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LIBRARY

1942

loue iLettetg of l^entp (Bishtb
to
3nne TBoIcpn

TliTuy ~ Cfte
Eobe letters of
Henri) WLiii
to
Znnt Moitvn
mitb Botes

3Iot)n m. luce & Companp
"Boston : lonDon

copyright, 1906, BY JOHN W. LUCE & COMPANY

D. B. UPDIKE, THE MERRYMOUNT PRESS, BOSTON

Cable of Contentis

Letter First

i

Letter Second

iv

Letter Third

v

Letter Fourth

vii
Letter Fifth
X
Letter Sixth
xiii
Letter Seventh
xvi
Letter Eighth [Anne Boleyn
Postscript [by Henry VIII]
Letter Ninth
to Wolsey] xviii XX
xxii
Letter Tenth
xxv
Letter Eleventh
xxviii
Letter Tv(relfth
xxx
Letter Thirteenth
xxxiv
Letter Fourteenth
xxxvii
Letter Fifteenth
xxxix
Letter Sixteenth
xli
Letter Seventeenth
xliii
Letter Eighteenth
Notes
xlv li
loue letters of ^enrp Cigfitt)
to
anne Bolepn

l^XI.XXXXXXTXLXXXXlXYXVl.XnXXXXXXrLXlX

letter jFirst
Co 9lnne Boleyn

N turning over in my
mind the contents of
your last letters, I have
put myself into great
agony, not knowing how to interpret
them, whether to my disadvantage,
as you show in some places, or to my
advantage, as I understand them in
some others, beseeching you earnestly
to let me know expressly your whole
mind as to the love between us two.

[i]

loue letters of ^enrp Ciffbtt)
It is absolutely necessary for me to
obtain this answer, having been for
above a whole year stricken with the
dart of love, and not yet sure whether
I shall fail of finding a place in your
heart and affeftion, which last point
has prevented me for some time past
from calling you my mistress; be
cause, if you only love me with an
ordinary love, that name is not suit
able for you, because it denotes a sin
gular love, which is far from com
mon. But if you please to do the office
ofa true loyal mistress and friend, and
to give up yourself body and heart to
me, who will be, and have been, your
most loyal servant, (if your rigour
does not forbid me) I promise you
that not only the name shall be given
m

loue letters of ^enrp dBisbtb
you, but also that I will take you
for my only mistress, casting off all
others besides you out of my thoughts
and affeftions, and serve you only. I
beseech you to give an entire answer
to this my rude letter, that I may
know on what and how far I may
depend. And if it does not please
you to answer me in writing, appoint
some place where I may have it by
word of mouth, and I will go thither
with all my heart. No more, for fear
of tiring you. Written by the hand
of him who would willingly remain
yours, H. R.

Lin:\

letter ^econD
Co anne Boletn

THOUGH it is not fitting for a
gentleman to take his lady in
the place ofa servant, yet, complying
with your desire, I willingly grant it
you, if thereby you can find yourself
less uncomfortable in the place chosen
by yourself, than you have been in
that which I gave you, thanking you
cordially that you are pleased still to
have some remembrance of me. 6. n.
A. I de A. o. na. v. e. z. Henry R.

[iU]

letter CbirD
Co anne Boleyn

ALTHOUGH, my Mistress, it
L has not pleased you to remem
ber the promise you made me when I
was last with you — that is, to hear
good news from you, and to have an
answer to my last letter; yet it seems
to me that it belongs to a true servant
(seeing that otherwise he can know
nothing) to inquire the health ofhis
mistress, and to acquit myself of the
duty of a true servant, I send you this
letter, beseeching you to apprise me
of your welfare, which I pray to God
may continue as long as I desire mine

[tl]

loue letters of J^enrp <Bi^tb
own. And to cause you yet oftener
to remember me, I send you, by the
bearer of this, a buck killed late last
night by my own hand, hoping that
when you eat of it you may think of
the hunter; and thus, for want of
room, I must end my letter, written
bythe hand of your servant, who very
often wishes for you instead of your
brother. H. R.

