It would change forever the ancient tradition that royalty was untouchable. The beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots would be the first legal execution of an anointed European monarch. Even spouses of kings were not immune, as evidenced earlier in the century when two of Henry VIII's six wives lost their heads.īut this time would be different. Royalty had been killed before, boldly knocked off thrones or quietly dispatched. This was to be an unprecedented execution. The end of a tumultuous life was approaching rapidly on this cold February morning. The warrant for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scotland, was read aloud, signed by her cousin, England's Queen Elizabeth I. Her eyes met the hooded axeman dressed entirely in black, the instrument of his trade lying on the floor nearby. More than 100 people were riveted by the unfolding spectacle. Looking about the Great Hall of Fotheringhay Castle, she saw the crowd gathered to witness her demise. Reaching the platform, the 44-year-old queen was directed to sit in a chair. "This is the last trouble I shall ever give you." "I thank you, sir," she said, according to an historical account of the day. The man who for so long had been her jailer offered his hand to assist her ascent. Her once magnificent looks had faded with age and years of imprisonment, but she still radiated royal dignity. Eyes straight ahead, back rigid and head high, she paused at the foot of the steps leading to the scaffold. The doomed queen approached the black-draped stage on which she was scheduled to die.
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