Katherine Bellenden

Katherine Bellenden (1497 – c.1568) was a courtier working in the wardrobe of James V of Scotland. Her niece of the same name was similarly employed.

Katherine was the daughter of Patrick Bellenden a servant of Margaret Tudor and Mariota Douglas, who was the nurse of James V. Her older brother was the Justice Clerk Thomas Bellenden of Auchnoule, another brother was the priest, poet, and translator John Bellenden.

Katherine married Adam Hopper (d.1529) in 1527 receiving a royal gift of £300 as a dowry or "tochter" in thanks for her mother's service, then Francis Bothwell, who were both merchants and Provosts of Edinburgh. In 1529 Adam and Francis were business partners exporting fish to England. Her third husband was Oliver Sinclair, the King's favourite, who was reputed to have caused the Scottish defeat at the battle of Solway Moss.

While Katherine worked in the royal wardrobe she bought cambric cloth, Holland cloth, and other materials for making the King's shirts, which she and her colleague Janet Douglas, the King's seamstress, embroidered with gold and silver thread. She sold cloth to the King's tailor, Thomas Arthur, and kept accounts of the King's purse. Janet Douglas, like Katherine, married a prominent courtier, David Lindsay of the Mount a diplomat and poet.

In July 1537 Katherine, described as "Master Francis Bothuilis wyfe" delivered 10 ells of purple velvet for use at the funeral of the Queen, Madeleine of Valois. Amongst the many payments to "Katherine Bellenden" in the Scottish treasurer's accounts one entry notes Katherine as the spouse of Robert Craig, a servant of the tailor Thomas Arthur. This was Katherine's namesake niece, daughter of Thomas Bellenden of Auchnoule, married to Robert Craig, later an Edinburgh merchant, and their children included John Craig the physician and perhaps the lawyer Sir Thomas Craig. It seems that both Katherines were employed in the royal wardrobe and dealt in luxury fabrics.

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