, the others might reach their destination. Bourgoin pointed
out to her that she was wrong to be in such a hurry to close them, and
that perhaps in two or three hours she would remember that she had left
something out. But the queen paid no attention, saying she was sure she
had not forgotten anything, and that if she had, she had only time now to
pray and to look to her conscience. So she shut up all the several
articles in the drawers of a piece of furniture and gave the key to
Bourgoin; then sending for a foot-bath, in which she stayed for about ten
minutes, she lay down in bed, where she was not seen to sleep, but
constantly to repeat prayers or to remain in meditation.

Towards four o'clock in the morning, the queen, who was accustomed, after
evening prayers, to have the story of some male or female saint read
aloud to her, did not wish to depart from this habit, and, after having
hesitated among several for this solemn occasion, she chose the greatest
sinner of all, the penitent thief, saying humbly--

"If, great sinner as he was, he has yet sinned less than I, I desire to
beg of him, in remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ; to, have pity
on me in the hour of my death, as Our Lord had pity on him."

Then, when the reading was over, she had all her handkerchiefs brought,
and chose the finest, which was of delicate cambric all embroidered in
gold, to bandage her eyes with.

At daybreak, reflecting that she had only two hours to live, she rose and
began dressing, but before she had finished, Bourgoin came into her room,
and, afraid lest the absent servants might murmur against the queen, if
by chance they were discontented at the will, and might accuse those who
had been present of having taken away from their share to add to their
own, he begged Mary to send for them all and to read it in their
presence; to which Mary agreed, and consented to do so at once.

All the servants were then summoned, and the queen read her testament,
saying that it was done of her own free, full and entire will, written
and signed with her own hand, and that accordingly she begged those
present to give all the help in their power in seeing it carried out
without change or omission; then, having read it over, and having
received a promise from all, she gave it to Bourgoin, charging him to
send it to M. de Guise, her chief executor, and at the same time to
forward her letters to the king and her principal papers and memorandums: