the horizon. The populace of London, however, who were not in those
days very profound astronomers, regarded the shining of the star as
a supernatural occurrence altogether, and as portending the future
greatness and glory of the prince whose natal day it thus unexpectedly
adorned.

Preparations were made for the baptism of the young prince in July.
The baptism of a prince is an important affair, and there was one
circumstance which gave a peculiar interest to that of the infant
Charles. The Reformation had not been long established in England, and
this happened to be the first occasion on which an heir to the English
crown had been baptized since the Liturgy of the English Church had
been arranged. There is a chapel connected with the palace of St.
James, as is usual with royal palaces in Europe, and even, in fact,
with the private castles and mansions of the higher nobility. The
baptism took place there. On such occasions it is usual for certain
persons to appear as sponsors, as they are called, who undertake to
answer for the safe and careful instruction of the child in the
principles of the Christian faith. This is, of course, mainly a form,
the real function of the sponsors being confined, as it would appear,
to making magnificent presents to their young godchild, in
acknowledgment of the distinguished honor conferred upon them by their
designation to the office which they hold. The sponsors, on this
occasion, were certain royal personages in France, the relatives of
the queen. They could not appear personally, and so they appointed
proxies from among the higher nobility of England, who appeared at the
baptism in their stead, and made the presents to the child. One of
these proxies was a duchess, whose gift was a jewel valued at a sum
in English money equal to thirty thousand dollars.