C O N T E N T S


I

1441-1450. Lady Margaret -- 1441 -- The Beaufort family -- Margaret's parents -- The Beaufort policy -- Somerset and York -- Death of Margaret's father -- Her guardian Suffolk -- Education -- A proposal of marriage -- St. Nicolas as match maker -- Murder of Suffolk. Pages 11-20

II

1450-1482. Margaret marries Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond -- She becomes a widow -- Birth of Henry VII -- Margaret marries Lord Henry Stafford -- Jasper Tudor -- Wars of the Roses -- Flight of Jasper and Henry Tudor -- Lady Margaret's second marriage -- Her character and appearance -- Death of Stafford -- Reginald Bray. Pages 21-31

III

1483. Lady Margaret marries Thomas, Lord Stanley -- Death of Edward IV -- A stormy Council meeting -- Gloucester's coup d'etat -- The Coronation -- 'My Lady of Richemond bare the Quene's trayne' -- They all cry 'King Richard!' -- Buckingham meets Lady Margaret on the road -- He has a brilliant idea -- And tells it to Morton -- Bray takes a message to Lady Margaret. Pages 32-41

IV

1483. Wanted, a king -- Lady Margaret sets to work -- The two mothers -- Dr. Lewis is useful -- Lancaster and York -- Plans to unite the 'Roses' -- Diplomacy in Wales -- Buckingham's rebellion -- The Duke's 'great water' -- Failure -- Henry is disappointed. Pages 42-8

V

1483-1485. Lady Margaret is accused of high treason -- The King's 'dreadfull commaundement' -- Richard III tries to defeat the plot -- Elizabeth of York -- A piece of gossip -- New hopes in 1485 -- Henry lands in Wales -- The sensitive conscience of Rice ap Thomas -- The battle of Bosworth -- Victory -- Death of Richard III -- Henry VII and his mother. Pages 49-57

VI

1485-1486. A new era -- Lady Margaret's position and property -- A letter -- Rewards -- The King's marriage -- 'My Lady the King's Mother -- Her influence -- Family life -- Wifely diplomacy -- 'The humdrum movements of the Court' -- How to make a bed; 'Yeoman's service' -- Lady Margaret as grandmother -- The Royal nurseries -- Prince Arthur's christening. Pages 58-66

VII

1487-1489. Rebellion of Lambert Simnel -- A letter from the King -- A Royal progress -- 'Gentilmanly Pajants' -- The Queen is crowned -- Ceremony at Windsor -- Lady Margaret's god-daughter -- Christmas at Court -- Lady Margaret's little joke -- The Royal children. Pages 67-74

1489-1495. The Earl of Derby -- Travelling-- Collyweston -- Lady Margaret's home -- 'Quysshons' and gold cups -- A visit from the King -- 'Tom, remember Will!' -- The business of hospitality -- Hostess and housekeeper -- Free grammar and charity -- Justice for the 'suitors ' -- Many interests. Pages 75-85

IX

1495-1503. John Fisher dines with Lady Margaret -- Depression in the country -- The 'New Learning' -- Lady Margaret's Readers in Divinity at Oxford and Cambridge -- Revival of popular preaching -- The Lady Margaret Preachership at Cambridge -- Family affairs again -- Prince Arthur's wedding -- Lady Margaret's dinner-party -- Disguisings and dances -- Sunday at Richmond -- Marriage of Lady Margaret's god-daughter. Pages 86-95

X

1504. Death of the Earl of Derby-Lady Margaret's vow -Fisher compares her with Martha-' Confraternity '-Her devotions and self-denial-Her letters-A lawsuit-Two let ters to the King. Pages 96-102

XI

1485-1509. Lady Margaret's literary interests -- Her books -- Her translation of The Mirror of Gold -- Her patronage of Caxton, Pynson, and Wynkyn de Worde -- A French Romance -- Caxton's preface -- Kynge Planchardyne and Queen Eglantine -- The grete shyppe of Fooles -- Lady Margaret disapproves of extravagance -- She translates the Imitatio Christi of an unknown author -- Scala Perfeccionis is dedicated to her. Pages 103-9

XII

1504-1509. Fisher becomes Bishop of Rochester -- Lady Margaret and Cambridge -- 'Cowmfetts' and pike-fish -- She interferes at Oxford -- Her gifts to Westminster -- The influence of Fisher in favour of Cambridge -- 'The health of the soul' -- Henry VII's letter to his mother -- Christ's College -- A faulty scholar -- Short commons -- Erasmus -- Queens' College -- St. John's College -- Difficulties in the foundation of St. John's College -- Fisher carries out Lady Margaret's wishes. Pages 110-23

1509. Death of Henry VII -- And of Lady Margaret-- Fisher's grief at her death -- A 'lamentable mornynge' -- Influence of Lady Margaret -- Her Will -- Her tomb at Westminster. Pages 124-9


GENEALOGICAL TABLE. Page 131

AUTHORITIES. Page 133-5