large dark stain upon the floor, said to have been caused by the blood of the murdered Italian. It is a large stain, but not larger than would be produced by the crimson fluid, pouring from sixty-two gaping wounds: and when it is remembered that the bleeding body lay here all night, one is readily inclined to believe the story. You pass down from Mary's apartments, through the Quadrangle, and so into the ruin of what was once the Royal Chapel of Holyrood. It is certainly a graceful fragment of the fine old Gothic pile, with its long rows of clustered columns, still supporting many of their carved capitals entire. The aisles are literally floored with sculptured grave-stones, some of which belong to the period when "the Chapel Royal" was the Canongate Parish Kirk: but on most of them, may still be noticed the elaborate carved cross, indicating that beneath repose the abbots of the ancient monastery. Many and varied are the associations connected with this Chapel. Within it, until the royal sanctuary of the dead was sacrilegiously invaded, slept the buried majesty of Scotland, "Life's fever o'er." At the eastern extremity, just beneath this graceful Gothic window, which once through its gorgeous panes dyed with prismatic hues the high altar, did Mary in an evil hour give her hand to the unprincipled and dissipated Darnley. On that eventful occasion, she was attired in mourning, as if foreshadowing the gloom, which was so soon to lower about her house. She had worn that dress, as she stood a widowed Queen, by the remains of her husband, the young King of France: and it was proper, as she then stood upon the brink of that grave where her happiness was to be forever entombed, that she should once more assume the habiliments of woe. The ancient doorway of this chapel, is a noble, high arched, and deeply recessed one; in its architecture belonging to the best years of the early English style in Scotland. Above this doorway, on a tablet inserted by Charles I., is the curious inscription: "He shall build ane house, for my name, and I will stablish his Throne forever;" a text most strangely chosen, if intended in its prophetic spirit, to apply to that sceptre, which was already trembling in his grasp. The grave of the unfor.. tunate Rizzio, is pointed out in that part of the chapel floor, which by the intrusion of the palace buildings, has been formed into a passage leading to the quadrangle. The marks of the old doorway, that opened into the private passage, leading through Darnley's, up to Mary's apartments, and by which the conspirators found ready entrance, may still be seen: Mary had it walled up, but the outlines of the old door, are still plainly visible in the plaster. As the conspirators passed through that holy place, "on their fell deed intent," one might suppose, they would haye hesitated, before they sent the poor Secretary to his last account. "In the blossom of his sins, With all his imperfections on his head, It would not be proper to dismiss Holyrood, without & brief allusion to the tragic end of "Mary Stuart, the spell of whose presence haunts it," from turret to foundation stone." On the 7th of February 1586, at Fotheringay Castle, where for eighteen long years, she had dragged on a weary imprisonment-two Noblemen of England were ushered into the presence of the captive Queen, bearing the dread warrant of her execution. Years of sorrow, had silvered o'er those locks, once so beautiful, that an enamored French poet, had declared them "Streaming curls, steeped in golden sunshine." The agonies and privations of a long confinement, had robbed her figure of its elasticity and litheness; but failed to touch the majesty of her mien. She was seated at the foot of her humble bed, busy with embroidery work, while near by stood her physician, and her women. When the dreadful mandate was read, to which she listened with earnest attention; she made the sign of the cross, and raising her melancholy eyes, lit with a tearful power towards Heaven; thanked her gracious God, that the welcome news had at last come; declaring "how happy she could be, to leave a world, where she had suffered so cruelly." Then after a most eloquent and touching defence of the tenets of that Church, she loved so well-burst forth in that noble protest, which must have sunk into the heart of Elizabeth, (unless it was harder than the nether millstone,) as the iron at a white heat, sinks into the quivering, tortured flesh: "I have been treated with ignominy, and injustice-imprisoned, contrary to faith and treaties, kept a captive for nineteen years, and at last condemned to die by a tribunal, whose jurisdiction I deny, and for a crime, of which, I call High Heaven to witness, I am as innocent as a babe; and now my Lords, all I have to ask is, when is the time fixed for my execution?” "To morrow morning, madame, at eight of the clock, in the large Hall of this Castle," was the quick and heartless reply: But her bold spirit blenched not-the blood of Charlemagne was beating full in that brave heart-The soul was hers of the gallant hearted King, her grandfather, who "had kept royal state and sem. blance on Flodden's bloody field, with the banner of Scotland round him for a shroud. Upon the departure of the noblemen, Mary called in a calm voice to her women, and bid them prepare supper, that she might have time to arrange her affairs. "Cease weeping, Jane Kennedy, said she, to one of her faithful attendants and be busy! Did I not warn you, my child, that it would come to this, and now blessed be God, it has come, and fear and sorrow are at an end. Weep not, but rejoice, that you now see your poor mistress so near the end of all her troubles. Dry your eyes and let us pray together. After supper, she called for her ladies, and asking for a cup of wine, she drank to them all, begging them to pledge her, which they did. upon their knees, mingling their tears in the cup, and then asking her forgiveness, if in anything they had offended. At two in the morning she lay down, having made all her arrangements, while her women watched and read at her bedside. Read to me, said she, from the lives of the saints, the life of the repentant thief which treats of dying faith, and divine compassion : and after it was read to her, she remained silent, communing with her own heart for some time, and then said -alas, he was a great sinner, but not so great as I am! may my Saviour in memory of his passion, have mercy upon me, as he had on him! At this moment, remembering that a handkerchief would be required to bind her eyes at her execution, she bid them bring several, and selecting one of the finest, embroidered in gold, laid it carefully aside, then ordered them to resume their reading: and so passed away the hours of early dawn, until it was within a short space of the fatal time. Then rising, she made her toilet, passed into her oratory, and after remaining some time in earnest prayer, came out, and awaited in silence and perfect composure the dread sunmons. On the arrival of the Sheriff, she ordered him immediately to turn, and lead on. Her servants throwing themselves at her feet, clasped their mistress in convulsive grief around the knees, endeavoring to stay her advance; but gently disengaging herself she reached the door: and at this point, the brutal official, sternly commanded them to proceed no farther. Mary remonstrated carnestly, but in vain. She then bade them adieu, while they in frantic earnestness, clung to her robes, covering her hand with kisses, and bathing it with their tears. They were only taken from her by force, and locked up in the apartment. And there alone, that undaunted soul, with a majesty of port that awed the High Sheriff, passed down the lofty staircase, to the entrance door of that Hall, where she was to die. A dress of black satin, matronly in its fashion, but passing rich in its material, was worn that day, with more than ordinary grace. long white veil of crape hung over her face, an Agnus Dei was suspended by a pomander chain from her neck, while her beads of gold hung at her girdle. Like Montrose, A |