, by which that princess was
tried, so far from being made to insnare her, was only intended to give
her warning beforehand, not to engage in such attempts as might expose
her to the penalties with which she was thus openly menaced; and she
begged them to think once again, whether it were possible to find any
expedient, besides the death of the queen of Scots, for securing the
public tranquility.[***]

* D'Ewes, p. 375.

** D'Ewes, p. 379.

*** D'Ewes, p. 402, 403.

The parliament, in obedience to her commands, took the affair again
under consideration; but could find no other possible expedient. They
reiterated their solicitations, and entreaties, and arguments: they even
remonstrated, that mercy to the queen of Scots was cruelty to them, her
subjects and children: and they affirmed, that it were injustice to deny
execution of the law to any individual; much more to the whole body of
the people, now unanimously and earnestly suing for this pledge of her
parental care and tenderness. This second address set the pretended
doubts and scruples of Elizabeth anew in agitation; she complained
of her now unfortunate situation; expressed her uneasiness from their
importunity; renewed the professions of affection to her people; and
dismissed the committee of parliament in an uncertainty what, after all
this deliberation, might be her final resolution.[*] [27]

But though the queen affected reluctance to execute the sentence against
Mary, she complied with the request of parliament in publishing it by
proclamation; and this act seemed to be attended with the unanimous and
hearty rejoicings of the people. Lord Buckhurst, and Beale, clerk of
the council, were sent to the queen of Scots, and notified to her the
sentence pronounced against her, its ratification by parliament, and
the earnest applications made for its execution by that assembly, who
thought that their religion could never, while she was alive, attain
a full settlement and security. Mary was nowise dismayed at this
intelligence: on the contrary, she joyfully laid hold of the last
circumstance mentioned to her; and insisted, that since her death was
demanded by the Protestants for the establishment of their faith, she
was really a martyr to her religion, and was entitled to all the merits
attending that glorious character. She added, that the English had often
imbrued their hands in the blood of their sovereigns: no wonder they
exercised cruelty aga