Mary Scrope facts for kids

Mary Scrope (died August 25, 1548) was an important lady in the court of King Henry VIII. She was the granddaughter of Henry Scrope, 4th Baron Scrope of Bolton. Her sisters were Elizabeth Scrope and Margaret Scrope. Elizabeth married John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford. Margaret married Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk.

Mary served King Henry VIII's first four wives. She was married to Sir William Kingston. He was the Constable of the Tower of London. In May 1536, Mary was with Anne Boleyn during Anne's time in the Tower. Both Mary and her husband walked with Anne to her execution. Mary's first husband was Edward Jerningham. Their son, Sir Henry Jerningham, helped Queen Mary I become queen in 1553. He became one of her favorite courtiers.

Mary Scrope's Family Background

Mary Scrope was one of nine daughters. Her father was Richard Scrope (died 1485) from Upsall, Yorkshire. He was the second son of Henry Scrope, 4th Baron Scrope of Bolton. Mary's mother was Eleanor Washbourne (died 1505/6). Eleanor was the daughter of Norman Washbourne.

Mary had two notable sisters. Elizabeth Scrope (died 1537) married twice. Her second husband was John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford. Margaret Scrope (died 1515) married Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk. Mary was also the niece of John Scrope, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton.

After Richard Scrope died, his wife Eleanor married Sir John Wyndham. Sir John was accused of being part of a plot. This plot involved his stepdaughter Margaret Scrope's husband. Sir John was executed on Tower Hill in 1502. Richard Scrope's will left money for his daughters. Mary, Katherine, and Jane Scrope each received money for their dowries.

Life at Court and Royal Service

Mary Scrope's first husband, Edward Jerningham, served King Henry VII. In 1509, Edward was a gentleman usher at the King's funeral. Mary, known as 'Mrs Jerningham', also attended the funeral. Later, Edward and Mary received land. This land had belonged to Mary's brother-in-law, Edmund de la Pole. He had lost his property to the Crown.

In 1509, Edward Jerningham was a chief cup-bearer. This was at the coronation of Catherine of Aragon. Mary also received cloth for a gown for the event. From 1509 to 1527, Mary served Queen Catherine.

Her first husband, Edward Jerningham, died in 1515. By 1532, Mary had married Sir William Kingston. He became the Constable of the Tower of London in 1524. This job meant he was in charge of important prisoners.

Mary Scrope and Anne Boleyn

In May 1536, Anne Boleyn became a prisoner in the Tower. Anne was King Henry VIII's second wife. Lady Kingston, as Mary was then known, attended Anne. Other ladies chosen by Thomas Cromwell also attended Anne. These women were not very friendly towards Anne.

Kingston was told to stop Anne from talking too much. However, Anne started to say things that could be used against her. Kingston reported these statements to Cromwell. These reports were later used as evidence at Anne's court hearing. Kingston described the women attending Anne as "honest and good." But Anne felt it was "unkind" of the King to choose them.

Lady Kingston was present when Anne Boleyn apologized. This was to Catherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary Tudor. Anne apologized the night before her execution. Lady Kingston later delivered this apology to Mary. On May 19, 1536, Lady Kingston escorted Anne. They walked from her rooms in the Tower to the scaffold.

Service to Other Queens

After Anne Boleyn's death, the King married Jane Seymour. Lady Kingston carried Mary Tudor's train. This was at the christening of Prince Edward in 1537. A few weeks later, Lady Kingston walked in Jane Seymour's funeral procession.

In 1536, Lady Kingston helped Mary Tudor. She helped Mary make up with her father, the King. From 1538 to 1539, Lady Kingston managed a household. This was for the King's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. She wrote a letter in 1538 about Mary's illness. Even after this role, Lady Kingston remained close to Mary Tudor. Mary gave her gifts, including money and a gold spoon.

In 1539, Lady Kingston served Anne of Cleves. She was one of thirty ladies appointed to serve the Queen. Some sources say Lady Kingston served all four of King Henry VIII's first wives. She was also listed as a member of Catherine Parr's household. Catherine Parr was Henry's last queen.

Mary Scrope died on August 25, 1548. She asked to be buried with her second husband. This was at Painswick. However, she was buried at Low Leyton, Essex, on September 4, 1548.

She wrote her will in 1546. She left many gifts to her family. These included a silver goblet and a ruby ring. She also left a bed of crimson velvet to her granddaughter.

A brass plate at Low Leyton Church remembers her. It has these verses:

Marriages and Children

Mary Scrope married Edward Jerningham around 1509. He was from Somerleyton, Suffolk. Edward had children from his first marriage. These were Mary Scrope's stepchildren.

Mary Scrope and Edward Jerningham had five children:

• Sir Henry Jerningham of Costessey Hall. He married Frances Baynham. They had three sons and two daughters.
• Ferdinand Jerningham.
• Edward Jerningham. He was born after his father died.
• Edmund Jerningham (died 1546). He served King Henry VIII.
• Elizabeth Jerningham. She was a Maid of Honour to Queen Mary I.

Mary married her second husband, Sir William Kingston, by 1532. He was the Constable of the Tower of London. They did not have any children together. Sir William had children from his previous marriages.