The Tragedy of Fotheringay Founded on the journal of D. Bourgoing, physician to Mary Queen of Scots, and on unpublished ms. documents

"It appertaynes to ye duty we owe to our dearest mother that like honour should be done to her body, and like monument be extant to her as ourselves have already performed to ou...

On Sunday 25th September 1586 Mary Stuart reached the last stage of her weary pilgrimage. As she passed through the gloomy gateway of Fotheringay Castle the captive Queen bade f...

When the Queen heard six o'clock strike she called her women to her, reminding them that she had but two hours to live.[132] Then rising, she dressed herself with unusual care a...

The large room destined for the trial was situated, as we have said, in close proximity to Mary's apartments, and immediately over the great hall of the castle. According to Bou...

Although Bourgoing's Journal furnishes us, for the first time, with some details of the Queen's life during the days following the conclusion of the trial, it is provokingly sil...

While her cousin was thus bidding farewell to her best friends, and calmly preparing for death, Elizabeth was a prey to indecision, and, in spite of the entreaties of her minist...

Lord Buckhurst left Fotheringay on the 21st November, and the same day brought a fresh trial to the Queen,--one which his presence would probably have averted. Paulet, accompani...

return of his former friendliness for the Queen. "Madame," said he, "I would have greatly desired that another than I should announce to you such sad intelligence as that which...

On Thursday 22nd December Sir Amyas sent for both Melville and Bourgoing,--an unusual proceeding, especially as hitherto, since his return, Melville alone had taken and brought...

The warrant for the execution of the Queen of Scots was still unsigned, and Elizabeth remained a prey to indecision. Throughout the country every kind of possible and impossible...

For six long months the body of the dead Queen was to remain neglected and apparently forgotten within the walls of Fotheringay, and her attendants, in spite of their natural de...

"Ceux qui voudront jamais escrire de cette illustre Reine d'Ecosse en ont deux tres-amples sujets. L'un celui de sa vie y l'autre de sa mort, l'un y l'autre tres mal accompagnés...

The Queen passed an anxious and sleepless night in preparation for the morrow's attack. She commenced the day in prayer, in her oratory, imploring strength to defend her honour...

"On Tuesday the 7th of February several persons arrived, among whom it is supposed was the sheriff, who all dined with Sir Amyas. After dinner came the Comte de Kent, and last o...