Mary Beaton, or Bethune as she wrote her family name, was a Scottish courtier. She is remembered in history as one of the four girls who were companions of Mary, Queen of Scots from childhood, known as The Queen's Maries or The Four Maries, and has also entered folklore through the traditional ballad of Marie Hamilton.
Mary Beaton by an unknown artist (National Galleries Scotland)
Mary, Queen of Scots, also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
Portrait of Mary at about 17 years old, c. 1558–1560
Both Mary and her father King James V were born at Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian, Scotland.
Gold coin of 1553: obverse, coat of arms of Scotland; reverse, royal monogram
Mary and Francis in Catherine de' Medici's book of hours, c. 1574. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.