Helen Leslie, Lady Newbattle (1520-1594) was a Scottish aristocrat and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was a daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes and Margaret Crichton. The surname is sometimes spelled "Lesley". She first married Gilbert Seton of Parbroath, and secondly, Mark Ker of Newbattle. In early modern Scotland married

women A woman is an adult female human. Before adulthood, a female child or adolescent is referred to as a girl. Typically, women are of the female sex and inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent, and women with functional u ...

did not change their surnames. During the "Lang Siege" of

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcol ...

, in January 1572 she loaned money to William Kirkcaldy of Grange to pay the wages of soldiers fighting for the cause of

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 List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

. She took a packet of gold buttons from the

jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots The jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587) are mainly known through the evidence of inventories held by the National Records of Scotland. She was bought jewels during her childhood in France, adding to those she inherited. She gave gifts of ...

as a pledge from James Mosman. After the castle fell in June 1573, she brought the queen's buttons to the English commander William Drury at his lodging in

Leith Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith. The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...

. He took the buttons and paid her back. From 1577 Helen Leslie and her husband rented a house on the

High Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

of Edinburgh from James Marjoribanks. She was involved in the management of her husband's estates, and went to law to try to terminate the lease of the coal mines at Prestongrange held by the Laird of Cockpen. Esmé Stewart, the favourite of

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, gave Helen Leslie and her husband Mark Kerr a "buffet" or cupboard for their hall at

Prestongrange House Prestongrange House is a historic house at Prestongrange near Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, UK. It is situated near to two other historic houses, Hamilton House, East Lothian, Hamilton House and Northfield House, East Lothian, Northfield ...

. The ceiling of the hall was painted in 1581 with vivid

emblem An emblem is an abstract art, abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a monarch or saint. Emblems vs. symbols Although the words ''emblem'' and ''symbol'' ...

s, ornament copied from the prints of Cornelis Bos, and comic figures copied from a French illustrated book Richard Breton's ''Songes drôlatiques de Pantagruel''. The ceiling was removed and installed in Merchiston Tower for Napier Technical College in 1964. Helen Leslie kept up a correspondence with

John Lesley John Lesley (or Leslie) (29 September 1527 – 31 May 1596) was a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop and historian. His father was Gavin Lesley, rector of Kingussie, Badenoch. Early career He was educated at the University of Aberdeen, where he ...

, Bishop of Ross, who had been secretary to

. In June 1590 he replied to her from Rouen, hoping her son George Leslie could forward the relief of his debts and his credit and rehabilitation in Scotland. She died on 26 October 1594. She made her will at Prestongrange in September 1594 in the presence of "hir gude friend" Alexander Seton, Lord Urquhart.

Marriages and children

Her first husband was Gilbert Seton of Parbroath. Their children included: * David Seton of Parbroath (died 1601) * Janet Seton, who married the Laird of

Samuelston Samuelston (Scots language, Scots: ''Sammelstoun'') is a small town just outside of Haddington, East Lothian. It has a population of 957. George Ker, laird of Samuelston, supervised building work at the church of Ladykirk, Scottish Borders, Lady ...

. She married secondly, Mark Kerr (died 1584), Commendator of

Newbattle Newbattle (from Old Scots ''Neubothle'', "new building") is a village and civil parish in Midlothian, Scotland. The village lies south of Dalkeith, about seven miles from Edinburgh. It is notable for containing Newbattle Abbey, a stately hom ...

. Their children included: * Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian (died 1594) * Andrew Kerr of Fenton * George Kerr, who was involved in the " Spanish blanks" controversy.Margaret Sanderson, ''Mary Stewart's People'' (Mercat Press: Edinburgh, 1987), p. 176. * William Kerr * Catherine Kerr, who married William Maxwell, Lord Herries.

Ancestry

External links

Portrait called Helen Leslie, National Galleries of Scotland

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leslie, Helen Nobility from Fife 16th-century Scottish women 1520 births 1594 deaths People of the Scottish Marian Civil War Daughters of Scottish earls