Lady Jean Stewart

Lady Jean Stewart (c. 1533[1] – 7 January 1587/88), also known as Jane Stuart, was an illegitimate daughter of King James V of Scotland (1512–1542) and his mistress Elizabeth Beaton or Bethune.

Jean was born in between 1528 and 1537. Her mother Elizabeth Bethune (sometimes spelt Beaton) was the daughter of John Bethune, 2nd of Creich, by his wife Janet Hay. Elizabeth was married firstly to John Stewart, 4th Lord Innermeath, by whom she had two sons, John Stewart (d.1607), and James Stewart, 5th Lord Innermeath. She married, secondly, James Gray, son of Patrick Gray, 4th Lord Gray.

Jean married Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, on 1 July 1553. They divorced on the 23 June 1573, the reason being desertion.

On the night of 9 March 1566, Jean Stewart, her mother Elizabeth, and her half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, witnessed the murder of Mary's secretary, David Rizzio, at Holyrood Palace. After the siege of Edinburgh Castle in 1573, Lady Jean was taken prisoner.

Details of a royal childhood

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 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]

References

  1. ^ Marshall, Rosalind Kay. Queen Mary's Women: Female Relatives, Servants, Friends and Enemies of Mary, Queen of Scots. John Donald, 2006. ISBN 0859766675, ISBN 9780859766678
  2. ^ Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 7 HM Register House (1907), 89, 148, 410 and see index.