This little gem is from one of Margaret Frazer’s Dame Frevisse Medieval Mystery books, The Traitor’s Tale.  All her book are well-researched and well written – a real pleasure to read.

The setting is 1450 and the Duke of Suffolk had recently been killed.  His widow is talking to the main character of the book, Sister Frevisse, about the young Margaret Beaufort:

“I like young Meg Beaufort very little. … She’s lovely to the eye, is little Meg – she hates being called Meg, so I’m afraid I do it.  She’s all large eyes and sweet-shaped face, but even at seven years old she’s pie-faced with piety.  Walks around with her prayer book clasped to her breast and her eyes raised to heaven.”   Alice mimicked a child’s voice simpering, “I’d be Christ’s bride if I could, but God has willed otherwise for me.”   Alice returned to her own voice disgustedly, ” When she says ‘Christ’s bride’, what she sees is herself sitting in glory on a throne beside him, draped in cloth of gold.  She wouldn’t last a month in nunnery life.  I do not like her.”

(Quoted from:  Margaret Frazer, The Traitor’s Tale.  Berkley Publishing Group,  Penguin Group (USA) New York, 2007.  ISBN 978-0-425-21902-7.  p. 136)

For more on Margaret Frazer have a look at her website.