my religion and against receiving my last consolation from the heretics. You will hear from Bourgoyne and the others that at least I made protestation of my faith, in the which I will die. I require to have you to make my confession and to receive from you my sacrament. This has been cruelly refused to me, as well as permission to carry away my body and the power of leaving by will freely, or of writing anything, except it pass through their hands and by the good pleasure of their mistress. I must therefore, confessing grief for my sins in general, as I had intended to do to you in particular, imploring you in the name of God this night to watch for me, praying that my sins may be remitted, and to send me your absolution and pardon, if at any time I have offended you. I shall endeavour to see you, though in their presence as they have accorded to me my maître d'hôtel (Melville), and if it is permitted me, before them all on my knees I will ask your benediction. Advise me as to the most proper prayers for this night and for to-morrow morning. The time is short and I have no leisure to write, but I will recommend you with the rest (of her household) above all. Your benefice shall be assured to you, and I will recommend you to the King (of France). Advise me of all you can think of for my soul's help—by writing. I will send you a last little token.

Marie R.”

The final scene, the last act of the drama, will be found narrated in Bourgoyne's Journal, and need not be repeated here.