ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor, gouache and gold ink, October 2007. Mary Boleyn was the elder sister of the more famous Anne Boleyn. She was born in 1499 and stayed in England until 1514, when she went as a Lady-In-Waiting to Mary Rose Tudor to France. Even though Mary Rose left France the next year after the death of her husband Louis XII, Mary stayed on at the French court, partly because her father Thomas was Ambassador. It is believed she was Francis I mistress for a time, and took several other lovers before being ordered back to England. Francis described her as " a great whore". On her return to England in 1519 she became a lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon. In 1520 she was married to Sir William Carey and not long after became King Henry's mistress. It is not clear how long the affair lasted. In 1522 Anne, her sister Anne returned from France. Before long Henry's interest had passed to her. Mary and William had two children, Catherine (who was the mother of Lettice Knollys) and Henry. William died in 1529, leaving Mary with debts and no money. Although the sisters were not close it was Anne who went to her sisters aid, securing her a pension. In 1534 Mary caused a scandal by marrying William Stafford, a commoner with little money. She was banished from Court and disowned by her family,although Anne relented and arranged for money to be sent to her. Anne was executed in 1536, and Mary remained estranged from her family (probably wise as they were in disgrace). She died in 1543.