[tii]

letter jfourtb
Co 9lnne Boleyn

MTMIsr^^SSS &F1{ISND,
my heart and I surrender our
selves into your hands, beseeching
you to hold us commended to your
favour, and that by absence your af
feftion to us may not be lessened:
for it were a great pity to increase
our pain, of which absence produces
enough and more than I could ever
have thought could be felt, remind
ing us ofa point in astronomy which
is this: the longer the days are, the
more distant is the sun, and never
theless the hotter; so is it with our

[tJii]

loue letters of ^enrp <BisUb
love, for by absence we are kept a
distance from one another, and yet
it retains its fervour, at least on my
side; I hope the like on yours, as
suring you that on my part the pain
of absence is already too great for
me; and when I think ofthe increase
of that which I am forced to suffer,
it would be almost intolerable, but
for the firm hope I have of your un
changeable affeftion for me: and to
remind you of this sometimes, and
seeing that I cannot be personally
present with you, I now send you the
nearest thing I can to that, namely,
my pifture set in a bracelet, with the
whole of the device, which you al
ready know, wishing myself in their
place, if it should please you. This is
[ ^iii ]

loue letters of ^enrp (ffigbtb
from the hand of your loyal servant
and friend, H.R.

[ir]

letter JFiftt)
Co anne Boleyn

FOR a present so beautiful that
nothing could be more so (con
sidering the whole ofit), I thank you
most cordially, not only on account
of the fine diamond and the ship in
which the solitary damsel is tossed
about, but chiefly for the fine inter
pretation and the too humble sub
mission which your goodness hath
used towards me in this case; for I
think it would be very difficult for
me to find an occasion to deserve it,
if I were not assisted by your great
humanity and favour, which I have

[r]

loue letters of ^enrp (Bi^tb
always sought to seek, and will seek
to preserve by all the kindness in my
power, in which my hope has placed
its unchangeable intention, which
says, Aut illic, aut nullibi.
The demonstrations of your affec
tion are such, the beautiful mottoes
of the letter so cordially expressed,
that they oblige me for ever to hon
our, love, and serve you sincerely, be
seeching you to continue in the same
firm and constant purpose, assuring
you that, on my part, I will surpass
it rather than make it reciprocal, if
loyalty of heart and a desire to please
you can accomplish this.
I beg, also, if at any time before this
I have in anyway offended you, that
you would give me the same abso-
[ri ]

loue letters of i^enrp BiQbtb
lution that you ask, assuring you, that
henceforward my heart shall be de
dicated to you alone. I wish my per
son was so too. God can do it, if He
pleases, to whom I pray every day for
that end, hoping that at length my
prayers will be heard. I wish the time
may be short, but I shall think it
long till we see one another.
Written by the hand of that secre
tary, who in heart, body, and will, is.
Your loyal and most assured Servant,
Irl . aultre ^.bJ ne cherse XV .

[rii]

letter %ixtb
Co ainne Bolei?n

To J^r miSTli^SSS. Because
the time seems very long since
I heard concerning your health and
you, the great affeftion I have for
you has induced me to send you this
bearer, to be better informed of your
health and pleasure, and because,
since my parting from you, I have
been told that the opinion in which
I left you is totally changed, and that
you would not come to court either
with your mother, if you could, or in
any other manner; which report, if
true, I cannot sufficiently marvel at,
[ riii ]

loue letters of ^enrp (BiQbtb
because I am sure that I have since
never done any thing to offend you,
and it seems a very poor return for the
great love which I bear you to keep
me at a distance both from the speech
and the person of the woman that I
esteem most in the world: and if you
love me with as much affeftion as I
hope you do, I am sure that the dis
tance of our two persons would be
a little irksome to you, though this
does not belong so much to the mis
tress as to the servant.
Consider well, my mistress, that
absence from you grieves me sorely,
hoping that it is not your will that
it should be so; but if I knew for cer
tain that you voluntarily desired it,
I could do no other than mourn my
[riU ]

loue letters of ^enrp (Bisbtb
ill-fortune, and by degrees abate my
great folly. And so, for lack of time,
I make an end of this rude letter, be
seeching you to give credence to this
bearer in all that he will tell you
from me.
Written by the hand of your en
tire Servant, H.R.

[rtJ]

letter ^euentf)
Co anne Boleyn

DA%LI3^, these shall be
only to advertise you that this
bearer and his fellow be despatched
with as many things to compass our
matter, and to bring it to pass as our
wits could imagine or devise; which
brought to pass, as I trust, by their
diligence, it shall be shortly, you and
I shall have our desired end, which
should be more to my heart's ease,
and more quietness to my mind, than
any other thing in the world ; as, with
God's grace, shortly I trust shall be
proved, but not so soon as I would

[rtii]

loue letters of l^enrp Bisbtb
it were; yet I will ensure you that
there shall be no time lost that may
be won, and further can not be done;
for ultra posse non est esse. Keep him
not too long with you, but desire
him, for your sake, to make the more
speed; for the sooner we shall have
word from him, the sooner shall our
matter come to pass, And thus upon
trust of your short repair to London,
I make an end of my letter, my own
sweet heart.
Written with the hand of him
which desireth as much to be yours
as you do to have him. H. R.

