Name Given at Birth: Margaret Shelton
Nicknames: Madge or, to close friends, Maggie
Hometown or where you were born: Shelton, Norfolk
Current Residence: London, or moving with the court on progress
Age: 22
Class: Nobility
What do you do, your main function in life/society: To serve God, to obey my father, and currently I remain at the Queen’s beck and call as one of her maids-of-honor. I have given my loyalty to her person and my service to her crown. I do hope that when I marry she will keep me on as a lady-in-waiting (should my husband permit) for I will not soon be ready to leave her.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: As a child I learned to swim in the duckpond by our castle, but I have not been in any water deeper than a bath since my mother caught me in the duckpond with Daniel the Miller’s boy when I was 10 years of age.
Do you make fun of people: Only gently, when I know they understand I mean them no harm.
Favorite Color: The green of the trees when they announce that springs is almost upon us.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: No, although if you could have asked my mother, God rest her soul, she might have told you stories of how I behaved as a child.
Closest friends/How did you meet:
- My sisters, Hermia and Emily, are my closest friends for they know more about me than anyone and yet love me anyway. We do not look anything alike for I take after my father and they both take after my blessed mother, but we are alike in spirit and that is enough.
- My two closest friends at court were something of a surprise to me. When I arrived at court my cousin, George Boleyn, did take me under his wing and adopt me of sorts. George is close to his sister, the Queen, and is one of His Majesty’s inner circle. This assures that while he is in favor I will not be rejected unless I do something truly dreadful for he acts like the brother I never had. His wife, Jane, was even more of a surprise. Perhaps she took me as friend more for a sounding board than for anything else, but it has been helpful for me to count her friend. Jane keeps me updated on court fashion and intrigue (which I am almost ashamed to say I enjoy too much). She is easy to entertain, and I need only watch my tongue so that I am not added to that gossip. She is genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow, yet she has been my friend and can be very sweet when least expected and most needed.
One Pillow or two: I like to have the use of two pillows when I am able.
Pets: My favorite pet was my pony, Jeanne, on whom I learned to ride. Although I do love my current horse, Linden, I cannot revert to childhood and play at jousting on her.
Favorite Type of Music: Anything I may dance to. Also, I do love the Gregorian chants sung in church.
Hobbies/Pastimes: Dancing, reading aloud to Her Majesty (especially while the others are sewing so that I may avoid that hideous task!), riding, interesting conversations (especially about theology and the changes that have recently come about in our church)
Personal Hygiene: I look back wistfully at the days when I bathed in the duckpond! But now, serving the Queen, I usually bathe once a week. Her Majesty does hate for us to be dirty, and of course we must look our best that we may beautify her court.
Favorite Food: I adore strawberries! And my favorite food at our harvest faire is cheesecake on a stick.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: My father yet lives and I strive to obey him as a dutiful daughter ought. He made certain that I and my sister were literate, and for that I will always hold him in high esteem. My blessed mother has departed from this world, and my father has since remarried. I do try to get along with my stepmother, though it is often difficult as she is barely 6 years older than I am.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: My mother, God rest her soul, passed away of an illness a few years ago. It is still painful for me to discuss.
Favorite place to relax: Even after my mother corralled me and forced me to learn to be a lady she did not stop me from taking walks (though for a time they were chaperoned till she decided to trust me again after the Duckpond Incident). I love to walk in the orchards on our family land. Whenever I am feeling stressed and need some relief I turn to the palace gardens and walk there.
Favorite Holy Day / Why: 25 October, St. Crispin’s Day. I had a brief respite from my mother’s lessons when she went into confinement for her last pregnancy. During that time I ran wild in the woods and fields and played again with the village children. On 25 October I suggested that we reenact the battle of Agincourt when Henry V soundly beat the French dogs. This we did and got thoroughly muddy and bloodied and that night everyone of us caught a scolding (though my parents were too occupied to know of the incident and it was worth letting the steward scold me). It was glorious, and is one of my favorite childhood memories.
