Margaret Stuart (24 December 1598 – March 1600) was the second daughter of King James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark. Sometime in March 1600, Margaret died of an unknown illness and she was buried in Holyrood Abbey. Three years later, her father ascended the throne of England.
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Life
Margaret was born at 3:00 am on Christmas Eve 1598, the second daughter of King James VI of Scotland, future James I of England, and Anne of Denmark. She was born at Dalkeith Castle, where the Master of Work, William Schaw, had set carpenters to work to furnish a nursery, with a cradle, a bed, a chair for the nurse, and four stools for the ladies who rocked the cradle. The queen's confinement at Dalkeith commenced on 21 September 1598.
The Countess of Huntly attended the delivery. Margaret Stewart, Mistress of Ochiltree, senior lady in waiting, was in charge of Margaret's care.
Baptism at Holyrood Palace
Margaret's baptism was postponed until 15 April 1599, as the winter, part of the "Little Ice Age", was exceptionally cold and there were worries that the princess should catch a cold and expire. King James VI wrote letters to his nobles and lairds, inviting them to the baptism, and asking for contributions. This letter was sent to Robert Bethune, laird of Balfour in Fife, from Holyrood Palace on 10 February 1598:"We greet you well: having appointed the baptism of our dearest daughter to be here at Holyrood House, upon Sunday, the fiftenth of April next, in such honorable manner as that action craved: we have therefore though good right effectually to request and desire you to send us such propynes and presents against that day, as is best then in season and convenient for that action, as you regard our honour and will merit our special thanks. So, not doubting to find your greater willingness to pleasure us herein, since you are to be invited to take part of you own good cheer, we commit you to God."
