On 15 August 1285 Princess Mary, seventh daughter of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, was formally admitted to the priory at Amesbury. This was at least partially due to the influence of her formidable grandmother, Eleanor of Provence, who wanted to see at least one of her grandlings enter the church. Mary was six years old.
Despite being technically resident at the priory, Mary travelled quite freely and often visited court. Being a nun didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy herself, and her father was sometimes called upon to pay her debts, even though she already received an allowance from him. The king’s affection for his daughter is shown by the regular grants of money, clothing and wine Mary received, and the highly personalised wording of these grants and concessions. In 1285 and 1289, for instance, Edward pardoned the nuns of Amesbury a year’s worth of rent expressly ‘out of love’ for his daughter.
Mary had a serious side. As the king’s daughter she wielded a deal of influence, and used it to protect religious houses and fellow clergy. In the summer of 1293 she petitioned her father - her ‘most high and most noble prince and her most dear and most beloved lord’ - asking for the return of various manors to the nuns of her community. She also upheld the community of Amesbury’s right to hold free elections, and used her influence to promote the election of favoured churchmen to various livings. The king generally conceded to her requests, even if it meant the crown lost money.
Mary died in 1332, aged about 54. She received a glowing tribute from Nicholas Trivet, the English chronicler and Dominican friar who wrote of Mary:
“And in so moche as hit ys trewly sayde of her and notably this worthy text of holy scripture: optimam partem elegit ipsi Maria, que non auferetur ab ea. The whych ys as moche to say "As Maria hathe chosyn the best party to her, the whych shall not be done away from her.”
This is apparently quite a daring adaptation of Christ’s words in the Gospel of Luke, where he good-humouredly defends Mary to her sister Martha.
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