_A Peep at Our Ancestors_ (1807) is fairly worthy of its ridiculous name.

It is preceded by expressions of thanks to the authorities of "the British Museum and the Heralds' Office" for the "access to records" vouchsafed to its author.
As the date of the story is 1146 (it was long before Mr.Freeman wrote) access to records would certainly not have been superfluous.

The actual results of it are blocks of spiritless and commonplace historic narrative--it is nearly all narrative, not action--diversified by utterances like this of Malcolm III.

of Scotland, "O my Edward! the deed which struck my son's life has centred [_sic_] thy noble youthful bosom also," or this of the heroine (such as there is), "the gentle _elegant_ Adelaise," "And do I not already receive my education of thee, mamma ?" It is really a pity that the creator of this remarkable peep-show did not give references to her "records," so that one might look up this "elegant" young creature of the twelfth century who talked about "education" and said "mamma!" But this absolute failure in verisimilitude is practically universal before Scott.
The works of the very beautifully named Regina Maria Roche should probably be read, as they were for generations, in late childhood or early youth.

Even then an intelligent boy or girl would perceive some of the absurdity, but might catch a charm that escapes the less receptive oldster.