THE PALACE OF STIRLING. — PRINCE HENRY. 159 



known as the " Lion's Den." The palace comprised many large and elegant 

 apartments, of which those on the lower story are converted into barrack-rooms, 

 and the upper into lodgings for the officers of the garrison. Opposite the palace 

 on the north stands the chapel, built, as already mentioned, by James VI. for the 

 christening of his eldest son. Prince Henry. Of this pageant, one of the most 

 extraordinary on record, a few particulars may here be not unacceptable as charac- 

 teristic of the monarch and the times, when " spectacle" was employed for state 

 purposes as well as for pleasure. The despatches to foreign courts, announcing 

 the birth of a son and heir to the throne, on the 19th of February, had been so 

 well received, that ambassadors extraordinary arrived from the king of Denmark, 

 the queen's father — from Brunswick, Magdeburg, Holland, France, and England. 

 The latter was represented by the earl of Sussex ; and vwth presents and congra- 

 tulations, all had met at Stirling by the end of August. In the meantime the 

 preparations were going on under the personal superintendence of his majesty, 

 while the ambassadors were entertained at court in the most sumptuous manner. 

 The chase, and other field sports, or amusements within the palace — were the 

 business of the day. The evenings were spent in balls, masks, and banquets. 

 Tournaments and tilting were practised in the " valley," which was hned with 

 guards in splendid new uniforms. On one side, a scafiblding was erected for 

 the queen, her ladies, and the foreign ambassadors ; and to this constellation 

 every performer on entering the arena made a profound obeisance. 



On the 30th of August, the ceremony of baptism was performed with a 

 splendour and pomp never before witnessed in Scotland. The new Chapel 

 Royal was hung vrith the richest and most costly tapestries, with every attendant 

 embellishment of costume and ceremony which could heighten the effect.* When 

 all the necessary preparations were completed, his majesty, attended by the nobility 

 and privy councillors, entered the chapel, and took his place on the throne. The 

 foreign ambassadors then repaired to the prince's chamber, where they found the 

 royal infant laid upon a bed of state, the furniture of which was embroidered with 

 the " labours of Hercules." The ascent to the platform on which the bed stood, 



* The eastern part was enclosed so as only to allow the king to pass, along with others specially engaged in 

 the ceremony. On the north-east comer was placed a chair of state for his majesty ; and on the right, at a 

 small distance, another chair, reserved for the French ambassador, who had not yet arrived. Next to this 

 was a seat for the English ambassador extraordinary, with a red velvet cushion on a desk before him, and 

 a gentleman usher on either side, and so on, each ambassador accommodated according to the rank of the 

 sovereign or state he represented. In the midst of the rail stood a pulpit, hung with cloth of gold, and 

 inside the balustrade all the pavement was covered with fine tapestry. . . . The passage from the prince's 

 chamber in the palace to the door of the chapel was lined with a hundred musqueteers in state uniform, 

 and mostly young burgesses of Edinburgh. — Historical Account. 



