Janet Beaton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1519 Creich, Scotland |
| Died | January 1569 (aged 49-50) Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Known for | Mistress of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell; immortalised as Sir Walter Scott's Wizard Lady of Branxholm in his narrative poem "Lay of the Last Minstrel" |
| Spouses | Sir James Crichton
(m. 1538–1539)Sir Simon Preston
(m. 1540–1543) |
| Children | Walter Scott David Scott Grisel Scott Janet Scott Margaret Scott |
| Parent(s) | Sir John Beaton, 2nd Laird of Creich Janet Hay |
Janet Beaton, Lady of Branxholme and Buccleugh (1519–1569) was an aristocratic Scottish woman and a mistress of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell.[1] She had a total of five husbands. One of her nieces was Mary Beaton, one of the four ladies-in-waiting of Mary, Queen of Scots, known in history as the four Marys. In her lifetime, she was accused of having been a witch.[2] Janet was immortalised as Sir Walter Scott's Wizard Lady of Branxholm in his celebrated narrative poem "Lay of the Last Minstrel".[3]