Elizabeth Schaw, Countess of Annandale facts for kids

Elizabeth Schaw was an important Scottish lady who lived a long time ago, in the 1600s. She worked at the royal court as a special helper, called a lady-in-waiting, for Anne of Denmark. Anne of Denmark was the Queen of Scotland and England, married to King James VI. Elizabeth Schaw was a trusted friend and helper to the Queen. She passed away in 1640.

Elizabeth's Family and Connections

Elizabeth Schaw was the daughter of Sir John Schaw. Her uncle was William Schaw, who was a very important person at court. He was the Master of Work to the King, meaning he was in charge of royal buildings. Another important relative was Bishop Andrew Knox (bishop), who called Elizabeth his aunt.

Elizabeth also had a cousin, also named Elizabeth Schaw. This cousin was married to Henry Lindsay, 13th Earl of Crawford. She also worked for Queen Anne of Denmark. This shows how connected the Schaw family was to the royal court.

When her uncle William Schaw passed away, Elizabeth was chosen to manage his property. Her sister married Robert Mowbray. After he died, her sister married James Colville in 1601. This marriage caused a disagreement between James Colville and Robert Mowbray's brother, Francis.

Life as a Courtier

Elizabeth Schaw spent many years working for Queen Anne of Denmark. Before she got married, the Queen often gave her gifts. These gifts included some of the Queen's old clothes, like fancy gowns, a satin jacket, and a skirt. This was a common way for queens to show kindness to their ladies-in-waiting.

Marriage to John Murray

Around 1611, Elizabeth married John Murray. He was a close helper to the King. In England, she was known as Mrs. Murray, and later as the Countess of Annandale. Elizabeth and John were very important people at court. They helped many Scottish people send their requests and messages to the King. For example, Anne Livingstone, the Countess of Eglinton, wrote letters to Elizabeth. A poet named David Murray would deliver these letters from London.

Visiting Scotland

In 1613, Elizabeth took a break from her duties at court. She returned to Scotland for a visit. During her trip, she visited several places, including Falkland Palace. She also stayed with her good friend, Marie Stewart, Countess of Mar, at Alloa Tower. A lawyer named Thomas Hamilton wrote to her husband about her visit. He said she was enjoying being back in Scotland and planned to return to her duties with the Queen soon.

A Court Incident

In July 1615, Elizabeth was involved in a small incident at court. A new servant of the King, Henry Gibb, gave her a letter. This letter was from Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, who was a very important official. The letter contained some gossip or sensitive information for the Queen. Elizabeth quickly shared the news of this letter with the Countess of Eglinton. She also told her that the Queen supported her and her husband through this situation.

Later Life and Family

King James made sure that Elizabeth received her payment for working for Queen Anne. This payment was officially approved on November 14, 1622.

Elizabeth and John Murray had three daughters. They also had a son named James. James was born in 1617 and was later known as the Earl of Annandale. He was baptized in the Chapel Royal at Holyrood Palace. The Countess of Eglinton, Elizabeth's friend, was there to present the child.