Mary Boleyn was a mistress of the English King Henry VIII, prior to his marriage to her sister, Queen Anne Boleyn. She was a daughter of an affluent English diplomat and courtier, and thus received the proper education deemed fit for a young girl of her rank and birth. She was accepted as the maid-of-honour to the King’s sister, Mary Tudor, who was travelling to France to marry King Louis XII. She developed a notorious reputation at the French court by having several affairs, including one with Francis I, the French King and Henry’s rival. Upon returning to England, she started to serve as the maid-of-honour to Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s first wife. In 1520, she was married to the courtier and businessman William Carey. Her relationship with Henry began shortly after, though the duration of it is a matter of debate. She was rumoured to have borne him two children, although in official capacity they both had Carey’s name. Her husband died in 1528, following which her sister secured her a pension of £100. Six years later, she secretly married William Stafford, a man with meagre prospects. It led to her banishment from the court and disownment by the Boleyn family. Facing financial difficulties, she reached out to her sister, the queen, a few times but the relationship between them remained strained till Anne’s execution in 1536.