Marion Ogilvy
Encyclopedia
Marion Ogilvy was the wife or mistress of Cardinal Beaton
an advisor of James V of Scotland
.
Marion was a younger daughter of Sir James Ogilvy of Lintrathen. Sir James, a diplomat, was created Lord Ogilvy of Airlie by James IV of Scotland
in 1491. Her mother was Janet Lyle (d. 1525), who was her father's 4th wife, and possibly a daughter of Robert, 2nd Lord Lyle, of Renfrewshire
, another of the King's diplomats. As a child she lived at Airlie Castle
and her family's lodging in Arbroath
. She had an older full sister, Janet Ogilvy, and a much older half-brother, John Ogilvy, who became the 2nd Lord Ogilvy.
At her father's death the marriages of Janet and Marion were in the hands of Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar
. Marion seem to have remained unmarried and was her mother's executor.
. One of her incomes was the rents of the Kirktoun of St Vigeans
. Beaton's relationship with Marion is often cited as one of his faults, as a Catholic clergyman supposed to remain celibate. However, Beaton's clerical status was complicated. He was not a monk, or professed member of the Benedictine Order, though Abbot or Commendator of Arbroath Abbey
. Neither was he in full priest's orders at the start of their relationship. At this time clergymen who pursued secular careers as royal administrators and diplomats were able to postpone their ordination by seeking permission from the Pope. Despite these reservations, the historian Margaret Sanderson sees their relationship as example of clerical concunbinage which Beaton himself condemned in others. In her biography Cardinal of Scotland, Sanderson discusses the issue at greater length and points out that all their eight children were born before he was fully ordained, which presumably occurred at the time his consecration as Bishop of Mirepoix in 1538. The Cardinal's relationship with Marion seems not to have become a specific target of his critics or an embarrassment to his apologists until the 19th century.
In 1543, David Beaton bought Melgund Castle
from his widowed sister-in-law. The castle became Marion's home. In the new tower they built, a chamber in the tower has their heraldry displayed over the windows. The Cardinal was killed at St Andrews Castle
in 1546. According to John Knox
, Marion had just left the castle by the privy postern before it was overwhelmed by Beaton's enemies. In 1547, Marion married a William Douglas, but was a widow by 18 September 1547.
Marion died at Melgund in June 1575 and was buried in the Ogilvy aisle at Kinnell parish church.
David Beaton
The Most Rev. Dr. David Cardinal Beaton was Archbishop of St Andrews and the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the Reformation.-Career:...
an advisor of James V of Scotland
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
.
Marion was a younger daughter of Sir James Ogilvy of Lintrathen. Sir James, a diplomat, was created Lord Ogilvy of Airlie by James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
in 1491. Her mother was Janet Lyle (d. 1525), who was her father's 4th wife, and possibly a daughter of Robert, 2nd Lord Lyle, of Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, another of the King's diplomats. As a child she lived at Airlie Castle
Airlie Castle
Airlie Castle is a mansion house near the junction of the Isla and Melgund rivers, 9 kilometres west of Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. A castle was built on the site in c. 1432 and was burnt out in 1640, with a mansion house being built incorporating and on top of some of the ruins in c. 1792–93 and...
and her family's lodging in Arbroath
Arbroath
Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus in Scotland, and has a population of 22,785...
. She had an older full sister, Janet Ogilvy, and a much older half-brother, John Ogilvy, who became the 2nd Lord Ogilvy.
At her father's death the marriages of Janet and Marion were in the hands of Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar
Midmar Castle
Midmar Castle is a 16th-century castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, located west of Westhill and west of Echt. The castle was built for George Gordon of Midmar and Abergeldie between 1565 and 1575, and was constructed by the stonemason and architect George Bell...
. Marion seem to have remained unmarried and was her mother's executor.
Life with the Cardinal
Marion is recorded in Edinburgh with David Beaton in February 1526, and after she lived at Beaton's Ethie CastleEthie Castle
Ethie Castle is a 14th Century castle, situated around 3 miles north of the fishing town of Arbroath in Angus, Scotland.Ethie Castle dates to around 1300, when the monks at nearby Arbroath Abbey built a sandstone keep. The castle passed through the hands of the de Maxwell family and into the...
. One of her incomes was the rents of the Kirktoun of St Vigeans
St Vigeans
St Vigeans is a small village and parish in Angus, Scotland, immediately to the north of Arbroath. Originally rural, it is now more or less a suburb of the town of Arbroath. The name St Vigeans is derived from Vigeanus, a Latinised form of the Old Irish name Féichín. Saint Feichin flourished in...
. Beaton's relationship with Marion is often cited as one of his faults, as a Catholic clergyman supposed to remain celibate. However, Beaton's clerical status was complicated. He was not a monk, or professed member of the Benedictine Order, though Abbot or Commendator of Arbroath Abbey
Arbroath Abbey
Arbroath Abbey, in the Scottish town of Arbroath, was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. It was consecrated in 1197 with a dedication to the deceased Saint Thomas Becket, whom the king had met at the English court...
. Neither was he in full priest's orders at the start of their relationship. At this time clergymen who pursued secular careers as royal administrators and diplomats were able to postpone their ordination by seeking permission from the Pope. Despite these reservations, the historian Margaret Sanderson sees their relationship as example of clerical concunbinage which Beaton himself condemned in others. In her biography Cardinal of Scotland, Sanderson discusses the issue at greater length and points out that all their eight children were born before he was fully ordained, which presumably occurred at the time his consecration as Bishop of Mirepoix in 1538. The Cardinal's relationship with Marion seems not to have become a specific target of his critics or an embarrassment to his apologists until the 19th century.
In 1543, David Beaton bought Melgund Castle
Melgund Castle
Melgund Castle, lying around 2 kilometres due east of Aberlemno in Angus, Scotland, is a restored 16th century house which today serves as a private residence....
from his widowed sister-in-law. The castle became Marion's home. In the new tower they built, a chamber in the tower has their heraldry displayed over the windows. The Cardinal was killed at St Andrews Castle
St Andrews Castle
St Andrew's Castle is a picturesque ruin located in the coastal Royal Burgh of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. The castle sits on a rocky promontory overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. There has been a castle standing at the site since the times of Bishop Roger...
in 1546. According to John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
, Marion had just left the castle by the privy postern before it was overwhelmed by Beaton's enemies. In 1547, Marion married a William Douglas, but was a widow by 18 September 1547.
Marion died at Melgund in June 1575 and was buried in the Ogilvy aisle at Kinnell parish church.
The Cardinal's children
Some of the children received royal letters of legitimation in March 1531, and the sons were required Papal dispensations to compensate for their 'defect of birth' before starting careers in the church.- Margaret Beaton, married David Lindsay, 10th Earl of Crawford.
- Elizabeth Beaton (d. 1574), married Alexander Lindsay of Vayne
- George Beaton, died young.
- David Beaton of Melgund, married Margaret Lindsay, daughter of Lord Lindsay of the Byres.
- James Beaton (d. 1560)
- Alexander Beaton
- John Beaton
- Agnes Beaton, married firstly, James Ochterlonie of Kellie, secondly George Gordon of Gight, by the latter of whom she was an ancestress of the poet George Gordon Byron.