Elizabeth Stewart, Countess of Arran facts for kids
Elizabeth Stewart, Countess of Arran (around 1554 - 1590) was an important Scottish noblewoman. She was known for being involved in politics. Many stories about her were written by people who didn't like her.
Family Background
Elizabeth Stewart was the daughter of John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl (who died in 1579). Her mother was Elizabeth Gordon, whose father was George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly.
Marriages and Family Life
Elizabeth Stewart married Hugh Fraser, 5th Lord Lovat in 1564. She was said to have brought valuable gold coins and jewelry to Lovat Castle. These treasures were stolen by her maid, Kennedy. The maid was caught and drowned. Years later, in 1634, a hidden treasure was found at the castle. People thought it was the treasure buried by Elizabeth Stewart's maid.
After Lord Lovat died, she married Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of March in 1579. For a while, she was known as "Dame Elizabeth Stewart, Countess of Lennox." In August 1579, she received £700 Scots as a gift from the royal treasury.
She divorced Robert Stewart on May 19, 1581. This divorce was seen as very unusual at the time. Soon after, she married her third husband, James Stewart, Earl of Arran. He was known as Captain James Stewart then.
Influence at Court
James Stewart, Earl of Arran, became very powerful with the young king, James VI of Scotland. He shared this power with Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox. Because of their power, Arran and his wife, Elizabeth, were not very popular in Scotland.
King James VI gave Esmé Stewart many valuable jewels. These jewels had belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots. In October 1581, these gifts included a gold cross with diamonds and rubies, and a famous jewel called the "Great H of Scotland". Elizabeth, Countess of Arran, was present when these gifts were given. After Esmé Stewart died, Elizabeth managed to get some of these same jewels for herself.
In February 1583, Elizabeth was in Edinburgh. She was trying to get her husband freed from a group called the Ruthven Raiders.
Elizabeth Stewart also returned some royal jewels to the king's wardrobe. On May 28, 1583, she gave back sets of pearl, ruby, and diamond buttons. These had belonged to King James VI or his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.
She spoke with Robert Bowes, an English diplomat. She told him her husband wanted to be friends with England. Bowes, however, didn't think her message was very important unless it came directly from her husband. In October 1583, she wrote to Janet Scott, Lady Ferniehirst. She asked for support from Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Hamilton family for her and her husband.
Robert Bowes noted in March 1584 that Elizabeth had a lot of influence at court. She could even help people avoid punishment. For example, she helped the Laird of Cessford and James Home of Coldenknowes avoid prison. In August, another diplomat, William Davison, heard that she and Arran had made a list of 60 people. These people might lose their property in parliament. This was so Elizabeth could get money from several noble ladies. Davison also reported that she sat in meetings of the Privy Council. He said the Countess of Arran had new keys made for the chests holding the jewels and clothes of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was said to have tried on many of the queen's clothes to see if they fit her. She then chose what she liked.
The Earl and Countess of Arran invited William Davison and a French envoy named Albert Fontenay to a special dinner at Edinburgh Castle. Fontenay was sent by Mary, Queen of Scots. When Elizabeth asked Fontenay if he would come, he joked that Scottish food made him sick. King James blushed and smiled at this answer. Fontenay was trying to arrange a plan for Mary to return to Scotland and rule with James VI. This plan was called the "association". If it worked, Arran and his wife would lose their power. Fontenay believed that the Earl and Countess tried hard to convince King James that Mary would take his place. He thought they worried Mary might marry again and have another heir. Fontenay was disappointed that the couple stopped Mary's plans. He even wrote that the Countess had "bewitched" the king.
In September 1584, the king gave Arran and Elizabeth property income. This income had belonged to Dorothy Stewart, Countess of Gowrie. In November 1584, Henry I, Duke of Guise thanked Elizabeth for welcoming his envoy, Seigneur Paul, to Scotland. He also thanked her for gifts she sent. Paul was not popular in Protestant Scotland. He was said to have been involved in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in 1572.
It was said that Elizabeth Stewart was made "lady comptroller." This meant she held courts and made decisions about fines. She was known for saying that people who couldn't pay their fines "had not so much as five pounds to buy them from the gallows." In 1584, she collected £3000 from the Laird of Haggs. She also helped Robert Crichton, the Bishop of Dunkeld, get his church income back. Someone wrote to Mary, Queen of Scots, that James VI was controlled by Arran's lies and "bewitched by the evil actions of his wicked and bold wife."
In June 1585, Elizabeth sent a message to Edward Wotton, an English ambassador. She said he should speak to Arran first. Wotton told the Master of Gray, who then told the king. The king criticized Arran for sending such messages to an ambassador.
An English border official, John Selby, reported that on June 23, 1585, Elizabeth had built a barrier in front of Edinburgh Castle. But the townspeople quickly tore it down. She and her husband were then sent to Dirleton Castle. Selby later said this news might not be true. However, he had heard many reports that Arran's power was about to end. Elizabeth had closed a path to the Castle Bank. The town sent people to ask her to reopen the path.
In September 1585, Elizabeth and her husband received a royal grant of properties. These were in Ayr and Ayrshire. They included the areas of Colvill, Barnweill, and Symontoun. Some of these had belonged to William Cunningham of Caprinton. Francis Walsingham heard that Elizabeth "guided" her husband. He also heard that she wanted them to make peace with Mary, Queen of Scots.
After Arran lost his power in 1585, Elizabeth was again called "Lady Lovat." In November, Arran left his house arrest at Kinneil House. He took jewels that Elizabeth had gotten from Edinburgh Castle. He tried to find a ship at Ayr, where he had a house. The English ambassador, William Knollys, said Elizabeth was put in prison for giving him these jewels. They returned the royal jewels, including the "Great H of Scotland," by January 1586.
In April 1586, she was staying in different houses near Edinburgh and in Leith.
John Wallace of Craigie complained about "James Stewart, late Chancellor, and Dame Elizabeth Stewart, Countess of Lovat" to the Privy Council in October 1587. They had taken over his Castle of Sanquhar. They also had letters from James VI that protected them from certain legal actions for debtors. The Council said these letters were not valid.
The exact date of Elizabeth's death is not certain. A letter from April 1590 reported that she had died. Thomas Kennedy of Culzean heard that she had died during childbirth in April 1590.
Family
Elizabeth Stewart had children with Hugh Fraser, 5th Lord Lovat:
- Simon Fraser (1570–1633). He married Jean Stewart (who died in 1622). She was the daughter of James Stewart, 1st Lord Doune. Jean was also a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Denmark in 1596.
- Margaret Fraser, who married James Cumming of Altyre.
- Anne Fraser, who married Hector Munro of Foulis.
Her son with Arran, James Stewart, was born in Edinburgh Castle. He was baptized on March 14, 1583. The king and the Duke of Lennox were his godparents. He later bought the title Lord Ochiltree from Andrew Stewart, Lord Ochiltree.
