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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Clement, Margaret

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507353Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 11 — Clement, Margaret1887Jennett Humphreys

CLEMENT or CLEMENTS, MARGARET (1508–1570), learned lady, whose maiden name was Giggs, was born in 1508, being daughter of a gentleman of Norfolk. She was a kinswoman of Sir Thomas More, who brought her up from a child with his own daughters. About 1530 she married Dr. John Clement [q. v.], on which occasion Leland wrote an epithalamium; and her portrait was included in both of Holbein's large pictures of the 'More Family,' painted about the same time. Algebra was probably her special study; and More had an 'algorisme stone ' of hers with him in the Tower, which he sent back to her the day before his execution, 1535. She obtained also the shirt in which he suffered, and preserved it. About 1540 Sir Thomas Elyott conveyed to her and her husband the indignation felt by Charles V at More's execution. She was a papist, and died in exile at Mechlin on 6 July 1570. She had one child, a daughter, Winifred, who married William Rastall, judge, More's nephew.

[Roper's Life of Sir Thomas More (ed. 1731), pp. 102, 146 and note, 169 note; Foss's Judges of England, v. 535; Ballard's Ladies.]