Margaret Vernon

Abbess

The story so far…

Week 38: Vile Blood (1/2)

She was prioress of Little Marlow, a small religious house that closed this summer. She was Gregory’s first tutor. ‘Gregory prospered with her. Now she must prosper in her turn.’ She sends her to Malling, Kent. Cromwell’s mother-in-law suspected him of having romantic feelings towards the prioress.

Week 44: Corpus Christi (Part 1/2)

Malling is broken up and Margaret Vernon comes to stay with Cromwell. She says she will ‘set up housekeeping with some of my sisters. We shall be unruly women, with no master.’

Cromwell tells her that Lizzie used to be jealous of her.

   He thinks, if it could be held that Katherine of Aragon was no wife, if it could be held that Anne Boleyn was no wife, might it not be discovered that Margaret Vernon was no nun? Could we not find an error in the paperwork? Then she would be free.
   But what's the point? he thinks. She would die and leave me. Or I would die and leave her. It's not worth it. Nobody's worth it.