Mary Shelton facts for kids
Mary Shelton (born between 1510 and 1515, died 1570 or 1571) was a noblewoman in England. She helped create the famous Devonshire manuscript. Some historians believe she might have been a special friend to King Henry VIII. Others think it was her sister, Madge Shelton.
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Mary Shelton's Family and Friends
Mary and her sister Margaret (Madge) were the daughters of Sir John Shelton and Anne Shelton. Anne was the sister of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. This means Thomas Boleyn was Mary's uncle. His daughter, Anne Boleyn, became the second Queen of Henry VIII of England. So, Mary and Margaret were first cousins to Queen Anne Boleyn.
Princess Mary, King Henry VIII's daughter, even sent Mary Shelton gifts. These gifts were sums of money in January 1537 and 1540.
Mary's Creative Side
Mary Shelton enjoyed writing poems. People sometimes told her off for writing "idle poems" in her prayer book. She was part of a group of friends who loved poetry. This group included poets like Sir Thomas Clere, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and Thomas Wyatt. Mary was said to have been close to all of them. When Sir Thomas Clere died, Surrey wrote a poem calling Mary his "beloved."
Mary's closest friends were Lady Margaret Douglas and Mary Howard, Duchess of Richmond. Margaret Douglas was a niece of King Henry VIII. Mary Howard was married to the King's son, Henry Fitzroy. Mary Shelton was the main editor and a writer for the famous Devonshire MS. This was a special book where her friends wrote poems they liked or had created themselves.
Mary's Marriages and Children
Mary's father, John Shelton, was a knight. He died in 1539. Mary was one of ten children. She married three times and had seven children. Her first fiancé, Thomas Clere, died before they could marry.
After Thomas Clere's death, Mary married Anthony Heveningham. He was her first cousin. They had seven children: Arthur, John, Abigail, Bridget, Elizabeth, Mary, and Anne. Another son, Anthony, passed away young. Mary's last marriage was to Phillip Appleyard.
Was Mary Shelton a Special Friend to the King?
One of the Shelton sisters was thought to be a special friend to King Henry VIII for about six months. This was around February 1535. The King's ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, mentioned "Mistress Shelton." Some historians, like Antonia Fraser, believed this was Margaret Shelton.
However, newer studies suggest it was Mary Shelton who was the King's special friend. There were even rumors that she might become his fourth wife. It seems that earlier historians might have mixed up "Mary" and "Marg" (for Margaret) because of how letters were written back then.
Mary was a 'lady-in-waiting' to Queen Anne Boleyn. Even though they were cousins, not all family members always agreed. Queen Anne was very fond of Henry and did not like him paying attention to other women. Mary was known for her beauty and talent. She wrote many poems about love in the Devonshire MS. Queen Anne was especially worried that Mary might be writing love poems about the King.
Some historians say that rumors linked Mary with King Henry VIII more than once. Another rumor was that 'Madge' Shelton might marry Henry in 1538. This appeared in some old letters. We are not sure exactly when Mary was born. This means she could have been as young as fifteen when she was close to King Henry VIII. Their special friendship was short, lasting about six months. Mary seemed to accept the situation. She did not ask the King for land, money, or a special title.
In 1536, Mary's sister, Madge, was set to marry Henry Norris. He was an important person at court and supported Queen Anne. Sadly, Norris was later accused of serious crimes and executed.
Mary became engaged to Thomas Clere, a poet and her cousin. He died soon after their engagement. He left Mary some land in his will.
By 1546, Mary had married her cousin Sir Anthony Heveningham. They had five children. Their youngest daughter, Abigail, later served Queen Elizabeth I. Mary later married Philip Appleyard in 1558. She was buried in Heveningham church in Suffolk on January 8, 1571. A drawing of Mary by Hans Holbein is kept at Windsor Castle.
Mary's Role in the Devonshire Manuscript
The Devonshire manuscript was a collection of poems. It was passed among many people in the 1520s and 1530s.
In 1536, the manuscript was given to Mary Shelton for the first time. It is believed she added poems to it and let others do the same. The manuscript returned to Mary Shelton and Mary Fitzroy in 1539. During this time, Mary Shelton likely finished the manuscript. She added many older poems to it.
Who Wrote the Poems?
The collection has about 184 poems. About 80 of them do not have a clear author. Most poems are thought to be by Thomas Wyatt. Others are from older poets like Chaucer. Some are believed to be by Mary Shelton's friends, such as Edmund Knyvet and Thomas Howard. There are also some unclear names like "A.I." and "Jon K." Some even wonder if "Ann" refers to Anne Boleyn.
Even though there is some debate, many experts believe Mary Shelton was the main person who put the manuscript together and edited it. Margaret Douglas is also sometimes given credit for this.
Poems About Love and Life at Court
Women and Court Life
Mary Shelton lived in the court of Anne Boleyn. This meant she had to follow certain social rules. Women were expected to be both charming and well-behaved. They were encouraged to join in conversations, especially about love. They also cheered on men in tournaments.
Poems were a big part of social life at the Tudor Court. People shared poems, like those in the Devonshire MS. These poems might have been used for songs, rumors, or gossip.
Mary's Own Poems
Mary is thought to have added some of her own poems to the manuscript. Her handwriting has been found in many parts of the book. Her poems often have a direct and honest style.
One poem, "Suffryng in sorow in hope to attayn," is about a sad lover. Margaret Douglas wrote "forget thys" above it, showing she didn't like it. But Mary Shelton wrote "yt ys worhy" below, saying it was good. This poem is often thought to be Mary Shelton's. The first letters of its first seven stanzas spell out "SHELTVN."
Some poems in the collection are written from a woman's point of view. But it is not always clear if Mary Shelton wrote them, or if a woman wrote them at all.
Mary Shelton in Stories
- She appears in The Lady in the Tower by Jean Plaidy.
- The character Madge Sheldon in the TV show The Tudors is based loosely on Mary and her sister.
- Mary Shelton is a character in "The Lady Grace Mysteries" books. She is a maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth I.
- She is the main character in "At the Mercy of the Queen" by Anne Clinard Barnhill.
- Mary Shelton tells the story in Queenbreaker, a book for young adults, by Catherine McCarran.
- Mary Shelton appears in the Wolf Hall book series. Her character combines parts of her life and her sister's life.
See also
- List of English royal mistresses
- Henry VIII
- Anne Boleyn
