Goodwife Bess

I was born the daughter of a worker on one of the manors held by Sister Magdalen’s father. When she married Henry of Clun I went with her as a maidservant. I was lucky in that I fell in love with Robert, Master Henry’s stable master. We had one daughter but to our grief no sons.   Robert was killed in the same fight that killed Master Henry.  I enjoyed watching Mistress Rhiannon as she got rid of the men who would take her out of her widowhood – and her dower lands, but we were both scared by the last of them. When Mistress Rhiannon escaped into the convent to become Sister Magdalen she arranged with the Abbess for me to come with her, as a lay servant, to protect me. 

I travelled with her as we arranged rents and interviewed novices; helping her pass messages between those who supported the rebellion. No soldier thinks that a Nun and her servant are taking note of where they are; nor would they dare go through her psalter, even if they could read it.

Unfortunately the Abbess seems to have found out what we were up to. She insisted that Mistress Rhiannon, sorry Sister Magdalen, go on a pilgrimage around the sacred sites to atone for this. The awful woman was going to make me stay in the Abbey behind closed doors, but thankfully Sister Magdalen was able to convince her that she would need me on her travels, to cook her meals.  When we were taken under the wing of the Freemen of Gwent, Sister Magdalen offered my help to Mistress Ann.  

I enjoy travelling with the group and have reached an understanding with Gwilym ap Ifor, a forester of Arllechwedd Uchaf who joined the group at the end of the rebellion. Once Sister Magdalen has visited her sacred sites we will return to the Abbey, and I will ask to be released from my vows as a lay sister and marry him.