Jean Lyon, Countess of Angus (died c. 1610) was a Scottish courtier and landowner, who became involved in a witchcraft trial. She was a daughter of

John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis (died 1578) was a Scottish nobleman, judge and Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. Life He was the eldest son of John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis, by his wife, Janet Keith, daughter of Robert Keith, Master of Marischal, and si ...

and Elizabeth Abernethy, only daughter of William Abernethy, 5th Lord Saltoun.

Marriages

She married firstly Robert Douglas younger of Lochleven, Master of Morton. Their children included

William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton (1582 – 7 August 1648) was a grandson of the 6th Earl of Morton. He was Treasurer of Scotland, and a zealous Royalist. Life He was the son of Robert Douglas, Master of Morton, and Jean Lyon, daughter of ...

. Robert Douglas was lost at sea in 1585. Secondly she married

Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus and 5th Earl of Morton (15554 August 1588) was a Scottish aristocrat. Family background He was the son of David Douglas, 7th Earl of Angus, David, 7th Earl of Angus. He succeeded to the title and estates i ...

, and they had a daughter, Margaret Douglas. Thirdly she married

Alexander Lindsay, 1st Lord Spynie Alexander Lindsay, 1st Lord Spynie (died 5 June 1607) was a Scottish nobleman. His death is the subject of the ballad ''Lord Spynie''. Early life Lindsay was the fourth son of David Lindsay, 10th Earl of Crawford, by his wife Margaret Beaton, d ...

Witchcraft

The

Earl of Angus The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish Provinces of Scotland, province of Angus, Scotland, Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is held by the Duke of Hamilton, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldes ...

died at Smeaton on 4 August 1588, and the influence of witchcraft was suspected. On 8 May 1591

Barbara Napier Barbara Napier or Naper was a Scottish woman involved in the 1591 North Berwick witch trials. Details of charges against her survive, and she was found guilty of consulting with witches, but it is unclear if, like the other accused people, she was ...

was accused on several witchcraft charges including that of asking

Agnes Sampson Agnes Sampson (died 28 January 1591) was a Scottish healer and purported witch. Also known as the "Wise Wife of Keith", Sampson was involved in the North Berwick witch trials in the later part of the sixteenth century. Background Sampson live ...

to aid Jean Lyon during pregnancy by preventing her vomiting with magic. Barbara was also accused of asking Sampson to charm her into Jean Lyon's favour. Napier was acquitted of making a charm with Sampson to cause the death of the Earl of Angus. It is unclear if Barbara Napier was subsequently executed, or released. The countess had a daughter on 26 December 1588, and so the inheritance of the earldom came into dispute.

Royal jewel

In February 1590 James Lumsden of Airdrie in

Crail Crail (; ) is a former royal burgh, parish and Community council#Scotland, community council area (Royal Burgh of Crail and District) in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. The locality has an estimated population of 1,630 (2018). Etymology The ...

(d. 1598) and William Napier of Wrichtshouses returned a royal jewel consisting of a diamond in a gold setting worth 2,000 French gold crowns to the Privy Council. Lumsden said he had obtained the jewel from Jean Lyon, Countess of Angus, and pledged it on her behalf to an Edinburgh merchant Jacob Barron for a loan, not knowing it was a royal jewel. Twenty years previously a number of

jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots The jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587) are mainly known through the evidence of inventories held by the National Records of Scotland. She was bought jewels during her childhood in France, adding to those she inherited. She gave gifts of ...

had been marketed or pledged for loans by

Regent Moray James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (c. 1531 – 23 January 1570) was a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland. At times a supporter of his half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, he was the regent of Scot ...

and

William Kirkcaldy of Grange Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange (c. 1520 –3 August 1573) was a Scottish politician and soldier who fought for the Scottish Reformation. He ended his career holding Edinburgh castle on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots and was hanged at the c ...

during the Marian Civil War, and this jewel may have left the royal collection at that time.

Lord Spynie

James VI of Scotland James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...

influenced Jean Lyon to wed Lord Spynie, writing letters to both parties to urge their marriage. They hosted James VI and

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I. She was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and List of English royal consorts, Queen of Engl ...

Aberdour Aberdour (; Scots: , ) is a scenic and historic village on the south coast of Fife, Scotland. It is on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, looking south to the island of Inchcolm and its Abbey, and to Leith and Edinburgh beyond. According ...

at the end of December 1590. They had two sons,

Alexander Lindsay, 2nd Lord Spynie Alexander Lindsay, 2nd Lord Spynie (died March 1646) was a Scottish nobleman and soldier of fortune. Life He was the eldest son of Alexander Lindsay, 1st Lord Spynie from his wife Jean Lyon. He was still a minor at the time of his father's murd ...

, and John who died young, and two daughters, Anne, who married to Sir Robert Graham of Invermay, and Margaret, who married John Erskine of

Dun Dun most commonly refers to: *Dun gene, which produces a brownish-gray color (dun) in horses and other Equidae * Dun (fortification), an ancient or medieval fort Dun or DUN may also refer to: Places Scotland * Dun, Angus, a civil parish in ...

. The English ambassador Robert Bowes described her in August 1592 as the "late lady and mistress of Arderyre", meaning James Lumsden, Laird of Airdrie, who was a supporter of the rebel

Earl of Bothwell Earl of Bothwell was a title that was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. It was first created for Patrick Hepburn in 1488, and was forfeited in 1567. Subsequently, the earldom was recreated for the 4th Earl's nephew and heir of line, F ...

, who she owed money. It was thought she had spoken to Bothwell at Aberdour Castle and invited him there. Bowes wrote that Spynie was pursuing Airdrie for money owed to Jean Lyon, apparently to prevent him testifying about Bothwell's alleged visit to Aberdour. The old laird of Airdrie's wife, Marjorie Douglas, had died on 14 February 1591.''Diary of John Lamont'' (Edinburgh, 1830), p. 228.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyon, Jean

Angus Angus may refer to: *Angus, Scotland, a council area of Scotland, and formerly a province, sheriffdom, county and district of Scotland * Angus, Canada, a community in Essa, Ontario Animals * Angus cattle, various breeds of beef cattle Media * ...

16th-century Scottish women landowners 16th-century Scottish landowners

Jean Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * J ...

Daughters of barons

Spynie Spynie was a seaport, burgh and ancient parish in Moray, Scotland, that survives as a small hamlet and Civil parishes in Scotland, civil parish. It is the location of the ruins of Spynie Palace, which was the principal residence of the Bishop of Mo ...

Date of death unknown