Stuart dynasty

Mary Queen of Scots. 103
Such was the general distrust and suspicion abroad * that
the Privy Council declined to allow the Queen to remain at
Holyrood during her confinement, but entrusted their
Sovereign to the care of the Earl of Mar, governor of that
then impenetrable stronghold, Edinburgh Castle.
Of the joyful event which occurred on June 19, 1566, we
have various accounts, but most valuable of all that of
Darnley himself, written from the actual scene. And this
because such was the King Consort's state of mind that
men feared lest jealousy and injured pride should lead him
to deny a paternal interest in Mary's offspring.
And as, with every temptation to create a party for himself,
and thus to rise above the neglect of his wife and the con-
temptuous enmity of her nobility, Darnley thus wrote, it
will not be amiss, considering the prevalence of wild
rumours even in our own times,f to reprint here this brief
but historic epistle.
King Henry Darnley to Monsieur the Cardinal de Guise.
"From the Castle of Edinburgh, this 19th day of June, 1566, in great
haste.
" Sir, my uncle, having so favourable an opportunity of
writing to you by this gentleman, who is on the point of set-
ting off, 1 would not omit to inform you that the queen, my
wife, has just been delivered of a son, which circumstance,
I am sure, will not cause you less joy than ourselves ; and
also to inform you how, on this occasion, I have, on my part,
as the queen, my said wife, has also on hers, written to the
king,! begging him to be pleased to oblige and honour us by
standing sponsor for him, by which means he will increase
the debt of gratitude I owe him for all his favours to me,
for which I shall always be ready to make every return in
my power.
" So having nothing more agreeable to inform you of at
present, I conclude, praying God, monsieur my uncle, to have
you always in His holy and worthy keeping.
" Your very humble and very obedient nephew,
"Henry E."§
* Burton's ' History of Scotland,' vol. iv. p. 160.
f See Appendix II. J Of France.
§ ' Letters of Mary Queen of Scots, and Documents connected with
her Personal History.' Edited by Miss Strickland, edition 1842, voL i.
p. 21.