Jean Fleming, Countess of Cassilis

Jean Fleming, Countess of Cassilis (1553/4–1609) was a Scottish noblewoman and courtier at the court of James VI of Scotland, and a victim of domestic violence.

Biography

Jean Fleming was born in 1553/4, daughter of James Fleming, 4th Lord Fleming and Barbara Hamilton. Upon his death, his title and estates passed to her uncle, James' brother John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming, and Jean Fleming had to resort to action in the Privy Council of Scotland to secure a share of the inheritance.[1]

She married John Maitland, then Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland and later Lord Chancellor of Scotland, in January 1583 and she was then called "Lady Thirlestane". The couple had two children, Anne, born in 1590 and who died in 1609, and John Maitland, a judge who became President of the Parliament of Scotland and of Privy Council.

In December 1587 the poet William Fowler dedicated his Triumphs of Petrarke to her, and a woman "E. D.", perhaps Elizabeth Douglas of Temple-Hall (Ormiston), contributed two sonnets in her praise.[2]

Lady Chancellor

Jean Fleming shared in her husband's work as Chancellor of Scotland. An English visitor at the Scottish court, Thomas Fowler, wrote that she was "a wise woman and half chancellor when he is at home."[3] The goldsmith and royal financier Thomas Foulis made two accounts of money for the mint received from "Lady Thirlestane." The first of the "Lady Chancellaris" accounts commenced on 20 June 1589, and the second began on 1 August 1590. Fleming received an amethyst ring and large sums of money, perhaps connected with the reception of the royal bride.[4]

In February 1590 she was pregnant with her daughter Anne, as a newsletter noted, "The Lady Chanceller feeles the motion of a barne within her weam."[5] In May 1590 she greeted the new queen of Scotland Anne of Denmark at the Shore of Leith, with the Countess of Mar, Lady Seton, Lady Boyne, and Lady Dudhope.[6]

She managed to make an enemy of Anna of Denmark by remarking in her hearing of Anne's supposed relationship with Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell, who had been imprisoned for witchcraft in connections with events around the marriage of Anne and James, and whose trajectory from this point forwards was escape, exile, forfeiture and death.[1] The queen wrote a letter mentioning her accusation that she was complicit with the Earl of Bothwell.[7]

In September and October 1592 Maitland and his wife were at Greenlaw with the Provost of Lincluden and at Kenmure and Drumlanrig with John Gordon of Lochinvar. Fleming then visited the court.[8] The English ambassador Robert Bowes mentioned the queen's antipathy towards her in September 1593. She was again in the queen's favour by February 1595.[9]

Countess of Cassilis

On Maitland's death on 3 October 1595 Jean was left a rich widow, and quickly married John Kennedy, 5th Earl of Cassilis, some 22-years her junior, becoming Countess of Cassillis. The age disparity aroused considerable scornful comment in the Scottish court, but Jean's wealth ensured the continued status of the couple. It was said, "she was past bairns bearing, and he was a young man not past 23 years."[10]

Kennedy was offered a post as Treasurer in 1599, but declined, fearing the cost of the appointment in terms of anticipated loans to a needy James VI.[1]

On 22 February 1600 Fleming and Cassilis hosted James VI at Thirlestane Castle.[11] In 1602 she was contrasted with the Catholic Lady Livingstone as "a lady without all religion".[12]

As part of the marriage contract of her daughter Anna Maitland and the Master of Winton, Jean Fleming rebuilt Winton Castle for the couple, and the Earl of Winton owed her 2,000 merks for this.[13]

Kennedy was imprisoned twice in 1604 for doing violence to Jean, the first incident involving him dragging her from court before witnesses.[1] King James advised the Privy Council of Scotland to protect her financial interests from her husband.[14]

During this period it was alleged that Hector Ferguson of Letterpin had ambushed Jean Fleming and servants between the Inch of Galloway and Maybole, and chased her to Maybole Castle.[15]

Jean Fleming died in Edinburgh after a period of illness on 23 June 1609 and is buried in St Mary's Collegiate Church, Haddington.[1]

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References
  1. Adams, Sharon. "Fleming, Jean, countess of Cassillis (1553/4–1609), noblewoman". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/69902. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. H. Meikle, Works of William Fowler, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1914), pp. 15-7, 19: Sebastiaan Verweij, The Literary Culture of Early Modern Scotland (Oxford, 2017), pp. 84-5.
  3. HMC Marquis of Salisbury at Hatfield: 1583-1589, vol. 3 (London, 1889), pp. 466-7.
  4. Miles Kerr-Peterson & Michael Pearce, 'James VI's English Subsidy and Danish Dowry Accounts, 1588-1596', Scottish History Society Miscellany XVI (Woodbridge, 2020), pp. 9-10, 62-71.
  5. Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 241.
  6. Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 186, a copy of an order made in October 1589 before James VI went to Norway.
  7. William Fraser, The Douglas Book, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1885), pp. 38-40
  8. Joseph Bain, Calendar of Border Papers, vol. 1 (London, 1894), pp. 411-2.
  9. Annie I. Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1593-1595, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 180, 539.
  10. John Mackenzie, A chronicle of the kings of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1830), p. 157
  11. Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 part 2 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 627.
  12. Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1969), 997.
  13. George Seton, History of the family of Seton during eight centuries, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1896) p. 897.
  14. Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 7 (Edinburgh, 1885), p. 464.
  15. Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1895), p. 411.
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