His father placed him in the care of John Erskine, Earl of Mar and his mother Annabell Murray at Stirling Castle, out of the care of the boy's mother, because James worried that the mother's tendency toward Catholicism might affect the son. The child's removal to Stirling caused enormous tension between Anne and James, and Henry remained there under the care of Mar's family until 1603. James VI frequently visited the Prince at Stirling and in August 1595 encouraged the infant to hold a pen and write on a document, noting "I will testify this is the prince's own mark". George Lauder was one of his tutors.