What happened to Margaret Pole?
On 27 May 1541 the Countess of Salisbury, Lady Margaret Pole, was executed by order of Henry VIII. This was shocking, even for a populace who had become accustomed to the murder of famous and popular people by their increasingly despotic king. Why was Margaret Pole put to death? She died a traitor under the law, but to many others an unlawfully judged elderly woman who did not deserve her cruel end.