Notes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A393662 "FIVE LADIES AND THE TOWER OF LONDON" Margaret, Countess of Salisbury c 1473 - 1541 Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury holds a special place in English history as being the last Plantagenet princess. The Plantagenets were the ruling dynasty in England from 1154 - 1485. Margaret was extraordinary, reaching the age of 69 or 70 in an era where the average life expectancy for a woman was 45 years. She was also famous for staying true to the old Catholic ways, while remaining faithful to King and successfully treading her way through the War of the Roses and four of the King's marriages. She was considered and revered as the first lady in the land after the queen and princesses. The Countess's father was the Duke of Clarence, who in turn was the brother of King Edward IV and Richard III. She was also first cousin to Edward V and Richard, Duke of York; the two princes who disappeared in the confines of the Tower of London. Margaret had five children, two of whom became well known. Her son Henry, (LORD MONTAGUE) was executed by the King in 1538 and her other son Reginald fled religious reform and was made a Cardinal by the Pope. The reason why Margaret, Countess of Salisbury was executed is simple. Her family were not only too close to the body of the throne to make their own claims to crown and country, but also her son was dedicated to the old Catholic faith. Her execution was timed for Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine Howard to show that the old era had passed. Margaret was executed at the scaffold site on 27 May 1541 and legend has it that the execution did not run smoothly and several chops were needed to finish off the job."

An old ballad about her at the time went like this. "For traitors on the block should die, I am no traitor, no, not I! My faithfulness stands fast and so, Towards the block I shall not go! Nor make on step, as you shall see, Christ in Thy Mercy, save Thou me!"

Margaret married Richard POLE about 1491. Richard (son of Sir Geoffrey POLE and Edith ST. JOHN) died in 1504. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Geoffrey POLE was born in 1494 in Lordington, Sussex, ENG; died in 1558.
2. Reginald POLE was born in 1500; died in 1558.
3. Henry POLE
4. Arthur POLE
5. Ursula POLE

Notes:

He was murdered in 1478 by being drowned in a keg of Mumsey.

George married Isabel NEVILLE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He had the title of "Protector of England". (C-330) His father died when he was quite young and he was taken under the care of the Countess of Westmoreland. The War of the Roses occurred a year after he was appointed by King Henry VI as Protector of the Kingdom. He was killed at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460.

Richard married Cecily NEVILLE, Duchess Of York. Cecily (daughter of Ralph NEVILLE, 1st Earl Of Westmorland and Joan DE BEAUFORT) was born on 3 May 1415 in Raby, Durham, ENG; died on 31 May 1495 in Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, ENG; was buried in Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, ENG. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lady Cecily had 13 children with her husband, Richard Plantagenet. She lived alone for the last 10 years of her life according to "Wikipedia" online. Her husband and 3 sons had died in the War of the Roses. She was known for her pride, temper and piety. She was called the "Rose of Raby" because she was born in Raby Castle. Parts of her will were forwarded as follows by my Uncle Richard Coate from the Tudor Place homepage.

Cecily Neville's final will - made on 31 May 1495 and proved on 27 Aug 1495 at Lambeth says: "...Also I give and bequeath to the kings noble grace all such money as is owing to me of the customs, and two cups of gold. Also I give and bequeath to the queen a cross crosslet of diamonds, a salter with clasps of silver and gilt enamelled, covered with green clothe of gold, and a pyx with the flesh of St Christopher. Also I bequeath to my lady the king's mother a portuos with clasps of gold covered with black cloth of gold. Also I give to my lord prince a bed of arras of the wheel of fortune and tester of the same, a counterpoint of arras and a tappet of arras with the Pope. Also I give to my lord Henry, duke of York three tappets of arras, one of them of the life of St John Baptist another of Mary Magdalene and the third of the passion of our Lord and Saint George..." Cecily gives gifts to Fotheringhay College, the college at Stoke Clare, the nunnery at Syon and her granddaughters (the children of Edward IV) as well as bequests to the de la Pole family (John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, having married her daughter Elizabeth): "...Also I give to my daughter of Suffolk the chair with the covering, all the cushions, horses and harness belonging to the same and all my palfreys. Also I give to my son of Suffolk a clothe of estate and 3 cushions of purple damask clothe of gold.Also I give to my son Humphrey two alter clothes of blue damask embroidered and a vestment of crimson satin for Jesus' masse. Also I give to my son William a traves of white sarcenet, two beds of down and two bolsters of the same. Also I give to my daughter Anne, prioress of Sion, a book of Bonaventure and Hilton in the same in English and a book of the Revelations of Saint Bridget..."

Notes:

He was also the Duke of Contsburgh or Coatsburgh. (C-330)

Richard married Anne D.Of ROGER MORTIMER in 1406. Anne (daughter of Roger DE MORTIMER) died in 1411. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Nevilles have been called the most powerful family in England during the War of the Roses. Ralph was the First Earl of Westmorland. (C-779)

Ralph married Joan DE BEAUFORT on 3 Feb 1396. Joan (daughter of John Of Gaunt PLANTAGENET, King Of Castile And Leon and Katherine ROET) was born about 1379 in Beaufort Castle, Anjou, France; died on 13 Nov 1440 in Howden, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]