mary stuart-第49章
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necessary; should she refuse to come willingly; or should her
servants want to defend her; but it is untrue that the two barons
entered her room; as some have said。 They only set foot there once;
on the occasion which we have related; when they came to apprise her
of her sentence。
They waited some minutes; nevertheless; as the queen had begged them;
then; about eight o'clock; they knocked again; accompanied by the
guards; but to their great surprise the door was opened immediately;
and they found Mary on her knees in prayer。 Upon this; Sir Thomas
Andrew; who was at the time sheriff of the county of Nottingham;
entered alone; a white wand in his hand; and as everyone stayed on
their knees praying; he crossed the room with a slow step and stood
behind the queen: he waited a moment there; and as Mary Stuart did
not seem to see him
〃Madam;〃 said he; 〃the earls have sent me to you。〃
At these words the queen turned round; and at once rising in the
middle of her prayer; 〃Let us go;〃 she replied; and she made ready to
follow him; then Bourgoin; taking the cross of black wood with an
ivory Christ which was over the altar; said
〃Madam; would you not like to take this little cross?〃
〃Thank you for having reminded me;〃 Mary answered; 〃I had intended
to; but I forgot〃。 Then; giving it to Annibal Stewart; her footman;
that he might present it when she should ask for it; she began to
move to the door; and on account of the great pain in her limbs;
leaning on Bourgoin; who; as they drew near; suddenly let her go;
saying
〃Madam; your Majesty knows if we love you; and all; such as we are;
are ready to obey you; should you command us to die for you; but I;
I have not the strength to lead you farther; besides; it is not
becoming that we; who should be defending you to the last drop of our
blood; should seem to be betraying you in giving you thus into the
hands of these infamous English。〃
〃You are right; Bourgoin;〃 said the queen; 〃moreover; my death would
be a sad sight for you; which I ought to spare your age and your
friendship。 Mr。 Sheriff;〃 added she; 〃call someone to support me;
for you see that I cannot walk。〃
The sheriff bowed; and signed to two guards whom he had kept hidden
behind the door to lend him assistance in case the queen should
resist; to approach and support her; which they at once did; and Mary
Stuart went on her way; preceded and followed by her servants weeping
and wringing their hands。 But at the second door other guards
stopped them; telling them they must go no farther。 They all cried
out against such a prohibition: they said that for the nineteen years
they had been shut up with the queen they had always accompanied her
wherever she went; that it was frightful to deprive their mistress of
their services at the last moment; and that such an order had
doubtless been given because they wanted to practise some shocking
cruelty on her; of which they desired no witnesses。 Bourgoin; who
was at their head; seeing that he could obtain nothing by threats or
entreaties; asked to speak with the earls; but this claim was not
allowed either; and as the servants wanted to pass by force; the
soldiers repulsed them with blows of their arquebuses; then; raising
her voice
〃It is wrong of you to prevent my servants following me;〃 said the
queen; 〃and I begin to think; like them; that you have some ill
designs upon me beyond my death。〃
The sheriff replied; 〃Madam; four of your servants are chosen to
follow you; and no more; when you have come down; they will be
fetched; and will rejoin you。〃
〃What!〃 said the queen; 〃the four chosen persons cannot even follow
me now?〃
〃The order is thus given by the earls;〃 answered the sheriff; 〃and;
to my great regret; madam; I can do nothing。〃
Then the queen turned to them; and taking the cross from Annibal
Stewart; and in her other hand her book of Hours and her
handkerchief; 〃My children;〃 said she; 〃this is one more grief to add
to our other griefs; let us bear it like Christians; and offer this
fresh sacrifice to God。〃
At these words sobs and cries burst forth on all sides: the unhappy
servants fell on their knees; and while some rolled on the ground;
tearing their hair; others kissed her hands; her knees; and the hem
of her gown; begging her forgiveness for every possible fault;
calling her their mother and bidding her farewell。 Finding; no
doubt; that this scene was lasting too long; the sheriff made a sign;
and the soldiers pushed the men and women back into the room and shut
the door on them; still; fast as was the door; the queen none the
less heard their cries and lamentations; which seemed; in spite of
the guards; as if they would accompany her to the scaffold。
At the stair…head; the queen found Andrew Melville awaiting her: he
was the Master of her Household; who had been secluded from her for
some time; and who was at last permitted to see her once more to say
farewell。 The queen; hastening her steps; approached him; and
kneeling down to receive his blessing; which he gave her; weeping
〃Melville;〃 said she; without rising; and addressing him as 〃thou〃
for the first time; 〃as thou hast been an honest servant to me; be
the same to my son: seek him out directly after my death; and tell
him of it in every detail; tell him that I wish him well; and that I
beseech God to send him His Holy Spirit。〃
〃Madam;〃 replied Melville; 〃this is certainly the saddest message
with which a man can be charged: no matter; I shall faithfully fulfil
it; I swear to you。〃
〃What sayest thou; Melville?〃 responded the queen; rising; 〃and what
better news canst thou bear; on the contrary; than that I am
delivered from all my ills? Tell him that he should rejoice; since
the sufferings of Mary Stuart are at an end; tell him that I die a
Catholic; constant in my religion; faithful to Scotland and France;
and that I forgive those who put me to death。 Tell him that I have
always desired the union of England and Scotland; tell him; finally;
that I have done nothing injurious to his kingdom; to his honour; or
to his rights。 And thus; good Melville; till we meet again in
heaven。〃
Then; leaning on the old man; whose face was bathed in tears; she
descended the staircase; at the foot of which she found the two
earls; Sir Henry Talbot; Lord Shrewsbury's son; Amyas Paulet; Drue
Drury; Robert Beale; and many gentlemen of the neighbourhood;: the
queen; advancing towards them without pride; but without humility;
complained that her servants had been refused permission to follow
her; and asked that it should be granted。 The lords conferred
together; and a moment after the Earl of Kent inquired which ones she
desired to have; saying she might be allowed six。 So the queen chose
from among the men Bourgoin; Gordon; Gervais; and Didier; and from
the women Jeanne Kennedy and Elspeth Curle; the ones she preferred to
all; though the latter was sister to the secretary who had betrayed
her。 But here arose a fresh difficulty; the earls saying that this
permission did not extend to women; women not being used to be
present at such sights; and when they were; usually upsetting
everyone with cries and lamentations; and; as soon as the
decapitation was over; rushing to the scaffold to staunch the blood
with their handkerchiefsa most unseemly proceeding。
〃My lords;〃 then said the queen; 〃I answer and promise for my
servants; that they will not do any of the things your honours fear。
Alas! poor people! they would be very glad to bid me farewell; and I
hope that your mistress; being a maiden queen; and accordingly
sensitive for the honour of women; has not given you such strict
orders that you are unable to grant me the little I ask; so much the
more;〃 added she in a profoundly mournful tone; 〃that my rank should
be taken into consideration; for indeed I am your queen's cousin;
granddaughter of H