“Friday, 3rd February.—Melville asked to speak to Paulet, but was refused. Paulet said if he came on the part of the Queen, he could not speak to him, being separated. If he came on his own account, he could tell the porter. He also refused to allow him to write, for the same reason. Upon his wishing to know if he had offended his mistress or Paulet, or why they kept him apart, might he have his letters delivered to him, or might he be allowed to return to Her Majesty, or go back to his own country. It would be easier to go to the kitchen to communicate with the Queen's women by the window of the hall, where he might also see the Queen. He wished also to be better lodged, being one of two in one chamber. He was answered that he had offended no one; he would have his letters in due time, and they would see about his lodging; for the rest, nothing could be changed.
“Saturday, 4th February 1587.—Her Majesty sent Bourgoyne to say she was ill, and to beg Paulet to allow him to go out and gather herbs in some of the adjoining gardens. Paulet said she would get everything she wished if she put it in writing; and being pressed by Bourgoyne to allow him to go, said he could not answer to this, but must communicate with Drury, and on Monday he would have his reply. Paulet being pressed not to delay for fear Her Majesty might get seriously ill, and it was necessary that the remedy should be given her to-morrow. Immediately after Bourgoyne left, Paulet sent to say he could go if he wished, although he thought it was imprudent. Bourgoyne and the apothecary went to gather the herbs, and the Queen began her cure next day.
“Monday, 6th February.—The Dean of Peterborough and some others dined with Paulet. After dinner, Beale arrived alone, consulted with Paulet, and then returned to the village.
“Tuesday, 7th February.—Several arrived, amongst whom was the Sheriff, as we thought; after dinner the Earls of Kent and Shrewsbury, at whose coming we were greatly astonished and in great fear, having for three days imagined all kinds of things as to Her Majesty's end, fearing the blow was certain. They sent asking an audience of her. She answered that she was in bed, but if they were much pressed she would get up if they gave her a little time. After hearing that it was of great importance, she prepared to receive them in her chamber, at the foot of her bed, namely, the two earls, with Beale, Paulet, and Drury (Shrewsbury with head uncovered), together with the others, who did not uncover all the time they spoke to her. Shrewsbury began to say that Elizabeth had sent them to tell her that after having acted honourably in her affairs of which she was accused, and found guilty and therefore condemned, he had been sent by the Queen in order that she might hear her sentence read. He, Kent, and Beale had been commissioned to put it into execution. Thereupon Beale commenced to read a writing on parchment with the Great Seal of England and yellow wax hanging therefrom, in which Her Majesty was named “Marie Stuart, daughter of James V., formerly called Queen of Scotland and Dowager of France,” etc. This being read, Her Majesty firmly, and without emotion, answered that she thanked them for news so welcome; that they did her a great benefit in retiring her from this world, with which she was quite content because of the misery she saw in it, being in continual affliction, and of no use or profit to anyone. She had long expected this, and had waited for it from day to day for eighteen years. She was Queen born and Queen anointed, near relation to the Queen of England, granddaughter of Henry VII., and had had the honour to be Queen of France. Throughout her life she had only had misfortune, and she was very glad that it had pleased God, by their means, to take her away from so many troubles; she was ready and willing to shed her blood in the cause of God, her Saviour, her Creator, as also the Catholic Church, for the maintenance of which she had always done what was possible; loving the Queen her good sister and the island as dearly as herself, as she had often shown, having offered in every way to take order, so that everything should come to a good issue and be arranged peacefully. She had always been rejected, thrust back—held prisoner without having merited it, having come of her own free will into the country in hope of succour. With the Queen she was in full agreement, and might have arranged everything so that each would have been content if she had been allowed an interview. And at last Her Majesty swore on the Bible, which she had near her, that she had neither sought nor attempted the death of the Queen nor of any other person. She was told by Shrewsbury and Kent that this Bible was the version of the Pope, and therefore it did not count. She was offered the Dean of Peterborough for her consolation, by whom she could learn what was the true religion, for her salvation. They said she had always remained in what they taught her in her youth, and that she had continued in that, because no one had led her to know the truth; and now it was time, when she had but a few hours to remain in this world, that she should recognise the true religion, and remain no longer in these follies of popery and abomination; that they had the true word of God; that she could make comparison when she had spoken with the minister—she could choose afterwards; that they spoke in a good conscience, desiring that she should be right at her death, and be converted to God. Her Majesty said she had been a long time instructed and well versed in her religion; she knew well what she ought to know for her salvation and conscience; she had not only read and heard the wisest men of the Catholic religion, but also those of the Protestant; she had communicated with them and heard them preach, but had heard nothing which could in the least turn her from her first faith; that having come into this country to the dwelling of Lord Shrewsbury, to please everyone and show that she only acted for her conscience, she had heard the ablest of their preachers for a whole Lent. At last she gave it up, which Lord Shrewsbury confirmed, asking her to continue. She found no edification; having lived till now in the true religion, it was not the time to change. Now she must remain firm and constant, as she intended to do; and rather than fail she would lose ten thousand lives, if she had them, shed her blood, and endure the tortures which they could inflict. Therefore, in order to console her, would they let her see her priest, to prepare her for death: it was all she wished for. They told her that could not be; it was against their conscience, which would accuse them if they did so, knowing that it was against God and their religion; that, as much as possible, they should hinder and take away such abominations, which offended God