Margaret, the daughter of George Duke of Clarence and Isobel Nevill, was born into a chaotic world. Her uncle had won the throne for the second time by the time of her birth on August 14th 1473 at Farleigh Castle, in the battles known as the Wars of the Roses. When Margaret was three years old, her mother died following the birth of another child, and two years later her father was executed for treason. Margaret was moved with her older brother Edward to the palace at Sheen to be raised with her cousins, the children of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. They remained in the care of the king until he died on April 9th, 1483, when Margaret was only nine.
George Duke of Clarence, Margaret’s father
Margaret’s cousin, Edward V, was declared king and moved from Ludlow to London following the death of the old king. In a series of events that removed Edward V from power and barred Margaret and her brother from the throne, her uncle Richard III became king instead in June 1483. The young Edward V and his brother Richard went missing after they were moved to the Tower by Richard, but Margaret and her brother were never in danger. They remained in Richard’s care until Henry Tudor defeated him at the Battle of Bosworth Field in August 1485.
Margaret now only twelve years old, had seen three kings reign, her mother die, her cousins disappear and her father executed. In 1499 she also lost her brother; he was executed by Henry VII for conspiring with the pretender Perkin Warbeck while in prison in the Tower. Margaret survived all of the upheaval; Henry VII arranged her a good marriage with one of his courtiers and Knights of the Garter, Sir Richard Pole, and gave her place in the household of his son and heir Arthur serving Catherine of Aragon, the new princess of Wales. Margaret had five children during the course of her marriage; Henry, Reginald, Geoffrey, Arthur and Ursula.
Margaret’s seemingly stable life did not remain for long. In 1502 Prince Arthur died and Catherine of Aragon was moved to London, the Ludlow household being broken up. Shortly after this, Sir Richard Pole also died. Margaret, in 1505, was 32 years old, a mother of five, widowed and with a very small amount of land to live on. Her son Reginald was sent to the church for his education, probably to ease Margaret’s financial burden. Margaret maintained her friendship with the Spanish Catherine, but Catherine was no better off and could not help her friend.
Catherine of Aragon as a young widow, by Michael Sittow
In 1509 Margaret’s fortune changed again. Henry VII died, leaving his throne to his son prince Henry, who had married the widowed Catherine of Aragon. Margaret was invited to serve the new queen at her joint coronation, had the attainders on her father and brother reversed, inherited the lands and earldoms of Warwick and Salisbury and was allowed to use the title Countess of Salisbury. Her children also benefitted from her close friendship with the new king and queen, gaining noble titles and marrying well. Reginald received money from Henry to fund his education in the best European universities. He was not yet ordained a priest, but was a gifted and promising scholar.
After several losses, Catherine finally gave birth to a healthy child on February 18th, 1516, a princess named Mary. Margaret stood as the little girl’s godmother and in 1520 became her governess, replacing the existing Lady Bryan. Apart from a short period in 1521 when Margaret was suspected of involvement with the Duke of Buckingham’s treason, her relationships with the monarchs, especially Catherine, remained strong. When the King started his divorce proceedings against Catherine of Aragon, Margaret sided with and supported her Queen. The King eventually freed himself from Catherine and married Anne Boleyn, breaking up the now illegitimate Mary’s household in 1533. Margaret wished to continue caring for Mary and even offered to do so at her own expense, but her request was refused. (To read more about the “King’s Great Matter, see post about Anne Boleyn.)
Unknown lady, formerly known as Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury
Following the royal divorce, Margaret returned to her own estates and rarely attended court. Her sons, like her, were supportive of the old queen, and did not agree with the reforms Henry made in the English church. Reginald was especially passionate in his defence of the catholic faith; he wrote the pamphlet ‘Pro Ecclesiasticae Unitatis Defensions’ against reformed religion and attempted to rally foreign support for the northern uprising, the Pilgrimage of Grace. His mother realised the danger in these actions and wrote to him, begging him to stop what he was doing, but he did not heed her advice. He even denounced the King publicly and encouraged his deposition. This continued until 1538, when finally Henry VIII ran out of patience. Margaret was arrested, as were her sons in England and a kinsman; they were suspected of high treason, and encouraging and supporting Reginald Pole. Margaret was questioned at Cowdray, Sussex, but when she refused to confess to supporting her outspoken son she was transferred to the Tower of London, where she remained imprisoned for over two years.
Margaret’s son Henry Pole was found guilty of high treason and executed in early 1539. Margaret had an act of attainder passed against her for high treason, she lost all of her lands, titles and possessions as they were forfeit to the crown. Margaret was now in her sixties and though she was allowed to keep two of her ladies with her she was increasingly uncomfortable in her prison in the Tower. At one point, Henry’s fifth queen Katherine Howard sent Margaret warm clothes and furs to help her stay warm.
Lady Margaret Pole is remembered at the Tower Green memorial within the Tower of Londo (picture my own).
Margaret remained in the Tower for the rest of her life. On the morning of May 27th, 1541, she was informed of her imminent execution, and after a short time to prepare herself was led to Tower Green. Unusually for someone about to face the executioner, she claimed her innocence- she was no traitor. Her execution, unfortunately, did not go smoothly. Her headsman was young, inexperienced and nervous at being presented with such a great lady. While it is untrue that Margaret was chased around the scaffold and had to be held down, she was hacked at repeatedly on the shoulders, head and neck before the young man had done his duty. After her agonising, undignified end, Margaret was buried in the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.
Margaret is remembered as Blessed Margaret Pole in the Roman Catholic church as a reformation martyr. She was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in December 1886, with her feast day celebrated every year on May 28th.
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