Note 886 — THE PREFACE (continued 4)

Lady Jane Stewart, a natural daughter of King James the Fifth, and Elizabeth, daughter of John Lord Carmichael. Her marriage with Archibald fifth Earl of Argyle took place in April 1554, and proved unfortunate for both parties; but no separation ensued till about the year 1564. She received from her sister, Queen Mary, a pension of £150, in June 1565. She was one of the party at supper in Holyrood Palace the night of Riccio's murder, 9th March 1566. She stood sponsor for Queen Elizabeth at the baptism of James the Sixth. In 1567, (15th November,) the Treasurer paid "to Dame Janet Stewart, Comptis of Ergile," £133, 6s. 8d. The action of Divorce founded upon the complaints of both parties, led to a lengthened litigation, of which Mr. Riddell has furnished a detailed account in his most valuable work on Peerage and Consistorial Law, vol. i. pp. 547-551. In 1569, the Earl offered to adhere, and to receive her in his Castle of Dunoon, but the Lady now refused. At length the Earl, on the 23d June 1573, "obtained, (says Mr. Riddell,) a decree of divorce, simpliciter, by the Commissaries of Edinburgh, adjudging her to have 'lost her tocher ad donationis propter nuptias."' The Earl immediately availed himself of this judgment, by forming an alliance with Lady Jane Cunningham, daughter of Alexander Earl of Glencairn, in the month of August. Having died within a month of his second marriage, 12th September 1573, (see page 258;) his first wife soon afterwards raised an action of Reduction of the Divorce, styling Lady Jane Cunningham, as "pretendit spous of umquhil Archibald Erle of Argyle." She died in the Canongate, 7th January 1586-7, and was interred in the Royal Vault in the Abbey of Holyrood House. Her own settlement became the subject of litigation. (Commissary Court Records, 11th March 1587)