Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis

Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis (c. 1498 – 17 July 1537) was a Scottish noblewoman accused of attempted murder, who was executed by burning during the reign of James V of Scotland. Janet was accused of trying to poison James V, implicated by a spurned suitor. James hated the Douglas family and swore revenge after mistreatment by his stepfather Archibald Douglas.

Janet Douglas
Bornc. 1498
Died17 July 1537
Cause of deathExecuted by burning
Known forScottish noblewoman accused of attempting to poison the King, often confused with an accusation of witchcraft
Spouses
  • John Lyon, 6th Lord Glamis (1492–1528)
  • Archibald Campbell of Skipnish
Children
  • John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis
  • George Lyon
  • Margaret Lyon
  • Elizabeth Lyon
  • John Campbell, of Skipness, Provost of Kilmun
Parent(s)George Douglas, Master of Angus and Elizabeth Drummond

Charges for Treason

The Douglas family was far from favoured by King James V of Scotland; Janet's brother, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, was the King's stepfather and her brother, and Angus had imprisoned the young James. James' hatred for Angus extended to his whole family, including Janet. After James had broken free of the Douglas family, in December 1528, Janet was summoned for treason. She was accused with others for bringing supporters of the Earl of Angus to Edinburgh in June. However, James called her "our lovittis Dame Jonat Douglas" in a licence of 1529, allowing her and a co-accused Patrick Charteris of Cuthilgurdy to go on pilgrimage, and be exempt from legal proceedings.

A recent historian, Jamie Cameron, thinks it unlikely that Janet went on pilgrimage, as she was the subject of a number of legal actions culminating in a charge of poisoning her husband John Lyon, 6th Lord Glamis who had died on 17 September 1528. This case was dropped, and Janet was free to marry her second husband, Archibald Campbell of Skipness by the summer of 1532. However, on 17 July 1537, Janet was convicted of planning to poison the King, and communicating with her brothers, the Earl of Angus and George Douglas.[1]

Some have alleged that James had Janet accused of witchcraft against him, but there is no record of this and Pitcairn dismisses this myth in Criminal Trials, Vol I, pp. 189-90. She was imprisoned with her husband (who escaped but was later killed) in a dungeon of Edinburgh Castle. It was easy for James to imprison Janet, but actually convicting her was more difficult. To gain "evidence", James had Janet's family members and servants subjected to torture. Janet was convicted and burned at the stake on 17 July 1537 by Edinburgh Castle, which her young son was forced to watch.

Family

She was the daughter of George Douglas, Master of Angus and Elizabeth Drummond, daughter of John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond. She married firstly to John Lyon, 6th Lord Glamis (1492–1528) and by him had issue:

Janet, Lady Glamis married secondly Archibald Campbell of Skipnish, second son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, and had issue:[2]

  • John Campbell, of Skipness, Provost of Kilmun

References
  1. Cameron, Jamie, James V, Tuckwell (1998), pp. 169-181, 204-05.
  2. Balfour Paul, Sir James, Scots Peerage vol viii, pp.278-280, Edinburgh 1904
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