beforethetablewasclearedofanything，shepouredoutacupofwine，roseanddranktotheirhealth，askingthemiftheywouldnotdrinktohersalvation。Thenshehadaglassgiventoeachone：allkneeleddown，andall，saystheaccountfromwhichweborrowthesedetails，drank，minglingtheirtearswiththewine，andaskingpardonofthequeenforanywrongstheyhaddoneher。Thequeengranteditheartily，andaskedthemtodoasmuchforher，andtoforgetherimpatientways，whichshebeggedthemtoputdowntoherimprisonment。Then，havinggiventhemalongdiscourse，inwhichsheexplainedtothemtheirdutiestoGod，andexhortedthemtopersevereintheCatholicfaith，shebeggedthem，afterherdeath，tolivetogetherinpeaceandcharity，forgettingallthepettyquarrelsanddisputeswhichtheyhadhadamongoneanotherinthepast。
Thisspeechended，thequeenrosefromtable，anddesiredtogointoherwardrobe-room，toseetheclothesandjewelsshewishedtodisposeof；butBourgoinobservedthatitwouldbebettertohavealltheseseparateobjectsbroughtintoherchamber；thattherewouldbeadoubleadvantageinthis，shewouldbelesstiredforonething，andtheEnglishwouldnotseethemforanother。Thislastreasondecidedher，andwhiletheservantsweresupping，shehadbroughtintoherante-room，firstofall，allherrobes，andtooktheinventoryfromherwardrobeattendant，andbegantowriteinthemarginbesideeachitemthenameofthepersonitwastobegivento。
Directly，andasfastasshedidit，thatpersontowhomitwasgiventookitandputitaside。Asforthethingswhichweretoopersonaltohertobethusbestowed，sheorderedthattheyshouldbesold，andthatthepurchase-moneyshouldbeusedforherservants’travellingexpenses，whentheyreturnedtotheirowncountries，wellknowinghowgreatthecostwouldbeandthatnoonewouldhavesufficientmeans。
Thismemorandumfinished，shesignedit，andgaveitasadischargetoherwardrobeattendant。
Then，thatdone，shewentintoherroom，wherehadbeenbroughtherrings，herjewels，andhermostvaluablebelongings；inspectedthemall，oneaftertheother，downtotheveryleast；anddistributedthemasshehaddoneherrobes，sothat，presentorabsent，everyonehadsomething。Thenshefurthermoregave，tohermostfaithfulpeople，thejewelssheintendedforthekingandqueenofFrance，forthekingherson，forthequeen-mother，forMessieursdeGuiseanddeLorraine，withoutforgettinginthisdistributionanyprinceorprincessamongherrelatives。Shedesired，besides，thateachshouldkeepthethingstheninhiscare，givingherlinentotheyoungladywholookedafterit，hersilkembroideriestoherwhotookchargeofthem，hersilverplatetoherbutler，andsoonwiththerest。
Then，astheywereaskingherforadischarge，“Itisuseless，“saidshe；“youoweanaccounttomeonly，andto-morrow，therefore，youwillnolongeroweittoanyone“；but，astheypointedoutthatthekinghersoncouldclaimfromthem，“Youareright，“saidshe；andshegavethemwhattheyasked。
Thatdone，andhavingnohopeleftofbeingvisitedbyherconfessor，shewrotehimthisletter：
“Ihavebeentormentedallthisdayonaccountofmyreligion，andurgedtoreceivetheconsolationsofaheretic：youwilllearn，throughBourgoinandtheothers，thateverythingtheycouldsayonthismatterhasbeenuseless，thatIhavefaithfullymadeprotestationofthefaithinwhichIwishtodie。Irequestedthatyoushouldbeallowedtoreceivemyconfessionandtogivemethesacrament，whichhasbeencruellyrefused，aswellastheremovalofmybody，andthepowertomakemywillfreely；sothatIcannotwriteanythingexceptthroughtheirhands，andwiththegoodpleasureoftheirmistress。Forwantofseeingyou，then，Iconfesstoyoumysinsingeneral，asIshouldhavedoneinparticular，beggingyou，inGod’sname，towatchandpraythisnightwithme，fortheremissionofmysins，andtosendmeyourabsolutionandforgivenessforallthewrongsIhavedoneyou。Ishalltrytoseeyouintheirpresence，astheypermittedittomysteward；andifitisallowed，beforeall，andonmyknees，Ishallaskyourblessing。Sendmethebestprayersyouknowforthisnightandforto-morrowmorning；forthetimeisshort，andIhavenottheleisuretowrite；butbecalm，Ishallrecommendyouliketherestofmyservants，andyourbeneficesaboveallwillbesecuredtoyou。Farewell，forIhavenotmuchmoretime。Sendtomeinwritingeverythingyoucanfind，bestformysalvation，inprayersandexhortations，Isendyoumylastlittlering。“
