I have sustained myself by
reading their works, since the means of hearing them has been taken from
me. Besides, never having doubted in my lifetime, doubt is not likely to
seize me in my death-hour. And there is the Earl of Shrewsbury, here
present, who will tell you that, since my arrival in England, I have, for
an entire Lent, of which I repent, heard your wisest doctors, without
their arguments having made any impression on my mind. It will be
useless, then, my lord," she added, smiling, "to summon to one so
hardened as I the Dean of Peterborough, learned as he is. The only thing
I ask you in exchange, my lord, and for which I shall be grateful to you
beyond expression, is that you will send me my almoner, whom you keep
shut up in this house, to console me and prepare me for death, or, in his
stead, another priest, be he who he may; if only a poor priest from a
poor village, I being no harder to please than God, and not asking that
he have knowledge, provided that he has faith."

"It is with regret, madam," replied the Earl of Kent, "that I find myself
obliged to refuse your Grace's, request; but it would be contrary to our
religion and our conscience, and we should be culpable in doing it; this
is why we again offer you the venerable Dean of Peterborough, certain
that your Grace will find more consolation and content in him than in any
bishop, priest, or vicar of the Catholic faith."

"Thank you, my lord," said the queen again, "but I have nothing to-do
with him, and as I have a conscience free of the crime for which I am
about to die, with God's help, martyrdom will take the place of
confession for me. And now, I will remind you, my lord, of what you told
me yourself, that I have but a few hours to live; and these few hours, to
profit me, should be passed in prayer and meditation, and not in idle
disputes."

With these words, she rose, and, bowing to the earls, Sir Robert Beale,
Amyas, and Drury, she indictated, by a gesture full of dignity, that she
wished to be alone and in peace; then, as they prepared to go out--

"Apropos, my lords," said she, "for what o'clock should I make ready to
die?"

"For eight o'clock to-morrow, madam," answered the Earl of Shrewsbury,
stammering.

"It is well," said Mary; "but have you not some reply to make me, from my
sister Elizabeth, relative to a letter which I wrote to her about a month
ago?"

"And of what did this letter treat, if it please you, madam?" asked the