I’m lucky enough to actually live on the very land which Lord Darnley, (Margaret’s son who married Mary QOS) owned. He owned all the land between Gravesend to the River Medway, which is a sizable chunk believe me, and Lord Darnley also owned land in Herefordshire in fact my mum actually lived in a house which was part of his estate, in Herefordshire.
So in a way I feel very blessed to be living right on top of hundreds of years of History.. Hever castle Anne’s childhood home is about and hour and half drive from here, and Rochester castle is literely 5 minutes drive away.

Hi Kylie,
Margaret was brought to court and placed in Mary Tudor’s household when she was about 15. They formed a friendship that lasted a lifetime. When Mary was sent to Hatfield to live, Margaret was removed from Mary’s household and became a lady in waiting to Anne Boleyn. Of course, that doesn’t explain any feelings she had for Anne. I really don’t know how she felt about her. This is the time period where Margaret fell in love with Thomas Howard. During Edward’s reign Margaret retired to her husband’s estates.

When Mary became queen, Margaret became a prominient figure at court. They had always shared a friendship and they were both firm believers in the Catholic faith. Margaret was given apartments at Westminster. She attended Mary dressed in the most expensive gowns and jewels of which many were given to her by Mary.

Her relationship with Elizabeth was rocky, at best. Mary gave Margaret precendence over Elizabeth at court and Margaret considered this right and proper. There was no question about her legitimacy. She was the daughter of Henry’s sister Margaret. It looked as if Margaret was going to be named as Mary’s heir. Elizabeth certainly must have resented this treatment, but she could not do anything about it.

After Mary died, Margaret was in and out of trouble with Elizabeth for supporting Catholicism, and for supporting Darnley’s marriage to MQS, which landed her back in the Tower for the second time in her life. Later she was again sent to the Tower for her son Charles’ marriage to Elizabeth Cavendish. In on the marriage dealings was Bess of Hardwick, Elizabeth Cavendish’s stepmom, but she was not sent to the Tower. I think Elizabeth had had enough of Margaret’s scheming.

Margaret Tudor was not happy in at least her last two marriages. At one point, Margaret ordered the cannons be fired on Douglas. Margaret was probably hoping that she would be happy when she fell in love with Thomas. I would think she was hoping that her choice was better than her mother’s. I think she took the idea of choosing her own husband from her mother.

As far as letters are concerned, I’m not sure where you could find letters written by Margaret. She was a poet in her day. There is a book called the Devonshire Manuscript to be found at the British Library. It is a volume of poems written by members of the court such as Wyatt, Madge Shelton, Mary Howard, and Margaret. The manuscript was passed around the court and the people who borrowed it, left an inscription of poetry. Some of these writings are autobiographical such as those relating to the secret marriage of Margaret to Thomas. A number of the poems were written by Margaret and Thomas. It includes 200 items written by many. The book belonged to Mary Howard.

Check out this website for the Devonshire Manuscript: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/T…..ont_Matter
I found a copy of the book, the Devonshire Manuscript at amazon:
condition=new

Here is some interesting information I was able to find out about Margaret Douglas and the Manuscript:
“Margaret contributed much to the Devonshire Manuscript—hers is the single most prolific hands found in the miscellany. A group of poems within the volume (ff. [26r]– [29v]) are ascribed to Lord Thomas or Lady Margaret, probably composed during their imprisonment in the Tower. It is possible that the manuscript may have been their only point of contact during this time, entered by hand or by a scribe and passed back and forth through intermediaries. Two other poems have been attributed to Lady Margaret: “the sueden chance ded mak me mves” (f. [67v]) and “now that ye be assemblled heer” (f. [88r]). In addition to these verses, Lady Margaret’s presence in the Devonshire Manuscript is also evident in her extensive annotations, corrections, and demarcations throughout the volume.”
Thomas Howard also, contributed to it also:
“During the period of their mutual incarceration in the Tower, the Devonshire Manuscript may have been the pair’s only point of contact, passed back and forth through intermediaries. A large number of the poems within the Devonshire Manuscript are ascribed to either Thomas or Margaret, and more may have been written for them by a scribe. The correspondence between Margaret Douglas and Thomas Howard present in the Devonshire Manuscript is a good example of the elaborate interactions, coded in poetic metaphor, taking place within this select circle of courtiers. There are eight lyrics in Thomas Howard’s hand that are possibly of his own creation. Howard and Margaret Douglas also adapt some of Chaucer’s verse in interesting ways in order to communicate their mutual attachment, as well as to complain of their misfortunes”

What is really interesting is her early years before she came to Mary’s Household in 1530:

“Margaret was born under difficult circumstances. Her mother Queen Margaret was involved in a power struggle for the regency of her young son King James V of Scotland. Things became unbearable and Queen Margaret fled to England seeking refuge and a place to have her child. The birth took place on October 8, 1515 at Harbottle Castle in Northumberland.
Margaret and her mother remained in England for a year. Queen Margaret and Angus were reconciled and little Margaret and her mother returned to Scotland where her parent’s marriage rapidly disintegrated. At the age of three, Margaret’s father took possession of her. Angus took good care of her, assigning a governess although she did not receive a strong education. In 1522, Angus travelled to France and may have taken Margaret with him. Margaret did not see her mother from 1521 to 1524 and was highly influenced by her father, becoming very much a Douglas. Her parents were finally divorced in 1527. From 1525 to1528, Angus was in complete control of the Scottish regency. This was a time of great luxury for Margaret. As half-sister of King James V, she was treated as a princess. She may have become conceited during this time.
In May of 1528, King James V began to assert himself and overthrew his stepfather. Angus fought to keep his position until March of 1529. During this time Margaret travelled with her father, sometimes seeking refuge at Norham Castle. Angus finally fled to England taking the 13 year old Margaret with him. She was left with Sir Thomas Stangeways at Berwick until that summer. She and her ladies were prisoners but treated well. Margaret’s mother made an attempt at this time to get her back but was unsuccessful. Henry worried Margaret would turn out like her mother because he disapproved of his sister’s behavior. Sir Thomas wrote to Cardinal Wolsey that he was keeping a strict eye on Margaret, fearing she might be stolen into Scotland. Margaret was now legally the ward of King Henry who along with Wolsey, arranged for her to be brought south to live with her aunt Mary Tudor.”

Sharon said

Margaret’s time before she came to live at court is very interesting. Funny thing Henry worrying about how Margaret might turn out like his sister. He had a lot of nerve questioning his sister’s choices!!!

I KNOW!! I mean that’s the pot calling the kettle black, don’t ‘ya think….

black_mamba said

Sharon said

Margaret’s time before she came to live at court is very interesting. Funny thing Henry worrying about how Margaret might turn out like his sister. He had a lot of nerve questioning his sister’s choices!!!

I KNOW!! I mean that’s the pot calling the kettle black, don’t ‘ya think….

Good old Double Standards, eh!