Mary Evelyn

Described as a woman of "acute intelligence and tangible warmth", Mary earned praise throughout her life as a skilled artist, wife and mother, and homemaker.

[2] On her mother's side, she had established ties to the Suffolk gentry, while her father's family held the estate of Sayes Court in Deptford, coming from a long line of professional courtiers.

Their Parisian home served as a safe haven and social centre for Royalist Exiles who fled England during this period, despite a lack of financial support from the King.

Evelyn, an established member of the country gentry, had strong Royalist affiliations and visited Paris as part of his European Tour.

Mary served as a proxy-shopper on her husband's behalf, frequently writing to him to advise him on the latest styles in Paris to ensure that their home was suitably decorated for a family of their standing.

However it was said that she "brought a touch of France to Deptford", and though she evidently missed Paris, she quickly established a close circle of friends and a high level of independence.

"[8] However, Mary's Parisian upbringing made her amendable to life with the English elite, and she maintained a number of relationships with both male and female courtiers.

It appears John was reluctant to have her at court, despite her wishes; he wrote to Mary in 1666 writing that he was "once or twice afraid of making you a Lady; but (I thank God) I got most dexterously off.

Mary helped to prepare them for a potential life at court, frequently taking them to the spa town of Tunbridge to acquaint them with society, and spending the Winter of 1683 in London at the York buildings.

Her skills as a letter-writer were praised, and she wrote particularly often with her children's tutor, Ralph Bohun, her cousin William Glanville, and Samuel and Mary Tuke, among others.