Mary Seton

Mary Seton (1549–1615) was a Scottish courtier and later a nun. She was the daughter of George Seton, 6th Lord Seton, and Marie Pieris, a French-born lady-in-waiting to Marie de Guise, consort of King James V of Scotland. As a child, Mary Seton became a lady-in-waiting to the young Mary, Queen of Scots, along with three other girls of similar age and of a similar standing in Scots society. They were famously known as "The Four Marys": she and Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming and Mary Livingston. They were chosen by Marie de Guise, with the exception of Mary Fleming, for their Franco-Scottish parentage. The Four Marys accompanied Queen Mary to France where she wed the Dauphin.

Mary Seton was the only one of the four not to marry, and continued in service with Mary, in Scotland and during her captivity in England. In later life, she retired to the Convent at Rheims in France where Renée de Guise, her beloved Queen's aunt, was Abbess. She died there in 1615.

Scotland again

When Queen Mary returned to Scotland, after her ceremonial entry at Edinburgh in September 1561, she went to Linlithgow Palace, while the four Marys, accompanied by the Queen's uncle, the Grand Prior of Malta, François de Lorraine, travelled west to Coldingham Priory and Dunbar. They stopped at the house of Mary Seton's brother George Seton, 7th Lord Seton, Seton Palace, for dinner. The Grand Prior then returned home through England making stategic plans of Berwick-upon-Tweed and Newcastle-on-Tyne.^[1]

In England

Mistress Mary Seton's role and talent as the Queen's hairdresser was described in detail by Sir Francis Knollys, Mary's keeper at Carlisle Castle in his letter to William Cecil of 28 June 1568. Mary had told Knollys that Mary Seton was the finest 'busker' of a woman's head and hair in any country. Knollys wrote that;

"Yesterday, and this daye she dyd sett sotche a curled heare uppon the Quene, that was said to be a perewyke that showed very delycately: and every other day lightly ... (word lost) she hathe a newe devyce of head dressyng, withowte any coste, and yett setteth forthe a woman gaylye well."^[2]

At first Mary Seton was given a room to herself with two beds, one for her maid or 'gentlewoman' Janet Spittell. She also had a manservant called John Dumfries.^[3] In March 1569 the Earl of Shrewsbury noted that Queen Mary would sit and sew in his wife Bess of Hardwick's chamber at Tutbury Castle accompanied by Mary Seton and Lady Livingston.^[4] In October 1570, Elizabeth heard that her mother Mary Pieris, Lady Seton, had been arrested and would be banished from Scotland for writing to her, and took action that Regent Lennox should be advised that she thought it no great cause.^[5] When Queen Mary was moved to Sheffield Castle in September 1571, Mary Seton stayed in attendance, but her servant John Dumfries was excluded and kept in the town. Janet Spittle was sent back to Scotland.^[6] Mary Seton then had an older woman as her servant, and as they were tired of each other by April 1577, the servant was allowed back to Scotland.^[7]

At Sheffield in November 1581, Robert Beale questioned Mary Seton about Queen Mary's recent illness, which had a quick onset. Seton said that she had not seen the Queen as ill before, her side gave her evil pains especially in the thigh and leg. The Queen lacked appetite, was losing sleep, and in Seton's opinion could not long continue.^[8]

References

1. ^ Calendar State Papers Foreign, Elizabeth, 1561-2, vol. 4 (1866), no. 488 fn. 6, no. 631: CSP Scotland, vol. 1 (1898), p. 552 no. 1018.
2. ^ Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (1900), pp. 447-8 no. 720.
3. ^ Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 3 (1903), p.565-6 no. 732, 'Johne Dumfries', 'Janet Spittell.'
4. ^ Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (1900), p.632 no. 1022.
5. ^ Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 3 (1903), p.410 no. 543.
6. ^ Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 3 (1903), p.691 no. 930.
7. ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 5 (1907), 227-8 no.249.
8. ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 6 (1910), 91 no. 85.

Persondata
Name	Seton, Mary
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1549
Place of birth
Date of death	1615
Place of death