Ursula Pole

Ursula Pole, Baroness Stafford (c. 1504 – 12 August 1570) was an English noblewoman, a wealthy heiress, and the only daughter of Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury, the last surviving member of the Plantagenet dynasty who was executed for treason by the command of King Henry VIII in 1541. Ursula was the wife of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford.

Lady Ursula was born in about 1504, the only daughter and youngest child of Sir Richard Pole and Margaret Pole, suo jure 8th Countess of Salisbury, who as the daughter of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence and Isabella Neville was the last surviving member of the Plantagenet dynasty. Therefore, through her mother, Ursula had a claim to the English throne.

Ursula's father died in 1505 when she was a baby. The Poles' chief residence was Warblington Castle in Hampshire. Ursula's mother would stand as godmother to the Princess Mary, and later hold the post of Royal Governess.

Ursula had four older brothers, Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu, Reginald Pole, Cardinal and last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Geoffrey Pole, and Sir Arthur Pole. Her eldest brother Henry, who was one of the peers at the trial of Queen Anne Boleyn, was executed for treason in 1539; two years later her mother followed him to the block, and her titles and honours were forfeited to the Crown. Geoffrey, was suspected of treason, and went into exile on the Continent.