[ ruii ]

letter <Bisbtb
anne Boletn to axaol^et
Mr LO^T), in my most hum
blest wise, that my heart can
think, I desire you to pardon me that
I am so bold to trouble you with my
simple and rude writing, esteeming it
to proceed from her that is much de
sirous 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 most bound to pray;
for I do know the great pains and trou
bles that you have taken for me both
day and night is never likely to be
recompensed on my part, but alonely
-- -  ¦ ¦
[ rUiii ]

loue letters of J^enrp €isbtb
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 manifestly declare
and affirm my writing to be true, and
I do trust you do think the same.
My lord, I do assure you, I do long
to hear from you news of the legate;
for I do hope, as they come from you,
they shall be very good; and I am
sure you desire it as much as I, and
more, an it were possible; as I know
it is not: and thus remaining in a
steadfast hope, I make an end of my
letter. Written with the hand of her that
is most bound to be
Your humble Servant,
Anne Boleyn.
[ rir ]

Postscript
tjp i^enrp Uiii

THE writer of this letter would
not cease, till she had caused
me likewise to set my hand, desiring
you, though it be short, to take it in
good part. I ensure you that there is
neither of us but greatly desireth to
see you, and are joyous to hear that
you have escaped this plague so well,
trusting the fury thereof to be passed,
especially with them that keepeth
good diet, as I trust you do. The not
hearing of the legate's arrival in
France causeth us somewhat to muse ;
notwithstanding, we trust, by your

[rr]

loue letters of J^enrp BiQbtb
diligence and vigilancy (with the as
sistance of Almighty God), shortly
to be eased out of that trouble. No
more to you at this time, but that I
pray God send you as good health
and prosperity as the writer would.
By your loving Sovereign and
Friend, H. R.

[rri J

letter Bintb
Co anne Boleyn

THERE came to me suddenly
in the night the most afflift-
ing news that could have arrived.
The first, to hear of the sickness of
my mistress, whom I esteem more
than all the world, and whose health
I desire as I do my own, so that I
would gladly bear half your illness to
make you well. The second, from the
fear that I have of being still longer
harassed by my enemy. Absence,
much longer, who has hitherto given
me all possible uneasiness, and as far
as I can judge is determined to spite

[ rrii ]

loue letters of i^enrp Bisbtb
me more because I pray God to rid
me of this troublesome tormentor.
The third, because the physician in
whom I have most confidence, is ab
sent at the very time when he might
do me the greatest pleasure; for I
should hope, by him and his means,
to obtain one of my chief joys on
earth — that is the care of my mis
tress — yet for want of him I send you
my second, and hope that he will
soon make you well. I shall then love
him more than ever. I beseech you
to be guided by his advice in your
illness. In so doing I hope soon to see
you again, which will be to me a
greater comfort than all the precious
jewels in the world.
Written by that secretary, who is,
[ rriii ]

loue letters of ^enrp (Bisbtb
and for ever will be, your loyal and
most assured Servant, H. (A B) R.

[ rriu ]

letter Centl)
Co anne Boletn

THE uneasiness my doubts about
your health gave me, disturbed
and alarmed me exceedingly, and I
should not have had any quiet with
out hearing certain tidings. But now,
since you have as yet felt nothing, I
hope, and am assured that it will spare
you, as I hope it is doing with us. For
when we were at Walton, two ush
ers, two valets de chambres and your
brother, master-treasurer, fell ill, but
are now quite well ; and since we have
returned to our house at Hunsdon,
we have been perfeftly well, and have

[ rru ]

loue letters of ^enrp BiQbtb
not, at present, one sick person, God
be praised; and I think, if you would
retire from Surrey, as we did, you
would escape all danger. There is
another thing that may comfort you,
which is, that, in truth in this dis
temper few or no women have been
taken ill, and what is more, no per
son of our court, and few elsewhere,
have died of it. For which reason I
beg you, my entirely beloved, not to
frighten yourself nor be too uneasy at
our absence; for wherever I am, I am
yours, and yet we must sometimes
submit to our misfortunes, for who
ever will struggle against fate is gen
erally but so much the farther from
gaining his end: wherefore comfort
yourself, and take courage and avoid
[ rrui ]

loue letters of ^enrp Biebtb
the pestilence as much as you can,
for I hope shortly to make you sing,
la renvoye. No more at present, from
lack of time, but that I wish you in
my arms, that I might a little dispel
your unreasonable thoughts.
Written by the hand of him who
is and alway will be yours,
Ini- x~l . IA. , -mutable.