Directlyshehadwrittenthisletterthequeenbegantomakeherwill，andatastroke，withherpenrunningonandalmostwithoutliftingitfromthepaper，shewrotetwolargesheets，containingseveralparagraphs，inwhichnoonewasforgotten，presentasabsent，distributingthelittleshehadwithscrupulousfairness，andstillmoreaccordingtoneedthanaccordingtoservice。Theexecutorsshechosewere：theDukeofGuise，herfirstcousin；theArchbishopofGlasgow，herambassador；theBishopofRoss，herchaplaininchief；
andM。duRuysseau，herchancellor，allfourcertainlyveryworthyofthecharge，thefirstfromhisauthority；thetwobishopsbypietyandconscience，andthelastbyhisknowledgeofaffairs。Herwillfinished，shewrotethislettertotheKingofFrance：
SIRMYBROTHER-IN-LAW，——Having，byGod’spermissionandformysins，Ibelieve，thrownmyselfintothearmsofthisqueen，mycousin，whereIhavehadmuchtoendureformorethantwentyyears，IambyherandbyherParliamentfinallycondemnedtodeath；andhavingaskedformypapers，takenfromme，tomakemywill，Ihavenotbeenabletoobtainanythingtoserveme，notevenpermissiontowritemylastwishesfreely，norleavethataftermydeathmybodyshouldbetransported，aswasmydearestdesire，intoyourkingdom，whereIhadhadthehonourofbeingqueen，yoursisterandyourally。To-day，afterdinner，withoutmorerespect，mysentencehasbeendeclaredtome，tobeexecutedto-morrow，likeacriminal，ateighto’clockinthemorning。Ihavenottheleisuretogiveyouafullaccountofwhathasoccurred；butifitpleaseyoutobelievemydoctorandtheseothersmydistressedservants，youwillhearthetruth，andthat，thankstoGod，Idespisedeath，whichIprotestIreceiveinnocentofeverycrime，evenifIweretheirsubject，whichIneverwas。ButmyfaithintheCatholicreligionandmyclaimstothecrownofEnglandaretherealcausesformycondemnation，andyettheywillnotallowmetosaythatitisforreligionIdie，formyreligionkillstheirs；andthatissotrue，thattheyhavetakenmychaplainfromme，who，althoughaprisonerinthesamecastle，maynotcomeeithertoconsoleme，ortogivemetheholysacramentoftheeucharist；but，onthecontrary，theyhavemademeurgententreatiestoreceivetheconsolationsoftheirministerwhomtheyhavebroughtforthispurpose。Hewhowillbringyouthisletter，andtherestofmyservants，whoareyoursubjectsforthemostpart，willbearyouwitnessofthewayinwhichIshallhaveperformedmylastact。Nowitremainstometoimploreyou，asamostChristianking，asmybrother-in-law，asmyancientally，andonewhohassooftendonemethehonourtoprotestyourfriendshipforme，togiveproofofthisfriendship，inyourvirtueandyourcharity，byhelpingmeinthatofwhichIcannotwithoutyoudischargemyconscience——
thatistosay，inrewardingmygooddistressedservants，bygivingthemtheirdues；then，inhavingprayersmadetoGodforaqueenwhohasbeencalledmostChristian，andwhodiesaCatholicanddeprivedofallhergoods。Astomyson，Icommendhimtoyouasmuchasheshalldeserve，forIcannotanswerforhim；butastomyservants，I
commendthemwithclaspedhands。Ihavetakenthelibertyofsendingyoutworarestonesgoodforthehealth，hopingthatyoursmaybeperfectduringalonglife；youwillreceivethemascomingfromyourveryaffectionatesister-in-law，atthepointofdeathandgivingproofofher，gooddispositiontowardsyou。
