Mary Scudamore facts for kids
Mary Shelton (c. 1550 – 1603) was an important person who worked for Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. She was known as a courtier, which means she was a trusted helper and friend to the Queen at court.
Contents
Mary Scudamore's Life at Court
Early Life and Family Connections
Mary was the daughter of Sir John Shelton and Margaret Parker. Her family, the Sheltons, were very important during the time of Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth's father. Mary's grandparents, Sir John Shelton and Anne Shelton, even helped care for the future queens, Mary I and Elizabeth I, when they were young. This was partly because Anne Shelton was the aunt of Anne Boleyn, who was King Henry VIII's second wife and Queen Elizabeth's mother.
Serving Queen Elizabeth
Around 1567, Mary joined Queen Elizabeth's household. She became a chamberer, which meant she helped the Queen with her personal needs, like dressing and getting ready. It was a very close and trusted position.
In 1571, Mary received special clothing as part of her job. This included fancy fabrics like satin and velvet for her gowns, and silk for the linings. She received similar clothes every year. Some of her outfits were gifts directly from the Queen, made by her royal tailor, Walter Fyshe.
A Secret Marriage
Mary Scudamore later married another person who worked at court, Sir John Scudamore. He was a gentleman usher, a person who helped guide people at court. They got married secretly.
When Queen Elizabeth I found out about their marriage in early 1575, she was very upset. The Queen was angry because Mary had married without her permission. It was important for courtiers to get the Queen's approval for big life events like marriage.
In October 1574, before her marriage was revealed, Queen Elizabeth I gave Mary a gift. It was a "forepart," which was a decorative front piece for a skirt or gown.
