th; and prayed God, that
that princess might long prosper, and be employed in his service. The
earl of Kent, observing that in her devotions she made frequent use of
the crucifix, could not forbear reproving her for her attachment to that
Popish trumpery, as he termed it; and he exhorted her to have Christ in
her heart, not in her hand.[**] She replied, with presence of mind, that
it was difficult to hold such an object in her hand without feeling her
heart touched with some compunction.[***]

* MS. p 8, 9, 10, 11. Strype vol. iii. p. 385.

** MS. p. 15. Jebb, vol. ii. p 307, 191, 637.

*** Jebb, vol. ii. p. 307, 491, 637.

She now began, with the aid of her two women, to disrobe herself; and
the executioner also lent his hand to assist them. She smiled, and
said that she was not accustomed to undress herself before so large a
company, nor to be served by such valets. Her servants, seeing her in
this condition, ready to lay her head upon the block, burst into tears
and lamentations: she turned about to them; put her finger upon her
lips, as a sign of imposing silence upon them;[*] and having given them
her blessing, desired them to pray for her.

* Jebb, p. 307, 492.

One of her maids, whom she had appointed for that purpose, covered her
eyes with a handkerchief; she laid herself down without any sign of fear
or trepidation, and her head was severed from her body at two strokes
by the executioner. He instantly held it up to the spectators, streaming
with blood, and agitated with the convulsions of death: the dean of
Peterborough alone exclaimed, "So perish all Queen Elizabeth's enemies:"
the earl of Kent alone replied, "Amen:" the attention of all the other
spectators was fixed on the melancholy scene before them; and zeal and
flattery alike gave place to present pity and admiration of the expiring
princess.

Thus perished, in the forty-fifth year of her age, and nineteenth of
her captivity in England, Mary, queen of Scots; a woman of great
accomplishments both of body and mind, natural as well as acquired;
but unfortunate in her life, and during one period very unhappy in her
conduct. The beauties of her person and graces of her air combined to
make her the most amiable of women; and the charms of her address and
conversation aided the impression which her lovely figure made on
the hearts of all beholders. Ambitious and active in her temper, yet
inclined to cheerfulness and society; of a lof