Mistress Margaret Sherley

As portrayed by Jenifer McDonald

Please permit me to introduce myself. My name is Margaret Sherley, wife of Pexsall Brocas, of Gray’s Inn London, Esq. I am one of six daughters and three sons born to Sir Thomas Sherley the elder, of Wiston in Sussex and Anne Kemp, daughter of Sir Thomas Kemp of Wye in Kent.

My father is the head of an old and important family. He was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1573 at Rye. Soon after, desiring his estate to be one of the finest in all England, father began entirely rebuilding my childhood home of Wiston upon a grand scale. He has held many offices over the years, and is well known at court. I have come to know many important people in my life because of it.

My husband Pexsall was born in to Anne Pexsall, daughter of Sir Richard Pexsall, Master of the Royal Buckhounds to Majesties King Henry VIII and Queen Mary. We are newly wed, having just done so in 1585. As a wedding gift my husband did settle upon me some of his estates - his manors at Roches Court, Bulsden, Bentworth, and his lands at Bradenstoke and Clack in Wilts.

I am pleased to know that my father holds Pexsall as dear to him as my brothers Thomas, Anthony and Robert, and is acting upon Pexsall’s behalf to secure his rightful inheritance. Pexsall’s grandfather, Sir Richard Pexsall’s widow, Elinor Cotgrave immediately remarried after his death in 1571, and has attempted to retain Pexsall’s estates, chattel, and even jewelry for the family of her second husband Sir John Savage of Rocksavage. She and Sir John, along with his son Edward, have indeed resided in the centuries old Brocas family seat of Beaurepaire since their marriage, and do refuse to vacate even now that Pexsall is of proper age and legal owner. It is an entanglement which troubles Pexsall so.

Until the matter is resolved, I will continue to reside at my manor at Roche Court in Hampshire. Pexsall does spend most of his time at Grey’s Inn in London, making frequent visits to Little Weldon for hunting. It is the Manor at Little Weldon that has attached to it the hereditary title of the Master of the Royal Buckhounds. Sir John Savage did hold the title until Pexsall did come of age. Pexsall entered upon the Mastership role just recently, claiming his hereditary right without license from Her Majesty. I know not the whole story of it, but have heard it angered Her Grace terribly.

Father is to petition at court on Pexsall’s behalf that he receive both a pardon for this hasty action, and acknowledgment of his title by payment of the Mastership’s traditional annual salary of 50L. I am confident that with father’s history of service to Her Majesty, along with the history of service of Pexsall’s family to the crown through the centuries, the questions of his loyalty, title, and inheritance will quickly be resolved. Her Grace is understand and just, and is surely knowledgable that the position has been hereditary since the reign of Edward III, and was bequeathed to Pexsall quite legally by his grandfather.

Under father’s wing Pexsall will surely be knighted in short time, and I will assume my rightful place at his side as his Lady. Until then, as a good and loving wife I will do all that I can to assist Pexsall in his endeavors, and ease his mind of his past troubles.

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