| She had a very romantic and chequered career, but only the main points can here be stated. In 1492 she was betrothed to Alexander Gordon, son and apparent heir of John Gordon of Lochinvar, and on 17 July of that year her father paid 200 marks towards her tocher. On 25 September 1497, however, the marriage was still uncompleted, as Alexander Gordon declared himself willing to fulfil his part. But shortly afterwards, in 1498, she was contracted, or, according to a statement by herself, married, to Archibald, fifth Earl of Angus, though she is nowhere described as Countess of Angus, and she had charters from him of various lands, including the lordship of Bothwell, and she is frequently styled Lady Bothwell. But in or about 1499 she became the mistress of King James IV, and had issue by him in 1500 a son, James, created Earl of Moray. The King settled Darnaway Castle upon her, so long as she remained unmarried. Before March 1504-5 this condition appears to have been infringed, and on 6 November 1505, and also on the 28th, she is referred to in civil actions as spouse of Sir John Eamsay of Trarinzean, who had been created Lord Bothwell by King James III. But they were separated before February 1507-8, when he had another wife. She founded a prebend in 1531 in the church of St. Mary's in the Fields (the celebrated Kirk of Field, afterwards fatal to Darnley) for the welfare of Archibald, Earl of Angus, her husband, and she was still alive in December 1543.8 |