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A blog by Stuart McCabe, based on his book, Let the Wolves Devour
Lady Margaret Douglas, countess of Lennox (1515–1578), noblewoman, only
child legitimate of Archibald Douglas, sixth earl of Angus (c.
1489–1557), and his second wife, Queen Margaret Tudor, Queen of
Scotland. Margaret Tudor was also daughter of Henry VII of England and
Elizabeth of York. Lady Margaret Douglas was born on 8 October 1515 at Harbottle Castle in Northumberland.
Queen Margaret Tudor’s first husband had been James IV, king of Scots,
who died at the Battle of Flodden Field in England, Sept 9th, 1513,
waging war on England and Queen Margaret’s brother Henry VIII. James IV
left one only two legitimate sons, James V, a mere infant born in 1512,
and Alexander who would die in 1515.
Queen Margaret then involved herself with the power struggles that
emerged, with various factions seeking to possess the person of James V
and rule Scotland. Queen Margaret would gain the regency of Scotland,
and then lose it when she married Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus.
Although this marriage allowed her to gather together a strong coalition
of supporters, unfortunately her rivals would invite a Frenchman of
Royal Scots descent, John Stuart, third Duke of Albany who would be
appointed Regent. With French money In 1515 Albany would buy up a strong
body of supporters, and gain possession of James at Stirling. Whilst
pregnant Queen Margaret escaped Albany and fled south to the court of
her brother, Henry VIII, travelling through hostile border country with
small escort, in the depths of winter, and with bands of raiders and
outlaws hoping to capture her and claim a bounty from Albany. Margaret
was seized with labour pains and forced to seek shelter in the castle of
Thomas, second Lord Dacre, at Harbottle. After her daughter Margaret was
born on October 8th, 1515, a baptism was held the day after the birth.
Queen Margaret ill during the winter, in the spring she took her infant
daughter to the English court where she was brought up in the royal
nurseries at Greenwich Palace. The earl of Angus did not join his wife
and daughter in England, preferring to make his peace with Albany and
ensure his lands are not forfeited to the crown. This would cause a
growing friction between Margaret and Angus, who would have felt she had
been deserted. In June 1517 Henry VIII sent Margaret and daughter back
to Scotland.
Whilst Queen Margaret, Angus and their daughter were reunited, when
Margaret discovered that Angus had a mistress a furious argument ensued,
and Angus took possession of his then three year daughter and took her
to Tantallon Castle. He would from them on bring young Margaret up, and
use her as a emotional lever against the mother. Queen Margaret was
caught between a bitter husband depriving her of her daughter, and the
Duke of Albany who possessed her son James V. When the Earl of Angus
gained possession of James V, he would practically rule Scotland.
Queen Margaret would eventually win the power struggle against the Earl
of Angus, and when James V escaped the custody of Angus he raised an
army and pursued him in 1528. Angus and his band would run and ride in
the border country, and his daughter who had been brought in the martial
skills and the outdoor life would accompany him. Finally they crossed
into England and in November 1530 the duchess of Suffolk and dowager
queen of France invited her to live in London. Henry VIII then decreed
that she should live at Beaulieu, in the household of his daughter Mary.
With only four months between them in age, the two girls became lifelong
friends, despite the fact that in 1536 Henry removed both his daughters
from the succession on the grounds of their alleged illegitimacy, and
for a time Lady Margaret Douglas was treated as a heiress
presumptive.
Margaret was popular at court, described as 'beautiful and highly
esteemed'. She would be appointed lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn, she
got on surprisingly well with the new queen, and fell in love with
Anne's uncle, Thomas Howard. The two became secretly engaged but Henry
VIII was furious when Henry found out he was convinced that Howard was
aiming to capture the Crown of England through marriage to Lady
Margaret. Henry sent both to the Tower until Margaret fell ill with
fever. She was transferred to the abbey of Sion, near Isleworth, then
eventually freed on 29 October 1537. Thomas Howard would die in the
Tower a few days after Margaret was released. With the birth of his son
Edward, Henry would reconsider his attitude to Margaret and appeared to
treat her as illegitimate. No longer a threat to his crown she was
allowed to return to court. However she would fall in love with Charles
Howard, brother of Katherine Howard, and Henry once more sent her to the
abbey of Sion.
Margaret would be allowed to return to court in 1543, when her father
the exiled Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, would involve himself in
Scottish politics after the death of James V in late 1542. A struggle
would ensue to gain possession of James V's infant daughter Mary, Queen
of Scots, fought between James Hamilton, Lord Governor of Scotland who
was head of the protestant reformers in Scotland, and Cardinal Beaton
and Mary's mother Mary of Guise, representing the catholic factions.
James Hamilton was also designated the second person of the realm having
a claim after the infant Mary to the crown of Scotland. Scottish
prisoners of war in England would be freed and allowed to return to
Scotland along with Angus. Joining with the Scottish protestant, this
became a strong force.
To counter James Hamilton, Cardinal Beaton lured Matthew Stuart
(1516-1571), 4th or 13th Earl of Lennox from France where he had been
serving as a military captain. The Lennox-Stuarts were bitter enemies of
the Hamiltons, and Matthew also had a claim to the crown of Scotland
being a descendent of James I. Lennox would successfully save Mary and
her mother from James Hamilton and take them to Stirling and safety.
However, he soon realized that he was being used by Cardinal Beaton and
Mary of Guise, in order to get the Hamiltons to change sides. In one of
the most unusual about-turns in Scottish history, the Protestant
reformer James Hamilton made peace with Beaton, he switched from being a
protestant reformer and returned to the catholic faith. He was also
recognised as second person of the realm and Lord Governor of Scotland.
The Earl of Lennox, who was a catholic, changed sides.
It is said that the Earl of Angus convinced Lennox to marry his daughter
when they met in Scotland. Whilst there is no record of Lennox having
met with Lady Margaret, he was said to have fallen in love. It is
possible that Angus had a mini-portrait of his daughter that he showed
Lennox.
Henry VIII approved of the marriage. On 6 July 1544, in St James's
Palace, London, Lady Margaret married Matthew Stuart. On his wedding day
he became a naturalized Englishman, receiving from the king grants of
property in London and Yorkshire. Whilst Lennox would lead protestant
forces in Scotland, and had lands and estates in protestant England,
both Lady Margaret and he would remain Catholics.
Lady Margaret's would give birth to Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley on
December 7th 1545, a week after the older twin had died. Henry would
marry Mary, Queen of Scots and there son James VI of Scotland would in
1603 become James I of England, successfully uniting the two realms.
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