It was not until the latter part of February 7, 1587, that Mary Stuart was officially informed of her execution the following morning at eight o'clock. She was refused the services of her Catholic priest, De Preau, but offered those of the Protestant Dean of Peterborough, which she declined. She was then left alone to spend her last evening with her by now depleted group of servants. Mary demanded an early supper and appeared serene amidst her servants' tears. She then proceeded to go through all her remaining possessions by distributing them to her servants and earmarking some to be sent to her French relatives. Having done so, she put pen to paper and drafted an elaborate will designed to provide for the welfare of those she was leaving behind. She then wrote a letter to her Chaplain De Preau in lieu of the confession she had been denied. Her second letter was to her brother-in-law, Henry III of France. She also composed a poem about her approaching death (see bottom of page). It was by then two o'clock in the morning and Mary simply lay on her bed fully dressed without attempting to sleep.

Between eight and nine in the morning she was led to the Great Hall of Fotheringhay. where she was eventually allowed to have some of her servants present after much pleading. Sir James Melville, her Secretary, Dr. Bourgoing, her physician, Jacques Gervais, her surgeon, Didier, her porter and two of her women, Elizabeth Curle and Jane Kennedy, were allowed to attend. She held a crucifix and prayer book in her hand and two rosaries hung down from her waist; round her neck was her pomander chain and an Agnus Dei.

Mary was led up the three steps to the stage and from there listened unperturbed to the commission for her execution. It wasn't until the Protestant Dean from Peterborough proposed to say her prayers according to Protestant rights that she expressed her disapproval. The Dean nevertheless proceeded while Mary, kneeling, read out loud from her Latin Prayer book. The executioner, as customary, then asked for her pardon to which she replied, "I forgive you with all my heart, for now I hope you shall make an end of all my troubles". She was then undressed, assisted by Jane Kennedy and Elizabeth Curle, and divested of her Agnus Dei and rosary. Mary was now stripped to her red petticoat with red satin bodice trimmed with lace and a pair of red sleeves; red, the colour of martyrdom in the Catholic Church.

After bidding her servants not to cry and to pray for her, Jane Kennedy bound her eyes with a white cloth embroidered in gold, chosen by Mary the night before. Mary now stood alone on the stage and positioned her own chin on the wooden execution block. "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit" were her last words before the first stroke of the axe.

The first blow missed the neck and cut into the back of the head. Mary was heard to whisper "Sweet Jesus". The second blow almost severed the head. The third blow completely cut through the remaining sinew.

As the executioner then picked up the head and held it up in the air to show the audience, the wig slipped off and the head rolled to the floor. Mary's hair was almost entirely gray from her long imprisonment.

Every relic was burned and every drop of blood washed away. Her little Skye terrier which had managed to hide under her skirts and would not leave his dead mistress's side was also washed but refused thereafter to be fed.

Mary's body was then subjected to further humiliations. Her heart and organs were buried deep within the castle of Fotheringhay, but the exact spot was never revealed. The body was then embalmed and incarcerated in a heavy lead coffin which remained unburied in the Castle until July30, 1587, where it was taken, in the dead of night for fear of public protest, to Peterborough Cathedral. Eventually her son James had her remains reinterred in Westminster Abbey when he succeeded to the English throne.

O my Lord and my God, I have trusted in Thee.

O my dear Jesus, now liberate me.

In shackle and chain, in torture and pain, I long for Thee.

In weakness and sighing, in kneeling and crying, I adore and implore

Thee to liberate me.

Mary Queen of Scots, Wednesday 8th February 1587