Blessed Margaret Pole

A tune which we found about a brave martyr called Margaret Pole which we play on the bouzouki and guitar.
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury
Margaret Pole was born on 14th August 1473 and tragically died on 27th May 1541. She was the only surviving daughter of George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence, she was the niece of Edward IV and Richard III. She married Richard Pole who died in 1505 leaving her a widow with 5 children.
She became a Lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon when Catherine was married to Arthur Prince of Wales and again in 1509 when Catherine married Henry VIII. Margaret was later appointed governess to Princess Mary.
Margaret lost favor with Henry VIII following his split from the catholic church and his marriage to Anne Boleyn.
As part of the evidence for the bill of attainder, Cromwell produced a tunic bearing the Five Wounds of Christ, symbolizing Margaret's support for the Church of Rome and the rule of her son, Reginald, who was the last Catholic archbishop of Canterbury and the King's Catholic daughter, Mary. Consequently Margaret was sentenced to death, but was held in the Tower of London for two and a half years with her grandson, Henry.
Margaret believed she was innocent of any crime.
The following poem was found carved on the wall of Margaret's cell
"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 one step, as you shall see;
Christ in Thy Mercy, save Thou me!"
In 1541 she was executed by Henry VIII at the Tower of London with only an hour warning without a trial.
The execution was a horrific affair with an inexperienced executioner who hacked at her head and shoulders. It took 11 stokes with the axe to finally remove her head.
Margaret is buried in the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula with in the Tower of London. Margaret was later regarded a martyr by the Catholic Church and was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886