“Ishallcommendmyservantstoyouinamemorandum，andwillorderyou，forthegoodofmysoul，forwhosesalvationitwillbeemployed，topaymeaportionofwhatyouoweme，ifitpleaseyou，andIconjureyouforthehonourofJesus，towhomIshallprayto-
morrowatmydeath，thatyouleavemethewherewithaltofoundamassandtoperformthenecessarycharities。
“ThisWednesday，twohoursaftermidnight——
Youraffectionateandgoodsister，“MARY，R……“
Ofalltheserecommendations，thewillandtheletters，thequeenatoncehadcopiesmadewhichshesigned，sothat，ifsomeshouldbeseizedbytheEnglish，theothersmightreachtheirdestination。
Bourgoinpointedouttoherthatshewaswrongtobeinsuchahurrytoclosethem，andthatperhapsintwoorthreehoursshewouldrememberthatshehadleftsomethingout。Butthequeenpaidnoattention，sayingshewassureshehadnotforgottenanything，andthatifshehad，shehadonlytimenowtoprayandtolooktoherconscience。SosheshutupalltheseveralarticlesinthedrawersofapieceoffurnitureandgavethekeytoBourgoin；thensendingforafoot-bath，inwhichshestayedforabouttenminutes，shelaydowninbed，whereshewasnotseentosleep，butconstantlytorepeatprayersortoremaininmeditation。
Towardsfouro’clockinthemorning，thequeen，whowasaccustomed，aftereveningprayers，tohavethestoryofsomemaleorfemalesaintreadaloudtoher，didnotwishtodepartfromthishabit，and，afterhavinghesitatedamongseveralforthissolemnoccasion，shechosethegreatestsinnerofall，thepenitentthief，sayinghumbly——
“If，greatsinnerashewas，hehasyetsinnedlessthanI，Idesiretobegofhim，inremembranceofthepassionofJesusChrist；to，havepityonmeinthehourofmydeath，asOurLordhadpityonhim。“
Then，whenthereadingwasover，shehadallherhandkerchiefsbrought，andchosethefinest，whichwasofdelicatecambricallembroideredingold，tobandagehereyeswith。
Atdaybreak，reflectingthatshehadonlytwohourstolive，sheroseandbegandressing，butbeforeshehadfinished，Bourgoincameintoherroom，and，afraidlesttheabsentservantsmightmurmuragainstthequeen，ifbychancetheywerediscontentedatthewill，andmightaccusethosewhohadbeenpresentofhavingtakenawayfromtheirsharetoaddtotheirown，hebeggedMarytosendforthemallandtoreaditintheirpresence；towhichMaryagreed，andconsentedtodosoatonce。
Alltheservantswerethensummoned，andthequeenreadhertestament，sayingthatitwasdoneofherownfree，fullandentirewill，writtenandsignedwithherownhand，andthataccordinglyshebeggedthosepresenttogiveallthehelpintheirpowerinseeingitcarriedoutwithoutchangeoromission；then，havingreaditover，andhavingreceivedapromisefromall，shegaveittoBourgoin，charginghimtosendittoM。deGuise，herchiefexecutor，andatthesametimetoforwardherletterstothekingandherprincipalpapersandmemorandums：afterthis，shehadthecasketbroughtinwhichshehadputthepurseswhichwementionedbefore；sheopenedthemoneafteranother，andseeingbytheticketwithinforwhomeachwasintended，shedistributedthemwithherownhand，noneoftherecipientsbeingawareoftheircontents。Thesegiftsvariedfromtwentytothreehundredcrowns；andtothesesumssheaddedsevenhundredlivresforthepoor，namely，twohundredforthepoorofEnglandandfivehundredforthepoorofFrance；thenshegavetoeachmaninhersuitetworosenoblestobedistributedinalmsforhersake，andfinallyonehundredandfiftycrownstoBourgointobedividedamongthemallwhentheyshouldseparate；andthustwenty-sixortwenty-sevenpeoplehadmoneylegacies。
Thequeenperformedallthiswithgreatcomposureandcalmness，withnoapparentchangeofcountenance；sothatitseemedasifshewereonlypreparingforajourneyorchangeofdwelling；thensheagainbadeherservantsfarewell，consolingthemandexhortingthemtoliveinpeace，allthiswhilefinishingdressingaswellandaselegantlyasshecould。