Lady Jean Stewart


Lady Jean Stewart, was an illegitimate daughter of King James V of Scotland by his mistress, Elizabeth Bethune.

Childhood

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: James Stewart, later 5th Lord Innermeath and the poet John Stewart of Baldynneis. 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.

Marriage

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. 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 "lang siege" of Edinburgh Castle in 1573, Lady Jean and her aunt Margaret Beaton were taken prisoner. She requested not be delivered to her husband, the Earl of Argyll.

Later life

In May 1583 she had an illness described as a "spire of appoplexie" and considered finding a treatment in France, travelling through England.
She died at her lodging in the Canongate of Edinburgh which she rented from the goldsmith William Cokkie on 7 January 1588, attended by her servant and "special friend" Katrine Hamilton.
Lady Jean Stewart was buried next to her father, King James V, in the royal vault at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.