Lady Jean Stewart

Lady Jean Stewart (also known as Jane Stuart; c. 1533[1] – 7 January 1587/88), was an illegitimate daughter of King James V of Scotland by his mistress, Elizabeth Bethune (sometimes spelled Betoun or Beaton).

Jean was born between 1528 and 1537. Her mother Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir John Bethune, 2nd of Creich, and Janet Hay. Elizabeth Bethune was first married to John Stewart, 4th Lord Innermeath, by whom she had two sons: John Stewart (died 1607) and James Stewart, 5th Lord Innermeath. She married, secondly, James Gray, son of Patrick Gray, 4th Lord Gray.

As an infant, Lady Jean Stewart was brought up in the household of Mary of Guise, the Queen of Scotland as wife of King James V, and then briefly in the nursery of the Queen's eldest son, Prince James, the Duke of Rothesay, her legitimate half-brother. The Scottish treasurer's accounts record purchases for the infant Lady Jean. In September 1538, she was given a canopy made with 27 ells of red, yellow, and green cloth. By March 1539, she was housed with her illegitimate half-brothers, "Lord James of Kelso" and "Lord James of Saint Andrews", and had a black velvet and taffeta night gown lined with 'martrik' sable. In July 1540, at St Andrews, she was sent seven hanks of coloured silks and cloth to work samplers, and in December 1540, she was given a missal and a matins book.[2]

On 1 July 1553, Jean was married to Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll; they would divorce later on 23 June 1573, the reason being desertion.

During her married years, Jean lived for a time at Dunoon Castle, where her half-sister, Mary, Queen of Scots, visited her in 1563, and granted several charters during her stay there.[3] On the night of 9 March 1566, Jean Stewart, her mother Elizabeth, and her half-sister Queen Mary, witnessed the murder of Queen Mary's secretary, David Rizzio, at Holyrood Palace. After the siege of Edinburgh Castle in 1573, Lady Jean was taken prisoner.

Lady Jean Stewart was buried next to her father, King James V, in the royal vault at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Marshall, Rosalind Kay. Queen Mary's Women: Female Relatives, Servants, Friends and Enemies of Mary, Queen of Scots. John Donald, 2006. ISBN 0-85976-667-5, ISBN 978-0-85976-667-8
  2. ↑ Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 7, HM Register House (1907), 89, 148, 410 and see index.
  3. ↑ Colegate. Colegate's Guide. p. 22.
  4. ↑ RCAHMS, Inventory of Monuments in Edinburgh, HMSO (1951), p.136

References

  • Weir, Alison. (1999) Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy. (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head) page 244.
  • Lundy, Darryl. "Lady Jean Stewart". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  • Lundy, Darryl. "Elizabeth Bethune". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
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