Favorite Drink: Mulled wine flavored with cinnamon.
What's your bedtime: Usually after the Queen retires for the night, which after reveling is sometimes very early in the morning!
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: Comfortable slippers when in the castle, leather shoes or boots when outside.
Are you married or single: At present I am single, though I do hope that Her Majesty will soon make a match for me. Henry Norris and I have been taking walks together recently, and I think he would not be a bad husband.
Do you have a family / who are they:
- My father, John Shelton, is the Lord Mayor of Canterbury.
- My stepmother is now Lady Shelton, a place I do not believe she rightly deserves.
- My sisters are Mary Hermia Shelton and Emily Shelton and they are both younger than I am.
- I have several cousins and relatives at court including my cousins Anne, George and Mary Boleyn.
Favorite Entertainment: Court masques, any sort of dance, playing cards, listening to Their Majesties discuss theology
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Learning to read
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Embroidery. I am much improved in it, but it remains one of my least favorite pastimes at court.
Favorite Sport: As a lady of the court I am not allowed to play sports, but I think that if I were I would like to learn to fence.
Most Humiliating Moment: When my mother caught me in the duckpond. When she informed my father and he told me how disappointed he was in me I could not have felt lower. From then on I resolved to be the best lady I could be if only it would make them proud.
Proudest Moment: When the Queen accepted me at court. My father told me I was indeed a lady, and that my mother would have been proud of me.
Craziest Person or silliest you know: Myself. My inner dialogue is both crazy and silly and I am most anxious no one discover it for I would be turned out of court. I will speak of it no more.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: I have a weakness for a tall frame, curly hair and laughing eyes. It would be nice to be with someone who allows and encourages me to have more fun than I currently allow myself.
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord": My father till I marry, then twill be my husband. Currently the Queen has charge of my well being.
Favorite Sport to watch: Jousting is usually quite good. It depends on who is riding that day.
Do you remember your first kiss: Oh dear, yes. And I ought to fully explain the Duckpond Incident. You see, I was at that age when I still thought that kissing sounded strange and silly. When Daniel splashed me in the duckpond I did threaten to kiss him if he did it again, thinking he would take it as a punishment. Looking back now I realize that Daniel was somewhat older than myself with all the differences that implies. When he splashed me again and dove underwater I followed him and kissed him there. The feeling surprised me so much that when we came up for air we promptly tried it again. ‘Tis most unfortunate that my mother did then appear. I have not kissed anyone since that day, though the temptation has not been absent.
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: My friends from childhood were those in the village. When my mother began my lessons I was to cut off contact with them, and none of them can read so writing now is out of the question. I always keep in contact with my sisters, and am so pleased to be back in Canterbury visiting them.
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: Now that I live in London I would have to say home in Canterbury. And I do love going on progress with the court in summer and seeing new places.
Have you ever been overseas: Just once, when I went to Calais with Their Majesties (though at that time our Queen was still my cousin, Anne Boleyn).
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: The castle floors are stone and quite cold without carpets and rugs.
What is your bed made of: That depends on whether or not I am on duty with Her Majesty that evening. When on duty I sleep in a pallet in the Queen’s chambers. On my evenings off I sleep in my bed of oak with a lovely feather mattress.
How many people sleep in your bed: When in my own bed I usually share with another of the maids-of-honor and a family of fleas – even here in the castle we cannot rid ourselves of the pests entirely!
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me:
- I appear calm and quiet but I have a mischievous streak running through me.
- I am paranoid that someone will see that streak and so I hide it from all but those closest to me.
- I am easily embarrassed.
- I miss my mother
- I think embroidery is of the devil (but can never tell Her Majesty!).
- I secretly long to dance with the gypsies, but fear what those at court would think.
- Though the King is very handsome, I think there is at least one man at court who is more so.
- I hate getting up early.
- I love life and sometimes celebrate it by running around in circles when I think no one is watching.
- One of my favorite things to do when I have the time is to curl up by the fire with a book and a cup of mulled wine and spend a happy hour reading.