Mary Maitland (born about 1550, died 1596) was a Scottish writer believed to be the transcriber of the Quarto Volume of the

Maitland Manuscripts The Maitland Manuscripts are an important source for the Scots language, Scots literature of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries. They contain texts of the work of the makars of the period and much material which is not attributed to any author ...

, an important source for the Scots literature of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries. She recorded and preserved her father's extensive writings as his sight became increasingly poor, eventually resulting in his blindness.

Early life

Mary Maitland was the daughter of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington and

Thirlestane Thirlestane Castle is a castle set in extensive parklands near Lauder in the Borders of Scotland. The site is aptly named Castle Hill, as it stands upon raised ground. However, the raised land is within Lauderdale, the valley of the Leader Wate ...

(1496–1586) and Mariotta (or Margaret) Cranstoun (died 1586), the daughter of Sir Thomas Cranstoun of Corsbie, Berwickshire, Scotland. Mary had three brothers and three sisters. Her eldest brother,

William Maitland of Lethington William Maitland of Lethington (15259 June 1573) was a Scottish politician and reformer, and the eldest son of poet Richard Maitland. Life He was educated at the University of St Andrews. William was the renowned "Secretary Lethington" to ...

(died 1573), was

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scot ...

. Her second eldest brother was John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane (1543-1595), Lord Chancellor of Scotland.

The Maitland Manuscripts

The Maitland folio and quarto manuscripts are anthologies of poems compiled and authored by the Maitland family. The manuscripts are written in Italic and Secretary hands.

John Pinkerton John Pinkerton (17 February 1758 – 10 March 1826) was a Scottish antiquarian, cartographer, author, numismatist, historian, and early advocate of Germanic racial supremacy theory. He was born in Edinburgh, as one of three sons to Ja ...

was the first to suggest that Mary Maitland was the scribe. Her name appears twice on the titlepage of the quarto manuscript.Joanna M. Martin, ''The Maitland Quarto'' (Scottish Text Society, 2015), pp. 28-32. Some poems within the Maitland quarto name her, or are dedicated to her. Scholarship by Sarah Dunnigan and Evelyn Newlyn has helped to bring critical attention to Mary, particularly in relation to these poems.

Family and relationships

On 9 August 1586 Mary married Alexander Lauder of "Haltoun", or "Hatton", (buried in

Holyrood Abbey Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Ref ...

14 November 1627),

Sheriff Principal In Scotland a sheriff principal (''pl''. sheriffs principal) is a judge in charge of a sheriffdom with judicial, quasi-judicial, and administrative responsibilities. Sheriffs principal have been part of the judiciary of Scotland since the 11th ce ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. Haltoun is an estate near Kirkliston. Alexander Lauder was a son of William Lauder (died 1596) and Jean Cockburn (died 1600). Jean Cockburn's aunt, Elizabeth Douglas, Lady Temple Hall, was a poet, working in the same circle of East Lothian poets. Alexander Lauder with his younger brother got into trouble in 1596. They threatened Alexander McGill, the Provost of Corstorphine "under colour of friendship" because they wanted him to sign a contract. Mary Maitland, Lady Haltoun's children included: * Alexander Lauder younger of Hatton (died 1623), who married Susannah Cunningham, a daughter of the Earl of Glencairn * Richard Lauder of Hatton (1589-1675), his younger daughter Elizabeth married Charles Maitland, later Earl of Lauderdale. * Jane Lauder, who married (1) Alexander Hay of Smithfield, (2) Bryce Sempill of Boghauche and Cathcart * Helen Lauder (died 1620), who married Thomas Young of Leny, a lawyer. Mary Maitland died in June 1596. Soon after, Alexander Lauder married Annabella Bellenden, a sister of the lawyer, Lewis or Ludovick Bellenden of Auchnoule, and sister-in-law of the courtier Margaret Livingstone, Countess of Orkney. Annabella would be a stepmother for their young children. George Lauder, a son of Alexander Lauder and Annabella Bellenden, was a soldier. He was a friend of

William Drummond of Hawthornden William Drummond (13 December 15854 December 1649), called "of Hawthornden", was a Scottish poet. Life Drummond was born at Hawthornden Castle, Midlothian, to John Drummond, the first laird of Hawthornden, and Susannah Fowler, sister of the ...

and gained a considerable reputation as a poet.Jane Stewart Smith, ''The Grange of St. Giles'' (Edinburgh, 1898), pp. 243-5.

References

External links

Ashley Douglas: Marie Maitland’s poetry is a profound testimony to the power of queer love

The Maitland Quarto and Poem 49
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maitland, Mary 1596 deaths Scottish women writers 16th-century Scottish writers 16th-century Scottish women writers Year of birth uncertain