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itwasthussheenteredthegreathallwherethescaffoldwaserected。
Itwasaplatformtwelvefeetwide，raisedabouttwofeetfromthefloor，surroundedwithbarriersandcoveredwithblackserge，andonitwerealittlechair，acushiontokneelon，andablockalsocoveredinblack。Justas，havingmountedthesteps，shesetfootonthefatalboards，theexecutionercameforward，and；askingforgivenessforthedutyhewasabouttoperform，kneeled，hidingbehindhimhisaxe。Marysawit，however，andcried——
“Ah！IwouldratherhavebeenbeheadedintheFrenchway，withasword！……“
“Itisnotmyfault，madam，“saidtheexecutioner，“ifthislastwishofyourMajestycannotbefulfilled；but，nothavingbeeninstructedtobringasword，andhavingfoundthisaxehereonly，Iamobligedtouseit。Willthatpreventyourpardoningme，then？“
“Ipardonyou，myfriend，“saidMary，“andinproofofit，hereismyhandtokiss。“
Theexecutionerputhislipstothequeen’shand，roseandapproachedthechair。Marysatdown，andtheEarlsofKentandShrewsburystandingonherleft，thesheriffandhisofficersbeforeher，AmyasPauletbehind，andoutsidethebarrierthelords，knights，andgentlemen，numberingnearlytwohundredandfifty，RobertBealeforthesecondtimereadthewarrantforexecution，andashewasbeginningtheservantswhohadbeenfetchedcameintothehallandplacedthemselvesbehindthescaffold，themenmounteduponabenchputbackagainstthewall，andthewomenkneelinginfrontofit；andalittlespaniel，ofwhichthequeenwasveryfond，camequietly，asifhefearedtobedrivenaway，andlaydownnearhismistress。
Thequeenlistenedtothereadingofthewarrantwithoutseemingtopaymuchattention，asifithadconcernedsomeoneelse，andwithacountenanceascalmandevenasjoyousasifithadbeenapardonandnotasentenceofdeath；then，whenBealehadended，andhavingended，criedinaloudvoice，“GodsaveQueenElizabeth！“towhichnoonemadeanyresponse，Marysignedherselfwiththecross，and，risingwithoutanychangeofexpression，and，onthecontrary，lovelierthanever——
“Mylords，“saidshe，“Iamaqueen-bornsovereignprincess，andnotsubjecttolaw，——anearrelationoftheQueenofEngland，andherrightfulheir；foralongtimeIhavebeenaprisonerinthiscountry，Ihavesufferedheremuchtribulationandmanyevilsthatnoonehadtherighttoinflict，andnow，tocrownall，Iamabouttolosemylife。Well，mylords，bearwitnessthatIdieintheCatholicfaith，thankingGodforlettingmedieforHisholycause，andprotesting，to-dayaseveryday，inpublicasinprivate，thatI
haveneverplotted，consentedto，nordesiredthequeen’sdeath，noranyotherthingagainstherperson；butthat，onthecontrary，Ihavealwayslovedher，andhavealwaysofferedhergoodandreasonableconditionstoputanendtothetroublesofthekingdomanddelivermefrommycaptivity，withoutmyhavingeverbeenhonouredwithareplyfromher；andallthis，mylords，youwellknow。Finally，myenemieshaveattainedtheirend，whichwastoputmetodeath：
IdonotpardonthemlessforitthanIpardonallthosewhohaveattemptedanythingagainstme。Aftermy，death，theauthorsofitwillbeknown。ButIdiewithoutaccusinganyone，forfeartheLordshouldhearmeandavengeme。“
Uponthis，wheth
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