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Biography of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 1516-1571

Paternal Family Tree: Stewart

Maternal Family Tree: Marjory Sutherland Countess Orkney and Caithness

1526 Battle of Linlithgow Bridge

1544 First Battle of Glasgow

1571 Raid on Stirling Castle

On 19 Jan 1511 [his father] John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox (age 21) and [his mother] Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox (age 16) were married. She by marriage Countess Lennox. She the daughter of [his grandfather] John Stewart 1st Earl Atholl (age 71) and [his grandmother] Eleanor Sinclair Countess Atholl (age 54). He the son of [his grandfather] Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Lennox (age 36). They were half first cousin twice removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 21 Sep 1516 Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox was born to John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox (age 26) and Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox (age 21) at Dumbarton Castle, Dunbarton.

Battle of Linlithgow Bridge

On 04 Sep 1526 the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge was fought between supporters of Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland (age 36), the king's mother, commanded by [his father] John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox (age 36) and supporters of [his future father-in-law] Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus (age 37) commanded by James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran (age 51), over who would have control over King James V of Scotland (age 14) in his minority.

John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox was killed possibly after surrendering. His son Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 9) succeeded 4th Earl Lennox.

William Cunningham 4th Earl Glencairn (age 33) was captured.

In 1535 Thomas Howard (age 24) and [his future wife] Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 19) were married in secret. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus (age 46) and Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland (age 45). He the son of Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk and Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk (age 58). She a granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Wriothesley's Chronicle 1537. 31 Oct 1537. This yeare, on All Hallowe Even, the Lord Thomas Howarde (age 26), brother to the Duke of Northfolke (age 64), died in prison in the Tower of London, and his bodie was caried to Thetforde, and there buried.

Allso the Ladie [his future wife] Margarett Duglas (age 22), that had lyen in prison in the Tower of London for love betwene him and her, was pardoned by the King and sett agayne at her libertie; howbeit, she tooke his death very heavilie.1

Note 1. In 1644 she married Matthew fourth Earl of Lennox (age 21), and became Conntess of Lennox, and mother of [his son] Darnley.

First Battle of Glasgow

On 16 Mar 1544 the First Battle of Glasgow was fought between an army of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 27), who supported a marriage between King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 6) and [his future daughter-in-law] Mary Queen of Scots (age 1), and an army of James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 28) who opposed it.

Robert Boyd 4th Lord Boyd (age 59) fought for James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran for which was rewarded with the family lands (which he held in tack), as well as the restoration of his family's title of Lord Boyd.

On 06 Jul 1544 Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 27) and Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 28) were married. She by marriage Countess Lennox. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus (age 55) and Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland. He the son of John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox and Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox (age 49). They were half fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 07 Dec 1545 [his son] Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart was born to Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 29) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 30). He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Around May 1557 [his son] Charles Stewart 5th Earl Lennox was born to Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 40) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 41). He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 25 Nov 1564 [his mother] Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox (age 69) died.

On 29 Jul 1565 [his son] Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (age 19) and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Queen of Scots (age 22) were married at Holyrood Palace, Holyrood. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 48) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 49). They were half first cousins. He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

1571 Raid on Stirling Castle

On 04 Sep 1571 supporters of [his former daughter-in-law] Mary Queen of Scots (age 28) led by George Gordon 5th Earl Huntley attacked Stirling Castle [Map].

Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 54)was shot. His son [his son] Charles Stewart 5th Earl Lennox (age 14) succeeded 5th Earl Lennox.

Alexander Stewart (age 39) was killed

On 07 Mar 1578 [his former wife] Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 62) died.

Chronicle of Scotland by Robert Lindesay Volume 2 Book 1 Chapter 4. The gowernour and cardinall beand aggreit in this maner the governour commitit him all haill to the cardinall and that he sould remane at his counsall. And to that effectt delywerit him his eldest sone in pladge and was put in Sanctandrois in his castell in keiping. Schone eftir this the lordis convenit at Stiruiling the xx [20th] day of August in the zeir of god Im vc xliij [1543] zeiris and thair convenit the zoung quein with gret solempnitie, trieumphe, playis, phrassis and bankating and great danceing befor the quene with greit lordis and frinche ladyis. And schone eftir this thair was ane parliament hauldin at Edinburgh the xxviij [28th] of August the zeir of god foirsaid1 quhair thair the contractt of pace and mariaige maid betuix ingland and scotland was dissolweit in plane parliament aganes money of the hairtis of Scotland except allennerlie the quein and cardinall and thair factioun for it maid meikill weir heirschip and slauchter in scotland as ze sall heir heireftir. This beand done the quein returned agane to stirvilling with hir in cumpanie the erle of lennox2 and the erle bothwell3 with mony vther lordis and gentillmen and speciallie thame that war owaris4 and lowearis for hir court was than lyk wenus and cupido in the tyme of fresche maij for thair was sic dansing singing playing and merines into the court at that tyme that no man wald haue tyred thairin bot at this tyme the erle of lennox persawing the governour and cardinall to be aggreit and so tender and familiar togidder that he dreidit no les nor he was dissawit and frustrat of his purpois.

Note 1. This Parliament of 28th August 1543 is not recorded,

Note 2. Matthew, fourth Earl of Lennox, father of [his son] Darnley.

Note 3. Patrick, third Earl of Bothwell, father of James, fourth Earl of Bothwell, husband of Queen Mary.

Note 4. "Owaris"? See Glossary.

Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 1516-1571 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

King Edward III of England 1312-1377

John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster 1340-1399

Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent 1350-1397

Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster 1350-1403

Royal Ancestors of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 1516-1571

Kings Wessex: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 10 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 16 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 11 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 4 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 10 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 6 Grand Son of Philip IV King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 18 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 1516-1571

King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland

Ancestors of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 1516-1571

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart of Darnley

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stewart of Darnley 1st Count Évreux

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jonetta Keith

Great x 2 Grandfather: Alan Stewart of Darnley

Great x 4 Grandfather: Duncan Lennox 8th Earl Lennox

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Lennox Countess Évreux

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Lennox 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Seton 2nd Lord Seton 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Seton Master of Seton 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Sinclair Lady Seton

Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Seton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Dunbar 10th Earl March

Great x 3 Grandmother: Janet Dunbar 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Christina Wyntoun Countess Dunbar 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

GrandFather: Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Montgomerie Countess Lennox

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Boyd 5th of Kilmarnock

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Boyd

Father: John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: James Hamilton

Great x 1 Grandfather: James Hamilton 1st Lord Hamilton

GrandMother: Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Lennox 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Robert III of Scotland 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: King James I of Scotland 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: King James II of Scotland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Stewart Countess Arran 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Egmont

Great x 3 Grandfather: Arnold Egmont 1st Duke Guelders

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Adolph La Marck I Duke Cleves 7 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine La Marck 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Valois Duchess Cleves 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Stewart

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Stewart of Innermeath

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Graham

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stewart of Innermeath 3rd of Lorn

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Holkettle

Great x 1 Grandfather: James "Black Knight of Lorn" Stewart

Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel Macdougall

GrandFather: John Stewart 1st Earl Atholl 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Edward III of England Son of King Edward II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Giles "Payne" Roet

Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster

Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Mother: Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Sinclair 2nd Earl Orkney

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William "Nithsdale" Douglas

Great x 2 Grandmother: Egidia "Fair Maid of Nithsdale" Douglas Countess Orkney 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Robert II of Scotland 3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Princess Egidia Stewart 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Euphemia Ross Queen Consort Scotland

GrandMother: Eleanor Sinclair Countess Atholl 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Marjory Sutherland Countess Orkney and Caithness