User:Shyla22/Sandbox
Early Life (c.1522-1538)
Mary was born the eldest daughter to Sir Richard Campbell and his wife Lady Catherine Rush. Her birth date is unclear, but it was probably 1522 as she was described as "twenty years of age" in 1542. Sir Richard was the third son of the Duke of Essex who squandered much of his wealth of elaborate clothing, houses and prostitutes. As a result, the Campbell family were near destitution at the time of Mary’s birth. Out of desperate circumstances Mary was sent to live as a ward to the Duchess of Norfolk in Surrey in 1530 when she was aged about nine. Consequently, young Mary was given limited education and barley knew how to read and write. She did however, know how to play the flute and was an avid painter.
The Duchess of Norfolk to little inclination to Mary and the rules at the manor were lax. Furthermore, it is evident that Mary had begun a relationship with a number of men of whom either seduced her, or she sought excitement with. The first was a gentleman named Thomas Hart, but it was unlikely that the relationship was actually consummated. The Duchess was not aware of the affairs. In 1536 at the age of about 14, Mary fell in love with a gentleman of the area James Worth. The two undoubtedly consummated the marriage the even promised to marry one another. However it was an impossible marriage, as Mary was of high birth and despite her impoverished background her father would never allow for her to marry below her rank. Before Mary could further contemplate the matter, her father died and in 1538 at the age of 16 she moved to London to become a lady-in-waiting to Princess Catherine.
Court (1538-1540)
At 16, Mary was beautiful, vivacious and sexually attractive. She was much more experienced in the art of seduction compared to her other ladies in waiting. Moreover, Mary caught the eye of a number of eligible young men in court including the Thomas Howard, and the two began a love affair. Her mistress, Lady Anne Ashley, however found about the affair and chastised Mary. The whole affair was kept secret and Lady Ashley convinced Howard to leave to the country. Lest rumours begin Lady Ashley also arranged that Mary briefly return back to Surrey. It has been suggested that Mary continued her affair with Hart and this has been supported by a letter recently discovered written by Hart to Mary: "dearest beloved, I pray that you return back from your obligations and hence become my wife again".
It is unlikely that Mary returned these sentiments for Hart, and by late August she was asked to return back to court by Lady Ashley. At this point only Lady Ashley knew of the affair between Mary and Howard and was adamant on having it kept quiet. The reason for this has been disputed. Fraser argues that Lady Ashley was aware of the game in which Mary was to play with the monarch and thought bribery could be used for keeping the affair quiet. Ives however disagrees, suggesting that she kept quiet as she had grown genuine fondness to Mary.
It was around that time in 1539 that she was presented to the ageing monarch as a potential mistress by her uncles. Mary was little more than a pawn in an elaborate game her family played to gain precedence in court. The whole presentation was carefully planned and Mary was trained before hand on how to receive the King and what to say. She was also warned by Lady Ashley that the monarch was to take her as a virgin, and if she did not convince the King then her whole families lives were at stake. Mary passed with flying colours and the King was soon besotted with the beautiful teenager.
Mistress
Initially Mary’s uncles the Duke Chamberlain and Duke of Clarence were reluctant to have Mary mistress of the King Edward. They feared that she was too uncultured, lacked proper education or decorum. However she was nevertheless attractive, effervescent and the promise of youth was enticing to the monarch. Warwick argues that the Duke’s both feared that Edward would find out about the fact that Mary was not a virgin. Morgan however criticises Warwick’s assumption, claiming it would very unlikely or even impossible for the Duke’s not to present a virgin to Edward as a potential bride. Lady Ashley taught Mary of the way she should conduct herself in front of the monarch, and Mary was able to completely change her personality around the Edward. He preferred docile, gentle women and Mary was able to give off a purity and ingenuity which further ignited his passions.
Lady Ashley a long with the Duke of Chamberlain and Clarence told Mary that if she was to fall pregnant then the dynasty would be secure and the Campbell family’s power would be reinstituted once again. It is most likely that Edward could not impregnate his mistress so Mary concocted a tale, telling him that she was indeed pregnant. A quick marriage ceremony was arranged.