and their consciences; but she would be allowed to see a minister. Her Majesty said she would do nothing of the kind, and would have nothing to do with him; she wished neither to see nor hear him, and they need not trouble themselves any more trying to persuade her, for she saw they wished her to lose both body and soul. She hoped God would have mercy on her. She was already prepared, and He who knew her heart would pardon her. She was astonished that at the end they denied those things which the Queen had granted her; they had taken her priest, and when he became more necessary they denied him to her, a thing that was very cruel. It was told her that they did not know who had granted her a priest, but it would be a burden on their conscience if they allowed him to come to her. And intermingled with much conversation, it was told her as to her condemnation that it was found she could not live without danger to the life of the Queen and of religion, and that of all those who were occupied with her there was not one who could show the contrary. She complaining of her son, they said he had done his duty, and she must die in charity. She said she pardoned everybody and accused nobody, but in God's cause she could follow the example of David: pray God to confound and punish his enemies, and pardon her sins. At last, being pressed to see the minister, she asked when she must die; the answer was, to-morrow, about eight o'clock in the morning. She again asked for her priest, and said she could not make her Will, not having received her papers, for which she had written, and made Paulet write that there was nothing which could be of any use to Elizabeth. She wanted to arrange with her treasurer, and not to disappoint her other servants. They told her that Wade, who had them, was in France. Then Her Majesty asked about her burial. They told her she could not be buried in France. As to her servants, they had no orders, but they saw nothing that would hinder them from doing as she desired, and have their gifts. She asked where her servants were, and what had become of Nau. They said they did not know. She asked if she was to die, and he be saved. They said they did not know, but he had not escaped. Her Majesty said she would die for the life of him who accused her and caused her death to save himself; then she was told she was no longer in the hands of Paulet, but that the earls, from now, would give her in charge to him, to deliver her up when they came.
“Then the servants of Her Majesty, crying out in tears, said the time was too short to arrange her affairs—one night was not enough; she would leave her servants destitute of all means, and to have pity upon them; that it seemed by their commission they had power to make the execution when they would—would it please them to defer it for a little time? The answer was that it could not be so. Her Majesty sent for her servants after supper, gave them a lecture on charity between themselves, and took leave of them in a long speech, giving them pardon for all, begged of them to pray God for her, admonished each in particular, requesting them to live in friendship among themselves, and to give over all past enmity and ill-will, showing how much reason, wisdom, and constancy she had. Then she parted her clothes among them, to each something, as conveniently as she could. In the night, after having slept some hours, she wrote her last Will, as fully as she could, and for the little time that she had gave orders for her movables, for the journey of her servants, and distributed to each some money, according to her will.
“In the morning, she admonished anew her servants, and then remained in prayer until the Sheriff arrived about nine o'clock, who led her away without allowing any of her servants to follow her. At the foot of the steps she found Melville, who took leave of her kneeling, who showed how difficult such an adieu was to support, and grieved that he must see such a spectacle after being so long separated from her. Her Majesty had asked the day before that Paulet would allow Melville to come before her death. At her earnest request they allowed Melville, Bourgoyne, Jervis, Gourgon, Didier, Jane Kennedy, and Elspeth Curle to be present, at which, by the witness of all, she showed her great and royal courage, her constancy, above all her firmness to her religion and piety. After having spoken some words to those of whom she had spoken the day before to the lords, Her Majesty refused flatly to hear the minister, who insisted. She protested more zealously than ever, prayed to God apart in Latin, while the Dean did so according to his religion. After a few words Her Majesty recommended her servants to the Lords, and then gave them her benediction, prayed anew, moving everyone to pity, until, standing up, she made her two maids take off her veil, her mantle with train, and her stomacher, begging of them not to weep. Then anew she knelt down, holding her hands to heaven, holding the crucifix of wood which she had carried from her chamber, and did not release it until the end; made her eyes be bandaged by her maids, and without any other bands raised her head and extended her neck, which she kept quite rigid, and praying, waited the blow without any movement. As long as she could speak she repeated with a loud voice the words, 'In manus tuus domine commendo' ('Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit'), and immediately her spirit passed away, and the Queen of Scots was delivered from all her cares.”
Bourgoyne adds nothing more. There can be no doubt that the cruel and inhuman conduct of Elizabeth, Walsingham, and Paulet, of which he had been so long an eye-witness, had fairly overwhelmed him with grief, and the last tragic scene had prevented him adding another word. This Journal can never be disregarded as a great factor in the consideration of Mary's unfortunate career, and particularly regarding her relations with Elizabeth and her position in the Babington Conspiracy.
Conclusion
It is difficult to read this Journal without emotion, more particularly when we think that the Royal victim had committed no crime and was absolutely innocent of any plot affecting the life of the Queen of England. After the kidnapping outrage her execution was clearly decided upon in the mind of Elizabeth, and it would have been better to have had the execution then than to have tormented Mary for another six months. No sooner was this outrage completed than the first step towards the death of Mary was taken, under date 13th September, as recorded by Bourgoyne, when her personal servants, part of her household, were separated from her by force, and they never saw her again. On the 9th October following the remainder were separated from her in the same offensive way, and only her four maids of honour were left to attend her.