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Thoughts and Fantasies with the Bridle of Reason, I ensure you all the Good of this World could not counterpoife for my Satisfaction, the Knowledge and Certainty thereof; wherefore good Sweetheart, continue the fame not only in this, but in all your Doings hereafter, for thereby fhall come both to you and me the greatest Quietneffe that may be in this World. The Caufe why this Bearer stayed fo long, is the Business that I have had to dreffe up Geer for you, which I trust ere long to see you Occupye, and then I truft to occupy yours, which fhall be Recompence enough to me for all my Pains and Labours. The unfayned Sickness of this well-willing Legate, doth somewhat retard his Access to your Perfon, but I truft veryly, when God fhall fend him Health, he will with Diligence recompence his Demurre, for I know well where he hath faid (lamenting the Saying, and brute, that he fhall be thought Imperial) that fhall be well known in this Matter, that he is not Imperial. And this for lake of Tyme farewell. Writen with the Hand which faine would be yours, and fo is the Heart.

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LETTERS

FROM

ANNE BOLEYN

то

Cardinal WOLSEY.

M

LETTER I. *

Y Lord, in my moft humbleft wife that my Heart can think, I defire you to pardon me that I am so bold to trouble you with my fimple and rude Writing, efteeming it to proceed

from her, that is much defirous to know that your Grace does well, as I perceive by this Bearer that you do. The which I pray God long to continue, as I am moft bound to pray; for I do know the great Pains and Troubles that

*This Letter is remarked on by Dr. Burnet, in his Hift. of the Reformat. p. 55. Vol. I.

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you have taken for me both Day and Night, is' never like to be recompenced on my Part, but alonely in loving you next unto the King's Grace, above all Creatures living. And I do not doubt but the daily Proofs of my Deeds shall manifeftly declare and affirm my Writing to be true, and I do truft you do think the fame. My Lord, I do affure you I do long to hear from you News of the Legate; for I do hope an they come from you they fhall be very good, and I am fure you defire it as much as I, and more, an it were poffible, as I know it is not: And thus remaining in a stedfaft Hope, I make an End of my Letter, written with the Hand of her that is moft bound to be,

Your Humble Servant,

ANNE BOLEYN.

*THE Writer of this Letter would not ceafe till fhe had caufed me likewise to set to my Hand; defiring you, though it be short, to take it in good Part, I enfure you there is neither of us but that greatly defireth to fee you, and much more joyous to hear that you have fcaped this Plague fo well, trufting the Fury thereof to be paf-. fed, fpecially with them that keepeth good Diet, as I truft you do. The not hearing of the Legate's Arrival in France, caufeth us fomewhat to mufe; notwithstanding we truft by your Diligence, and Vigilancy (with the Affiftance of Almighty God) fhortly to be eafed out of that Trouble. No more to you at this Time but that I pray:

Poftfcript by the KING.

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God

God fend you as good Health and Profperity as the Writer would.

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By Your,

Loving Soveraigne and Friend,

Henry K.

MY

LETTER II.

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Y Lord, in my moft humble wife that my poor Heart can think, I do thank your Grace for your kind Letter, and for your rich and goodly Prefent, the which I fhall never be able to deserve without your Help, of the which I have hitherto had fo great Plenty, that all the Days of my Life I am moft bound of all Creatures, next the King's Grace, to love and ferve your Grace; of the which I beseech you never to doubt that ever I fhall vary from this Thought as long as any Breath is in my Body. And as touching your Grace's Trouble with the Sweat, I thank our Lord, that them that I defired and prayed for are fcaped, and that is the King and You; not doubting but that God has preferved you both for great Causes known alonely of his high Wifdom. And as for the coming of the Legate, I defire that much; and if it be God's Pleafure, I pray him to fend this Matter fhortly to a good End, and then I truft my Lord, to recompence Part of your great Pains. In the which I must require of you in the mean Time to accept my Good-Will in the Stead of the

Power,

Queen Anne Boleyn's last Letter, 145 Power, the which must proceed partly from you, as our Lord knoweth; to whom I befeech to fend you long Life, with Continuance in Honour. Written with the Hand of her that is moft bound to be,

Your Humble and

Obedient Servant,

Anne Boleyn,

Anne Boleyn's Laft LETTER to King HENRY. *

SIR,

YOUR Grace's Displeasure, and my Impri

fonment, are Things fo ftrange unto me, as what to Write, or to what to Excufe, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you send unto me (willing me to confess a Truth, and fo obtain your Favour by fuch an one whom you know to be mine ancient profeffed Enemy; I no fooner received this Meffage by him, than I rightly conceived your Meaning; and if, as you fay, confeffing a Truth indeed may procure my Safety, I fhall with all Willingness and Duty perform your Command.

But let not your Grace ever imagine that your poor Wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a Fault, where not fo much as a Thought thereof preceded. And to fpeak a Truth, never Prince had Wife more Loyal in all Duty, and in

*See Hift. of Reform. p. 154. Vol. I. This Letter was written after her Marriage with the King. G 5

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