The Mysterious Death Of Margaret Drummond
In the middle of the picturesque town of Dunblane, stands one of the most imposing of Scotland’s medieval churches.
The building dates from the 1100s and contains magnificent woodwork, soaring stone arches and stunning stained glass.
But the cathedral also houses a mystery and scandal with royal connections, dating back to the 15th century…..
In front of the high altar lies a brass plaque on blue marbled stone.
These give a tantalizing insight to a little-known piece of Scottish history.
The plaque deals with the mysterious deaths in 1501, of three of the daughters of John, 1st Lord Drummond….
Margaret, Eupheme and Sybylla.
Around 1495, King James IV of Scotland visited Drummond Castle in Perthshire.
This was home to Lord Drummond and his six daughters.
King James was a clever, well-read young man, intensely interested in science and the arts, who also spoke several languages.
He loved hunting and this visit was most likely a hunting trip for himself and his entourage.
Margaret, the eldest daughter, soon caught the eye of the king and he became besotted with the beautiful young woman.
Like most noblemen of the time, James took several mistresses, but this liaison seems to have had a different effect on the lusty 22-year-old monarch.
James made no bones about how he felt towards Margaret Drummond, and was keen to propose marriage.
His royal council was less keen, however.
They had been in talks with the English Tudor king, Henry VII, regarding a match between his daughter Princess Margaret and the young Scots king.
James had various other dalliances during his reign, but none seemed to have had the serious implications of his affair with Margaret Drummond.
Keen to keep himself entertained with various mistresses – some of whom overlapped each other – James had a habit of setting up his lovers in his various castles.
It was no surprise then, when Margaret Drummond was sent to live in Stirling Castle, just two months after their first meeting.
Firmly ensconced in her own apartments in Stirling Castle, Margaret was treated like royalty.
She was considered a high status person in the king’s household.
Then on October 30th, Margaret was moved into Linlithgow Palace where she gave birth to James’s child, a daughter named Margaret Stewart.
James clearly doted on his little baby girl.
Margaret Stewart was given her own quarters at Edinburgh Castle, with a governor and governess, a good sum for her board and attendance, and costly clothes.
The only aspect of her education of which there is any evidence of, is a payment for dancing lessons.
Then, Margaret and her daughter moved out of Linlithgow Palace, and went back to Drummond Castle – with a generous stipend from the king.
James’ courtiers continued to hold talks regarding the alliance with the English Tudor court.
They certainly would have wanted to discourage James from having any thoughts of a marriage to the daughter of a minor noble.
Politics definitely trumped love.
They were desperate to ensure a tie between the two ancient enemies of Scotland and England and a marriage to Princess Margaret Tudor would seal the deal.
However, it’s believed that while his beloved Margaret lived, King James would refuse to marry.
It was even suggested that King James and Margaret Drummond had been secretly married – although there is no contemporary evidence for this.
Perhaps it was this that contributed to the next turn of events for Margaret Drummond……
In 1501, at Drummond Castle, 25 year old Margaret and her two sisters Eupheme and Sybylla, along with several members of the household, became violently ill following a breakfast meal.
Many people appeared to suffer from this mystery illness, but the only fatalities were Margaret and her two sisters.
That the three sisters died together from poisoning is certain, but the purpetrator of the crime remains unknown.
After Margaret’s death, King James paid for masses to be said for her soul.
James continued to support their daughter, who was raised in Stirling castle with his other illegitimate children.
However, the suspicious death of Margaret Drummond, paved the way for the Thistle and the Rose union….
King James IV bound himself to marry Princess Margaret Tudor.
100 years later, their great-grandson James VI of Scotland claimed the English throne upon the death of Elizabeth I, as James I of England.
