Henley was a senior nun of Godstow Nunnery in 1445. She was elected abbess in 1446 and ruled until she died in 1470.^[1] During her rule, a royal confirmation of Godstow's foundation charters was obtained in 1462.^[1]

Her tenure as abbess was during a time when religious women's lack of education in Latin was beginning to cause administrative developments to meet their needs.^[1] She commissioned a summarised English translation of her abbey's Latin charters^[2]^[3] by a "poor brother and admirer" of Henley and her convert.^[4] He created the "English Register"^[4] which allowed the nuns to better understand their muniments and instruct their servants without having to consult an outsider.^[5] According to medieval historian Katie Ann-Marie Bugyis, the cartulary is the only one that has survived intact and is also more extensive and covers a longer time period than other cartularies of the time.^[6]

Life

References