Margaret Bernard Peyton

Isleham, Cambridgeshire 1484 This figure is part of a larger brass depicting THOMAS PEYTON flanked by his two wives, Margaret Bernard and Margaret Francis. Thomas was descended from a Suffolk family, and was commissioner for tax. He profited greatly from the wool trade, at that time the basis of most of England’s wealth.

MARGARET BERNARD PEYTON was the first wife of Thomas Peyton, and daughter of Sir John Bernard. She wears a gown ,of rich Italian brocade with cuffs and turned down collar. The outspread hands are an unusual attitude of prayer which was occasionally depicted in this period. Her butterfly headdress, the English form of the Hennis, is worked with the prayer "Lady (help) Jhu (mercy)". Her slender neck circled by a magnificent necklace. This brass is also known as the ''lace lady".