Barbara Hamilton (courtier) facts for kids
Barbara Hamilton (died 1577) was an important lady who lived in Scotland a long time ago. She was the oldest daughter of James Hamilton, who was a very powerful leader in Scotland. He was the Regent, meaning he ruled the country for the young Queen Mary from 1543 to 1554.
Life at Court
In August 1548, when Barbara was about 15 years old, she joined the household of Mary of Guise. Mary of Guise was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. Barbara received fancy new clothes, like a black velvet gown and a black taffeta gown with crimson sleeves.
Her servants also got new outfits. Her groom, David Pook, wore grey, and Jonet Kelly had a black gown. They all moved into the royal household at Falkland Palace.
At one point, there was a worry about the plague in Scotland. So, Barbara stayed in a house in Edinburgh with three other young ladies. They also had their servants, a cook, and a laundress with them.
First Marriage: Lady Gordon
On February 3, 1549, Barbara married Alexander Gordon, Lord Gordon. He was the oldest son of a powerful family, the Earl and Countess of Huntly. Before their wedding, her father arranged for a French tutor, Jacobus Narratius, to teach them.
Barbara's wedding dress was very special. It was a "robe royal" made of purple velvet and cost a lot of money (43 Scots pounds). Mary of Guise even checked the dress and asked for a better lining. Barbara also wore a "wairdegairt," which was a type of skirt or undergarment.
For the wedding, her father's lodging was decorated with beautiful royal tapestries. The hall's roof was painted by Walter Binning. They even built a temporary kitchen just for the event.
Guests received gold rings, hat-badges, and bracelets. Music filled the air, played by Dutch drummers, trumpeters, violins, and a fiddler. There was also a play written by William Lauder. After the wedding, in March 1550, Barbara moved north to Huntly Castle.
Barbara lived at Huntly Castle but often visited her family in Hamilton and Linlithgow. She had her laundry done and sewed collars for her father. After being sick in November 1550, she was given a red petticoat. Some people at the time believed red clothes could help with health.
In January 1552, she was measured for new clothes by the Queen's tailor. She also received a gittern, which is a type of guitar. Her servant, Elspeth Douglas, stayed in Edinburgh to make sure her clothes were made correctly.
Clothes were also made for Barbara's sister, Anne Hamilton, who was going to join Mary of Guise's household. A goldsmith named John Mosman made jewelry for their father, and he had likely made the wedding jewelry for Barbara in 1549. Barbara returned to Huntly Castle in February.
In May 1552, she received red fabric from Milan for an undergown called a "wylicoat," and black velvet for a hood. She gave a purple satin gown to her mother-in-law, Elizabeth Gordon. Her servant, Elspeth Douglas, at Huntly, received a black damask gown.
In December 1552, Barbara was sent special mourning clothes. These were called a "dule" gown, made of French black fabric with fur. She also received linen for "dule" head cloths. The reason for this mourning is not clear. She received more "dule" clothes in April 1553, likely because her husband had passed away.
In September 1553, a Scottish russet gown was made for one of her maidens.
Second Marriage: Lady Fleming
Later in 1553, Barbara married her second husband, James Fleming, 4th Lord Fleming. He died in 1558. They had a daughter named Jean Fleming. Jean later married two times.
A writer named Nicol Burne said in 1581 that John Knox, a famous Scottish reformer, wanted to marry Barbara Hamilton in 1561. This was because of her family's royal connections. It was said that her refusal caused a disagreement between Knox and the Hamilton family.
Barbara Hamilton passed away in August 1577 at Boghall Castle, which is near Biggar.
Her will mentioned some of her jewelry. This included a necklace of blue beads with gold and pearls. She also had gold hair ornaments and fifteen gold "horns" or points. Some of her jewels were used to pay off debts. These included a gold locket with nine diamonds and a ruby, and a gold bracelet with nine rubies. Another locket had an engraving that said "Obsecro Te Sancta Maria Mater Dei Amen."
She also had a gown made of cloth of gold with ermine fur that was used for debts. Barbara left her everyday clothes and two feather beds to her servant, Elspeth Binning. She did not want her daughter to marry the Laird of Calderwood.
Not much is known about Barbara Hamilton after her second husband died. During the time of Mary, Queen of Scots and the Marian Civil War, her family supported the Queen. Her brother-in-law held Dumbarton Castle for the Queen. The debts mentioned in her will might have been related to this war. The new Regent, Lennox, made life difficult for her family at Boghall and Cumbernauld Castle.
