Find me here:
  The Paranormal Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Atlas
  • Glossary

Lady Janet Douglas

5/10/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Glamis Castle, a picturesque, medievil building, full to the brim of mystery and tragedy.

One tale it tells is of Lady Janet Douglas, an innocent accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake by King James V, purely because of his deep hatred for her brother and desire for revenge.

A 'Well Bred Lady'

PictureLady Janet Douglas
Lady Janet Douglas was married to the 6th Lord of Glamis. It was a very advantageous marriage, and by all reports, also a very happy one. They had one son, John, and lived peacefully and in contentment until 1528, when Lord Glamis passed away. As was the way with well bred women in those days, Lady Janet married a second time, to a second son known as Archibald Campbell. Not much is known about their marriage.

King James V had a bone to pick with Lady Janet – and all because the deep hatred he held for his step-father who had held him captive in order to claim rulership – and he was Lady Janet’s brother. She was fair game for the vindictive King and if James couldn’t get revenge on Archibald Douglas, he’d get it on his sister instead.

James set to work on Janet’s downfall with a passion. He accused Lady Janet of making potions of ill intent with which to assassinate him, by the use of witchcraft. In doing so, he confiscated Glamis Castle in the name of the Crown and decided to live there. Lady Janet, her husband and her 16 year old son John were thrown in the dark and dank dudgeons of Edinburgh Castle. On a side note, Archibald, Janet’s husband is said to have escaped the castle, but was later killed.

Torture

PictureKing James V
Nobody believed for a second that Lady Janet was guilty of the charges the King laid against her. She was a very well respected woman. She was known to be good to those in need and fair to those who may have crossed her. The King therefore had trouble trying to convict her. There was only one way for his vengeance to be laid to rest… he would have to resort to torture.

Over the next while, the King rounded up as many clansmen and servants as he could find, and put them on ‘the rack’, an instrument of torture which was like a flat bed table, but with rollers. The victim would be tied to each end, and a cinch would be turned which would stretch the victim upon it, ultimately dislocating the bones in their body, and if not ceasing, tearing the victim in half.

After a considerable amount of torture, they all ‘confessed’, claiming she was an evil witch who had it in for the King.

The final instrument of her undoing was when the King began on John, Janet’s 16 year old son. John had been forced to watch his friends, family and servants tortured and then became a victim of it himself. Of course there is only so much a human can deal with, physically and mentally, and poor John also confessed to witchcraft.

The King was euphoric! He had achieved is goal. With the evidence he had produced, both Lady Janet and her son John were convicted of Witchcraft and were sentenced to death.

Execution

PictureGlamis Castle
On 17 July, 1537, Lady Janet was brought to the pyre for her execution. Eyewitnesses described her as a beautiful young woman who was in great suffering, which she endured with ‘man-like courage’. It was said that nobody ever doubted her innocence and that all knew her execution was purely in retaliation of King James’ hatred for her brother.

Lady Janet was burned alive at Edinburgh Castle (and in some sources, at Glamis Castle). All of the onlookers watched in silence, tears in their eyes.

John, now the 7th Lord of Glamis, was not executed, and was released from prison after King James V died. Parliament also restored Glamis Castle back to him.

Lady Janet is said to roam the halls of Glamis Castle… she has been seen wandering the halls of the castle, kneeling in front of the alter praying in the chapel and above the clock tower.

Apparently, when in the chapel of the castle, people are overcome with a feeling of immense sadness and desolation. A seat is constantly kept empty for Lady Janet in the chapel, and it is said one hundred witnesses once saw her glide past them in the chapel, heading towards her allocated seat.

Lady Janet is known as one of the most tragic figures in Scotland.


Peet Banks 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    The Paranormal Guide Articles

    Here you will find all of the articles written for The Paranormal Guide on all things paranormal, strange, dark, macabre, weird, strange and bizarre!

    All photos with the blog posts remain the property of their respectful owners. If one of your photos is featured here without attribution please leave a comment on the blog and full credit will be given.

    Categories

    All
    Bizarre Experiments
    Conspiracy
    Cryptozoology
    Cursed And Haunted Objects
    Curses Demons And Exorcisms
    Earth Mysteries
    Fakes Frauds And Hoaxes
    Ghosts And Hauntings
    Ghosts Ghouls And Demons
    Interesting And Inspiring People
    Investigations
    Miracles
    My Paranormal
    Paranormal Photos
    Paranormal Vocabulary
    Phobias And Philias
    Post Mortem Practices
    Psychics Predictions And Seers
    Questions And Discussions
    Reviews
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Strange And Macabre Places
    Strange And Tragic Deaths
    This Week In Dark History
    Tragedy
    True Crime And Punishment
    Ufos And Aliens
    Unsolved Mysteries
    Urban Legend Superstition And Folklore
    Weird Odd And Bizarre


    Ashley Hall -
    The Paranormal Guide

    Ashley Hall explores The Paranormal, True Crime, Strange Deaths, Dark History, The Weird, The Strange and The Bizarre! Fact or Fiction? You decide!

    Picture

    Contributors

    Picture
    Matty Sweeney
    Picture
    Peet Banks
    Picture
    Nic Hume

    Picture
    Check out The Paranormal Guide Podcast and join three paranormal investigators and researchers for honest and raw discussions on all things paranormal, strange, dark and macabre HERE!

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Please note that dates are from when the article was originally made.
    The Paranormal Guide does have posts all the way up to the current date.


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.