Sister Magdalen

Sister Magdalen – Factual

Sister Magdalen is wholly fictional, but her background is fairly typical for a “gentry” woman of her period. Cross border marriages, especially in the Marcher regions such as Glyndyfrdwy were common in the fourteenth century, so her marriage is not unusual. Equally, if a widow had dower lands that were valuable, she would suddenly find herself with a number of suitors. While she technically could refuse them, if they became persistent she either had to appeal to the King for protection or to find another way of escaping.

Many widows chose the conventual option – either as Corrodians – which meant that they surrendered either the entirety or a portion of their lands to the convent, in exchange for housing for life; or as fully professed nuns, again surrendering their lands to the convent.  These widows were useful to the convent; they could often read and write, some were numerate, and had experience of managing a household and staff. While those entering as Corrodians often took staff with them to manage their household within the walls, often those who entered as nuns also took a servant; the servant would either become a Lay Sister – one who worked in the convent without taking vows, or if her mistress was willing, a nun herself.

During the Rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr, the English forces suspected the Orders of Friars of supporting him and passing intelligence. It is not too much of a stretch to imagine that a woman from Glyndyfrdwy, the heartland of Owain’s support, would have used her travels to do the same.

Sister Magdalen

Sister Magdalen is a nun at the Abbey of Polesworth (N Warwickshire).

I was born to minor Welsh gentry in Glyndyfrdwy, my name at that time being Rhiannon. My father would travel to Shrewsbury regularly to buy goods that could not be purchased in Wales; especially during the great fair of St Peter in August, when travellers and merchants from all over would meet.  During one of these fairs, I met my husband, Henry of Clun in Shropshire.  I was his second wife, his first having died giving birth to a son, also called Henry. In time I had a child of my own, a daughter named Elwen, who has gone into service in the household of the Master of the Port of Holyhead. 

Henry died in one of the regular skirmishes between English and Welsh that are a feature of life in the border country, especially in the lead up to the rebellion.  I had to keep my thoughts to myself while Henry was alive, as he would have been shocked to discover that I supported the rebellion, even though he knew I had grown up in the areas loyal to Owain Glyndŵr.

When Henry died, his son took seisin of his lands, and I took control of my dower lands; those gifted to me on my marriage to Henry, and those I inherited on the death of my father without his longed-for son. Unfortunately, the fact that my lands are all along the border meant that I was, apparently, quite a catch. I managed to see off most of my so-called suitors, but one in particular was persistent - to the point of being threatening.   I didn’t doubt that he would use any means he could to get his hands on my lands – so I took the only route out I could.  I took myself off to the Abbey of Polesworth.  I knew that the lands would be well received – the rents and produce would be a welcome addition.   The fact that I can read and write, and am used to managing lands and rents, meant that the old Abbess is happy for me to help the cofferer manage their holdings.  And I have to admit, the chance to travel appeals to me, too.   And no-one expects a travelling nun to be keeping an eye on the troops or passing messages for Owain Glyndwr.

Unfortunately, it looks like the Abbess got wind of what I was up to during the rebellion; she has therefore insisted I make a penitential journey around the sacred sites of Wales.

 Well, it wouldn’t be safe for a nun to be travelling on her own, would it? Especially as my faithful maidservant Goodwife Bess is with me. I remembered that I had met up with some of a group called the Meibion years before while passing messages for Owain and managed to trace one of the women – Nia Merch Wil. She is now a widow like me, but under the protection of Llewelyn Goch and his wife Nel and travelling with The Freemen of Gwent. So, I appealed to the wife of their Captain, Mistress Ann of Brideport, and now I am under their protection as I travel.

I will of course visit the sacred sites and return to the Abbey. Eventually.