Tuesday, January 28, 2025

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, February 8, 1587: executioners fear her servants will preserve her blood.

In the Execution of Mary series:


A Reporte of the Manner of the Execution of the Sc. Q. Performed the viijth. of February, Anno 1586 [1587 N.S.] in the great hall of Fotheringhay with Relacion of Speeches uttered and Accions happening in the said Execution from the delivery of the said Sc. Q. to Mr. Thomas Androwes Esquire Sherife of the County of Northampton unto the end of the said Execucion.


First, the said Sc. Q. being caryed by two of Sir Amias Pauletts gentlemen, and the Sherife going before her, cam most willingly out of her chamber into an entery next the Hall, at which place the Earle of Shrewsbury and the Earle of Kente, commissioners for the execucion, with the two gouvernors of her person, and divers knightes and gentlemen did meete her, where they found one of the Sc. Q. servauntes, named Melviii, kneeling on his knees, who uttered these wordes with teares to the Q. of Sc. his mistris, ' Madam it wilbe the sorowfullest messuage that ever I caryed, when I shall report that my Queene and deare Mis' tris is dead.' Then the Qu. of Sc. shedding teares, aunswered him, ' You ought to rejoyce rather then weepe for that the end of Mary Stewards troubles is now come. Thou knowest Melvin that all this world is but vanity, and full of troubles and sorowes; cary this mesuage from me and tell my frendes that I die a true woman to my religion, and like a true Scottish woman, and a true French woman. But God forgive them that have long desired my ende; and he that is the true Judge of all secret thoughtes knoweth my mynde, how that ever it hath been my desire to have Scotlande and Englande united together. Comend me to my Sonne, and tell him that I have not donn any thinge that may prejudice his Kingdom of Scotland; and so, good Melvin, farewell;' and kissing him, she badd him pray for her.1

Then she turned her to the Lordes and told them that she had certayne requestes to make unto them. One was for a some of raony, which she said Sir Amias Paulett knewe of, to be paide to one Curie her servaunte; next, that all her poore servauntes might enjoy that quietly which by her Will and Testamente she had given unto them; and lastly that they might be all well intreated, and sent home safely and honestly into their contryes. 'And this I doe conjure you, my Lordes, to doe.'

Aunswere was made by Sir Amias Paulett, ' I doe well remember the mony your Grace speaketh of, and your Grace neede not to make any doubte of the not performaunce of your requestes, for I doe surely thincke they shalbe graunted.'

' I have,' said she, ' one other request to make unto you, my Lordes, that you will suflfer my poore servauntes to be present about me at my death, that they may reporte when they come into their countryes how I dyed a true woman to my religion.'

Then the Earle of Kente, one of the commissioners, aunswered, ' Madam it cannot welbe graunted, for that it is feared least some of them wold with speeches both trouble and greive your Grace and disquiett the company, of which we have had already some experience, or seeke to wipe their napkins in some of your bloode, which were not convenient.'

'My Lord,' said the Q. of Sc. ' I will give my word and promise for them that they shall not doe any such thinge as your Lordship hath named. Alas! poor sowles, yt wold doe them good to bidd me farewell. And I hope your Mistres, being a mayden Queene, in regard of womanhood, will suffer me to have some of my owne people aboute me at my death. And I know she hath not given you so straight a commission but that you may graunt me more then this, if I were a farr meaner woman then I am.' And then (seeming to be greeved) with some teares uttered thes wordes; 'You know that I am cosin to your Queene, and discended from the bloode of Henry the Seventh, a maryed Queene of Fraunce, and the anoynted Queene of Scotlande.'

Whereupon, after some consultacion, they graunted that she might have some of her servauntes accordinge to her Grace's request, and therefore desired her to make choice of halfe a dosen of her men and women: Who presently said, that of her men she wold have Melvin, her poticary, her surgeon, and one other old man beside; and of her women, those two that did use to lye in her chamber.



Source: Ellis, Henry. Original Letters, Illustrative of English History (1827). III.113-4.



1 The Earl o Kent and Mr. Beale relate this scene a little diiferently: they say, " At the stayre foot she pawsed to speake to Melvile in our hearinge, which was to this effecte : ' Melvile, as thou hast byn an honest servaunt unto me, so I pray thee to contynue to my sonne, and commend me unto him. I have nott impugned his Religion nor the Religion of others, butt wyshe him wele. And as I forgive all that have offended me in Scottland, so I would he should allso, and beseache God that he would send him his hollye spirytt and yllumynate him.' Melvill's aunswere was that he would so doe, and at that instant he would beseache God to assist him with his spirytt. Then shee demaunded to speake with her Priest which was denyed unto her, the rather for that she came with a superstityous payre of beades and a crucifix. She then desired to have her women to helpe her, and uppon her earnest request, and sayinge that when other Gentlewomen were executed shee had redd in Cronycles that they had women allowed unto them, yt was permytted that shee should have twoe named by her selfe, which were M. Curie, and Kennedie.


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