Volume 1

Domestic annals of Scotland : from the reformation to the revolution / by Robert Chambers.

  • Robert Chambers
Date:
1858-1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Domestic annals of Scotland : from the reformation to the revolution / by Robert Chambers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    56/574 page 40
    The youDg prince was baptised at Stirling Castle, and named Charles James. The preparations in apparel and decorations were magnificent beyond everything of the kind hitherto known. ‘ The said prince was home out of his chalmer to the chapel by the French ambassador, my Lady of Argyle, cummer for the Queen of England by commission, and Monsieur La Croc for the Duke of Savoy. All the barons and gentlemen bore prickets of wax, wha stood in rank on ilk side, frae the prince’s chalmer door to the said chapel. Next the French ambassador, ane great serge of wax by the Eai’l of Athole, the salt-vat by the Earl of Eglintoun, the cude by the Lord Semple, the basin and laver by the Lord Ross; and at the chapel door, the prince was receivit by my Lord Sanct Androis, wha was executor officii in pontificalibus, with staff, mitre, cross, and the rest. Collaterals to him Avere the Bishops of Dunkeld [and] Dumblane, with their rochets and hoods; and also assistit with rochets and hoods the Bishop of Ross, the Prior of Whithorn, and sundry others Avith serpclaiths and hoods, and the hale college of the chapel royal, Avith their habits and u[p]maist copes [?]. The prince was baptisit in the said font, and thu- solemnities endit by near five hours afternoon, with singing and playing on organs.’ —D. 0. It appears that at these festivities the skeleton was not wanting. ‘ There was sitting in the entry of the Castle a poor man asking alms, haAung a young child upon his knee, Avhose head was so great [hydrocephalus?] that the body of the child could scarce bear it up. A certain gentleman perceiving it, could scarce refrain from tears, for fear of the evils he judged to be portended.’— Knox. '.... At twa hours in the morning, there come certain traitors to the provost’s house [in the Kirk of Field], wherein wus our sovereign’s husband Henry, and ane servant of liis, caUit William Taylor, lying in their naked beds; and there privily Avith wrang keys openit the doors, and come in upon the said prince, and there without mercy Avorried him and his said servant in their beds ; and thereafter took him and his servant furth of that house, and cuist him naked in ane yard beside the Thief Raw, and syne come to the house again, and blew the house in the air, sae that there remainit not ane stane npon ane other, undestroyit At five hours, the said prince and his servant was found lying dead in the said yard, and Avas ta’en into ane house in the Kirk of Field, and laid while [till] they were buriet.’—D. 0.
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