it was pretty bad -- most of the many sites devoted to Jane Grey tell of a pretty bleak existance.

Though Jane is somewhat severe on her because she preserved the same appearance of knowledge, & contempt of what was generally esteemed pleasure I think her studies gave some happiness that the "esteemed pleasures" couldn't, if the account below is truthful.

Excerpt from "The Schoolmaster" by Roger Ascham (published 1570 -- 24 years after her death)

'I will tell you, quoth [Jane Grey], and tell you a troth whiche perchance ye will marvell at. One of the gretest benefits that ever God gave me is that he sent me so sharpe and severe Parentes, and so jentle a Scholemaster. For when I am in presence either of father or mother, whether I spekee, kepe silence, sit, stand, or go, eate, drinke, be merie, or sad, be sowying, plaiying, dauncing, or doing anything els: I must do it, as it were, in soch weight, measure, and number, even as perfectlie as God made the world; or els I am so sharplie taunted, so cruellie threatened, yea presentlie some tymes with pinches, nippes and bobbes, and other waies I will not name for the honour I beare them, so without measure misordered, that I thinke myself in hell, till tyme cum that I must go to Mister Elmer, who teacheth me so jentlie, so pleasantlie, with soch faire allurements to lerning, that I think all the tyme nothing, whiles I am with him. And when I am called from him, I fall on weeping, because what soever I do els, but learning, is full of grief, trouble, feare, and whole misliking.