STIRLING. — BAPTISM OF JAMES THE SIXTH. 165 



The captivating grace with which Mary conducted herself during this scene 

 of mingled triumph and mortificationj and the kindness and affability shown 

 to aU around her, made a most favourable impression on every mind and heart. 

 The ambassadors spoke of her in terms of admiration, and quitted her presence 

 with regret ; and to this regret they added the feeling of gratitude, for each was 

 dismissed with some special mark of her regard. To Bedford in particular, 

 says Melvil, she gave a chain of diamonds ; and to others comprising his suite 

 chains of pearl, rings, and pictures. The whole period of their visit was one 

 continued effort on her part to appear happier than she felt — to conceal the 

 inward sorrow by the outward ceremony — to give her smiles to the public, and 

 her tears to the hours of privacy. " She showed so much earnestness," says Le 

 Croc, " to entertain all the goodly company in the best manner, that this made 

 her forget in a good measure her former ailments ;" . . . but he adds—" She 

 sent for me yesterday, and I found her laid on the bed weeping sore !" Those 

 who recollect the many sorrows which now environed her, will admit that she 

 had good cause to weep — and that, too, at a moment when the humblest 

 mothers among her subjects would have had cause to rejoice. 



In the month of July following, when Mary had signed the resignation of 

 her kingdom, the nobility, gentry, and burgesses, assembled at Stirling, to invest 

 her son, then tliirteen months old, with the ensigns of a monarch. Prom the 

 castle, where they had arranged the solemnity, they went in procession to the 

 church, and there, after a sermon by John Knox, the infant king was anointed 

 by Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney, and the crown, which he was afterwards to wear, 

 held over his head. A solemn obligation was then pronounced on behalf of 

 his majesty by the earls of Morton and Home, that he. should maintain the 

 reformed reUgion, and govern the kingdom according to its doctrines. On their 

 return to the castle, Marr carried the infant sovereign, Morton the crown, and 

 Glencairn the sword of state. 



During the royal minority, Stirling-castle was the fixed residence of the court ; 

 and here James completed his education, under the celebrated George Buchanan, 



Alexander Gray, burgess of Edinburgh, and who had afterwards a life-rent of certain lands in Fife in 

 return of her good services, was the head nurse ; and under her were four or five others as " keepers of 

 the king's clothes." Five ladies of distinction were appointed to the honourable distinction of " rockers 

 of the prince's cradle." In his kitchen he had a master cook, a foreman, and three assistants, or 

 " servitors"— one for his pantry, one for his wine, and one for his ale cellar; three chalmer-chields, or 

 valets J one furnisher of coals, one confectioner or pastry cook, and five musicians or " violars." To sup- 

 port the establishment there was a fixed allowance of bread, beef, veal, mutton, capons, chickens, pigeons, 

 pottages, wine, and ale; thus upon the life of the infant the comfortable support of a reasonable number 

 of his subjects depended- — Bell's Life of Queen Mary. — Chalmers, vol. ii. p. 176. 



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