Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming (Rob's Clark Family)

Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming (17 July 1502 – 20 February 1562), called la Belle écossaise ("The Beautiful Scotswoman"), was an illegitimate daughter of James IV of Scotland and served as governess to her niece, Mary, Queen of Scots. Janet was briefly a mistress to Henry II of France, by whom she had an illegitimate son, Henri d'Angouleme. Her daughter, Mary Fleming, was one of the Queen's "Four Marys."
     Janet Stewart (called "Jane Stuart" or "Jenny Fleming" in some sources) was the eighth known bastard child of James IV of Scotland, by the fourth mistress with whom he had children. Lady Janet was half-sister to, among others, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray,
 Alexander Stewart, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, as well as King James V of Scotland, her father's only legitimate child to reach adulthood.  Her mother was Isabel Stewart of Buchan, daughter of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan, known as "Hearty James." 
     Lady Janet married Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming (1494-1547) and they had eight children, including Rob's ancestor Bridget Fleming (born in 1530).  Lord Fleming was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. The next year, probably due to her membership in the royal House of Stewart, the widowed Lady Fleming became a governess to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots. As Queen Mary was the daughter of Lady Fleming's half-brother, Lady Fleming could be considered a "half-aunt" to the Queen. Her own daughter, Mary Fleming, also joined the Queen's court as a lady-in-waiting.

     They accompanied the young queen to France in 1548. The Bishop of Orkney, Robert Reid, was worried that Lady Fleming might not be able to explain any symptoms of illness seen in Mary to French doctors, as she was fluent only in the Scots language. Soon, Lady Janet attracted the attentions of King Henry II of France and became his lover. She became pregnant by the king and bore him an illegitimate son. Either before or after the child's birth, she was sent back to Scotland. Her son, Henri d'Valois-Angouleme (1551–June, 1586), was "the chief and most highly favored natural son of the King". He was legitimated and became the "Grand Prior of France, Governor of Provence, and Admiral of the Levantine Sea."

     A letter from Mary of Guise written to her brother, the Cardinal of Lorraine in October 1552 described Janet's situation in Scotland. There had been some talk that Janet would marry Henri Cleutin, Guise's military advisor. Although one of Janet's daughters had told Mary of Guise that her mother did not wish to leave Scotland, Mary of Guise knew that Janet had discussed leaving Scotland with the Governor, Regent Arran, and wanted to see Henry II that winter. Guise told the Cardinal to reassure the Queen of France, Catherine de Medici that Janet would not leave Scotland.

     After the death of Mary of Guise, Janet applied to the Privy Council for permission to leave Scotland with her son "Lord Hary de Valoys" on 22 August 1560. Henry took part in the St. Bartholemew's Day massacre  and was killed in a duel in 1586.  Janet died on February 20, 1562.