Person Page 388

Margaret Drummond, mistress of King James IV of Scotland, was born circa 1475.¹

Margaret Drummond, mistress of King James IV of Scotland, died food poisoning, along with her two sisters in 1501 at age ~26. It is known that in 1502 Margaret Drummond died of food poisoning, along with her sisters Eupheme and Sibylla, while staying at Drummond Castle. As a general rule, claims of poisoning made in relation to a historical figure who died after a sudden illness should be treated with caution, but in this case, with three people who presumably died shortly after eating the same meal, the contemporary judgement should be accepted. The three sisters are buried together in Dunblane Cathedral, their graves can still be seen in front of the altar. This did not cause a great deal of suspicion at the time; standards of food hygiene are unlikely to have been very good then, and cases of accidental food poisoning have happened in any period. After her death the king paid for masses to be said for her soul, and continued to support their daughter.^2,1,3