Mary Fane, Countess of Westmorland continued her mother Grace Mildmay's interest in physic and was a significant author of spiritual guidance and writer of letters.

Grace, Lady Mildmay was an English noblewoman, memoirist and medical practitioner. Her autobiography is one of the earliest existing autobiographies of an English woman. Originally from Wiltshire, she married Sir Anthony Mildmay in 1567 and moved to Apethorpe Palace, his father's home in Northamptonshire. She practised medicine on her family and others, with an extensive knowledge of medical theory, and a large repertoire of cures. Her writings included memoirs, medical papers and devotional meditations.