Margaret Hartsyde facts for kids
Margaret Hartsyde (active around 1600–1640) was an important Scottish servant, known for handling jewels and money for Anne of Denmark, who was the Queen of Scotland and England. She was also a landowner and was involved in a famous trial concerning the queen's jewels.
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Serving a Queen
Margaret Hartsyde was the daughter of Malcolm Hartsyde from Kirkwall, Orkney. She first appears in records in 1601 as one of the serving women in Queen Anne's private rooms. She traveled with the queen to England in 1603. When the royal court was in Winchester in September 1603, the queen ordered new clothes for Margaret and other Scottish women who had made the journey.
Before August 11, 1603, Margaret married John Buchanan, who was also a royal servant. They were given a joint yearly payment of £200.
In 1603, the French ambassador, the Marquis de Rosny, gave Queen Anne a beautiful mirror. He also gave gifts to other important ladies at court. It is thought he might have given a diamond ring to "Margaret Aisan," who could have been Margaret Hartsyde. This shows that even though Margaret was not from a noble family, she was seen as important at court.
In December 1603, Arbella Stuart, a relative of the king, talked about buying New Year's Day gifts for Queen Anne. Stuart suggested asking Margaret Hartsyde for advice because she was discreet. Margaret could find out what the queen liked without revealing who was asking.
However, not everyone was happy with Margaret's influence. The queen's Scottish secretary, William Fowler, complained about "Margaret." He claimed she had too much power and could delay important paperwork. He felt she was able to persuade the queen to act for others.
Margaret once wrote a letter about how Queen Anne was surprised when William Livingstone of Kilsyth left court. The queen expected him to deliver a jewel to her quickly. Margaret herself hoped to buy a house in Libberton, Scotland, with her husband.
In October 1605, the Privy Council, a group of royal advisors, suggested ways to save money in the royal households. They proposed reducing the amount of food given to household members. Margaret Hartsyde's food allowance was also suggested to be reduced.
Margaret handled large amounts of money for the queen. In 1606, she paid the goldsmith George Heriot £500 for the queen's jewels. In 1607, Heriot gave Margaret a ring worth £30 for the queen. He noted that Margaret said the queen had asked for it. This shows Margaret was trusted with the queen's important business.
Gaining Land and Property
King James gave some goods to Margaret Hartsyde. The Privy Council wrote to Sir Nicholas Bacon to make sure she received everything.
Margaret Hartsyde and her husband bought land in Scotland. This might have made some people jealous because they were gaining status. In April 1606, they bought a piece of land near Holyrood Palace from the royal architect John Murray.
On June 12, 1606, Queen Anne of Denmark gave them official ownership of lands called Mains of Edmonston near Niddrie and Cauldcotts. These lands were part of her Dunfermline Abbey estate. John Buchanan became a burgess (an official citizen) of Edinburgh in August 1606. The town gave him a gold coin for a celebration.
The Jewel Incident
Margaret was accused of taking jewels from Queen Anne in London. She then tried to sell them back to George Heriot, the goldsmith. She was sent to Edinburgh for a trial. In June 1608, she was found guilty of "unlawfully taking and keeping" the jewels, even though she had signed a statement admitting it. It was said she had hidden the jewels by putting them on the royal children's dolls.
She was not sentenced to death. Instead, it was suggested she be sent away to Orkney. John Buchanan, her husband, was found not guilty. King James and Queen Anne were unhappy with this decision. The king's lawyer, Thomas Hamilton, and the Privy Council wrote to King James on June 24. They said Margaret had the best lawyers in Edinburgh. They felt the jury had made a mistake by not finding her guilty of theft. They suggested the king declare her "infamous" (meaning she would lose her good reputation forever) to warn other servants.
Queen Anne had hoped Margaret would be found guilty and punished by Scottish law. She wrote to Lord Balmerino expressing her disappointment. Margaret claimed the jewels had been a gift from the queen. There were also rumors that Margaret had shared the queen's private information.
King James wrote to the lawyers in Edinburgh, questioning their judgment. He called them "pettyfoggeris" (meaning lawyers who deal in small, tricky cases). He ordered the Privy Council to question anyone involved in the case.
The Privy Council replied to King James on August 18, 1608. They said they did not have a statement from the lawyers yet. A second hearing in Linlithgow found Margaret Hartsyde guilty of a "disgraceful" action against the royal family. She was then imprisoned in Blackness Castle.
Appeals for John Buchanan
In February 1609, John Buchanan asked the Privy Council to be released from his confinement. He said he was innocent of his wife's actions. King James replied that he was not very interested in the case. He said the council should investigate further to find out if John was guilty.
The council apologized and explained that Margaret had sworn John did not know about her taking the queen's jewels and money. Since her action had no witnesses, it was hard to prove John was involved. So, the King's lawyer had not charged him. However, because a husband and wife might work together, both had been imprisoned.
The council now thought John should be freed, at least within Edinburgh. They did not want him to go south to London, where he might meet others involved with the jewels. They felt John was being held because the King wanted it. The council also wrote to Queen Anne that day, February 23. They asked her to speak to King James about releasing John, despite his wife's "terrible ingratitude." People in Edinburgh felt sorry for John, as he was imprisoned without a trial, which usually meant release in Scotland. They hoped the queen would talk to James so John could come to Edinburgh and handle his affairs.
King James replied on April 27, 1609, again saying the matter was not very important to him. He still strongly suspected John was involved and guilty. He felt John already had enough freedom in Orkney. However, James was told that John owed a lot of money to a Mr. John Dalzell. So, John could be allowed to come to Edinburgh to pay Dalzell, but not travel further south. James remained convinced that John's guilt would eventually be revealed. The Privy Council asked Dalzell to list John's debts. There were also costs for Margaret's brother's and sister's children, who were staying in Dunfermline. Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie had paid £200 to make up for the missing jewels.
Life in Orkney and Beyond
Margaret Hartsyde and John Buchanan went to Orkney. They paid £400 to cover the value of the jewels. In March 1618, King James, thanks to Queen Anne's help, allowed John Buchanan to travel freely in Scotland. On March 15, 1619, both Margaret and John were given freedom to travel anywhere in the kingdom.
Finally, in October 1619, King James declared Margaret Hartsyde innocent. He said she had been wrongly accused by "certain of her unfrendis" (enemies) at the time. The legal records against her were ordered to be removed, and the Justice Clerk would not issue copies of them.
In May 1622, John Buchanan became the Chamberlain (a royal official in charge of finances and administration) of Orkney and Shetland. He was also the keeper of several important places, including Birsay Palace and Scalloway Castle. John Buchanan oversaw trials in Kirkwall, including those for witchcraft in 1624. John and Margaret bought properties in Orkney, such as Elvick and Shapinsay mill.
By 1624, John Buchanan became "Sir John Buchanan of Scotscraig." Scotscraig was near Tayport, Fife. In 1671, John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall saw their initials "SJB" (Sir John Buchanan) and "DMH" (Dame Margaret Hartsyde) carved on the windows of the house at Scotscraig.
Margaret and John had children, including:
- Margaret Buchanan (died 1657), who married Arthur Erskine in 1628.
- Catherine Buchanan, who married William Forbes.
The exact date of Margaret Hartsyde's death is not known. A royal document from April 1643 mentions that Margaret Hartsyde and John Buchanan had died sometime after 1635. Their son-in-law, Arthur Erskine, inherited Scotscraig. The lands of Edmonston and Cauldcotts near Edinburgh were later bought by Sir Thomas Hope.
