Defining Event: Execution
Mary was only informed of her impending execution on February seventh, which was the day before the event was to take place. She worked late into the night, writing her will to divide her possessions among her servants. She wrote her last letter that night, as well. It was to King Henry III of France, the brother of Mary's first husband, Francis II. When this was done, it is said, she lay awake until the morning. She was taken to Fotheringhay Castle's Great Hall at eight o' clock a.m.
When, in following tradition, the executioner requested that Mary forgive him, she did so, saying, "I forgive you with all my heart, for now, I hope, you shall make an end of all my troubles." Robert Wynkfielde, who was a witness of the execution, wrote that she appeared cheerful and smiling, despite the dismal situation.
Several of her servants were present; when her two female servants had helped her to remove her black dress, those present saw that, in a Catholic symbol for a martyr, her petticoats were of red cloth. After two swings of his axe, the executioner raised Mary's severed head; underneath its covering, which fell off, her hair was not the red of her youth, but gray. A second unexpected discovery was that of Mary's terrier hidden beneath her skirt. The dog would not be coaxed to leave the dead woman, but "could not be gotten forth but by force," said the aforementioned Wynkfielde.
Fifteen years later, after Mary's son, James, had ascended the throne of England, he had his mother's body removed from Peterborough Cathedral, where it was originally entombed, and moved to Westminster Abbey.
When, in following tradition, the executioner requested that Mary forgive him, she did so, saying, "I forgive you with all my heart, for now, I hope, you shall make an end of all my troubles." Robert Wynkfielde, who was a witness of the execution, wrote that she appeared cheerful and smiling, despite the dismal situation.
Several of her servants were present; when her two female servants had helped her to remove her black dress, those present saw that, in a Catholic symbol for a martyr, her petticoats were of red cloth. After two swings of his axe, the executioner raised Mary's severed head; underneath its covering, which fell off, her hair was not the red of her youth, but gray. A second unexpected discovery was that of Mary's terrier hidden beneath her skirt. The dog would not be coaxed to leave the dead woman, but "could not be gotten forth but by force," said the aforementioned Wynkfielde.
Fifteen years later, after Mary's son, James, had ascended the throne of England, he had his mother's body removed from Peterborough Cathedral, where it was originally entombed, and moved to Westminster Abbey.