The crest is that for the Stewart/Stuart royal family.
Lady Janet Stewart was an illegitimate daughter of King James IV of Scots by Agnes Stewart, a daughter, also illegitimate, of James Stewart, Earl of Buchan. After her birth her mother married the Earl of Bothwell. Lady Janet Stewart was probably only about fifteen when she married Malcolm, Lord Fleming, who was then about twenty-five, and they became the parents of at least six children. However, when Lord Fleming was in his fifty-third year, he fell in the Battle of Pinkie.
When the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, went to France, the widowed Lady Fleming went with her as governess. The party embarked on 29 July 1548 and waited until on 7 August the required wind allowed them to sail. During this period of forced waiting Lady Fleming became bored and demanded to be put ashore. However, the captain replied that Lady Fleming, so far from being able to go on land, could go to France and like it or drown on the way. Amongst the other attendants was also Lady Fleming's daughter, Mary, who, as one of the four "Maries", also attended Mary, Queen of Scots.
On arrival in France, Lady Fleming's "charms" were very much appreciated. According to the Venetian ambassador she was "a very pretty little woman". Antoinette de Guise was very pleased with her granddaughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, but much less so with the attendants whom she regarded, with the exception of Lady Fleming, as ill-looking and noteven properly washed.
As Mary was to be first and foremost Queen of France, most of her attendants were returned to Scotland. However, Lady Fleming was again an exception and remained in France. The reason may well have been that she found favour in the eyes of the French king, Henri II.
Soon Lady Fleming scandalised the French with her remark: "I have done all I can, and God be thanked, I am pregnant by the king, for which I count myself both honoured and happy." However, her happiness was short-lived as, after she had given birth to a son, she was sent back to Scotland thanks to the efforts not only of Henri II's queen, Catherine de' Medici, but also of his mistress, Diane de Poitiers.
Lady Fleming died in Scotland between 5 October 1560 and 20 February 1563.
Elle fut l'une des favorites de Henri II, Roi de FRANCE. |