Along with Margaret's commitment to good ladyship, as seen in her promotion of marriages or advancing the interests of her servants and petitioners, she transacted what may be simply considered good business. Her dower of duchy of Lancaster lands worth £2,000 made her a great magnate with extensive estates to manage. Some of her letters show her as a businesswoman, responsible for transactions as a landholder, as mistress of a large household or as someone who occasionally engaged in overseas trade. If necessary, she also followed up on the king's orders where her concerns or responsibilities coincided with his.

The letters in this chapter fall into two categories, beginning with what might be called ‘regular business letters’. In the first Margaret ordered the sale of some beech trees to pay for needed repairs to two of her manors. Next come two letters from the king and queen relating to oaks from her property, to be given as a gift by King Henry. An order for what appears to be Christmas livery for one of Margaret's servants is followed by the provision of a buck to someone else.

The second category consists of Margaret's ‘formal letters’. These official letters all begin with the formula ‘Margaret, by the grace of God queen of England and of France and Lady of Ireland’ and are addressed to officials of various kinds. The first provides formal notice of a grant of land; the second provides an annuity to one of her servants. Several letters address the requirements of persons traveling abroad on Margaret's business. Two more concern the services of a London cordwainer. The next letter grants immunity from purveyance, while the last formally establishes an award of damages.

[31] Queen to D[rew] B[arantyne], Steward of her Lordships of Great Haseley and Pyrton [1446–47]

(BL, Add. MS 46, 846, fol. 55; Monro, pp. 140–1)