[ rruii ]

letter (iEleuentt)
Co anne Boleyn

THE cause of my writing at this
time, good sweetheart, is only
to understand of your good health
and prosperity; whereof to know I
would be as glad as in manner mine
own, praying God that (an it be His
pleasure) to send us shortly together,
for I promise you I long for it. How
be it, I trust it shall not be long to;
and seeing my darling is absent, I can
do no less than to send her some flesh,
representing my name, which is hart
flesh for Henry, prognosticating that
hereafter, God willing, you may en-

[ rruiii ]

loue letters of ^enrp (Bisbtb

joy some of mine, which He pleased,
I would were now.
As touching your sister's matter, I
have caused Walter Welze to write
to my lord my mind therein, whereby
I trust that Eve shall not have power
to deceive Adam; for surely, whatso
ever is said, it cannot so stand with his
honour but that he must needs take
her, his natural daughter, now in her
extreme necessity.
No more to you at this time, mine
own darling, but that with a wish I
would we were together an evening.
With the hand of yours,
H.R.

[ xxix ]

letter Ctoelfti)
Co anne isoUvn

SINCE your last letters, mine own
darling, Walter Welshe, Master
Browne, Thos. Care, Grion of Brear
ton, and John Coke, the apothecary,
be fallen of the sweat in this house,
and, thanked be God, all well recov
ered, so that as yet the plague' is not
fully ceased here, but I trust shortly
it shall. By the mercy of God, the rest
of us yet be well, and I trust shall
pass it, either not to have it, or, at the
least, as easily as the rest have done.
As touching the matter of Wilton,
my lord cardinal hath had the nuns

[ rrr J

loue letters of l^enrp msbtb
before him, and examined them, Mr.
Bell being present; which hath certi
fied me that, for a truth, she had con
fessed herself (which we would have
had abbess) to have had two children
by two sundry priests; and, further,
since hath been kept by a servant of
the Lord Broke that was, and that not
long ago. Wherefore I would not,for
all the gold in the world, clog your
conscience nor mine to make her ruler
ofa house which is of so ungodly de
meanour; nor, I trust, you would not
that neither for brother nor sister, I
should so destain mine honour or con
science. And, as touching the prior
ess, or Dame Eleanor's eldest sister,
though there is not any evident case
proved against them, and that the
[ xxxi ]

loue letters of ^enrp CigJbtl)
prioress is so old that for many years
she could not be as she was named;
yet notwithstanding, to do you plea
sure,! have done that neither of them
shall have it, but that some other
good and well-disposed woman shall
have it, whereby the house shall be
the better reformed (whereof I en
sure you it had much need), and God-
much the better served.
As touching your abode at Hever,
do therein as best shall like you, for
you best know what air doth best with
you; but I would it were come there
to (if it pleased God), that neither of
us need care for that, for I ensure you
I think it long. Suche is fallen sick
ofthe sweat, and therefore I send you
this bearer, because I think you long
[ xxxii ]

loue letters of ^enrg Bisbtb
to hear tidings from us, as we do like
wise from you.
Written with the hand de votre seul,
H.R.

[ rrriii ]

letter Cbirteentb
Co anne Boletn

THE approach of the time for
which I have so long waited
rejoices me so much, that it seems
almost to have come already. How
ever, the entire accomplishment can
not be till the two persons meet,
which meeting is more desired by
me than anything in this world; for
what joy can be greater upon earth
than to have the company of her who
is dearest to me, knowing likewise
that she does the same on her part,
the thought of which gives me the
greatest pleasure.

[ rrriu ]

loue letters of ^enrp <Bisbtb
Judge what an effeft the presence of
that person must have on me, whose
absence has grieved my heart more
than either words or writing can ex
press, and which nothing can cure,
but that begging you, my mistress, to
tell your father from me, that I de
sire him to hasten the time appointed
by two days, that he may be at court
before the old term, or, at farthest, on
the day prefixed ; for otherwise I shall
think he will not do the lover's turn,
as he said he would, nor answer my
expeftation. No more at present for lack of
time, hoping shortly that byword of
mouth I shall tell you the rest of the
sufferings endured by me from your
absence. [ rrru ]

loue letters of ^enrp <Bisbtb
Written by the hand of the secre
tary, who wishes himself at this mo
ment privately with you, and who is,
and always will be,
Your loyal and most assured Servant,
Jt~l ¦ no other J\ Xj seek J\. ,

[ rrrui ]

letter jTourteentb
Co anne Boleyn

DA%LI3^q, I heartily recom
mend me to you, ascertaining
you that I am not a little perplexed
with such things as your brother
shall on my part declare unto you,
to whom I pray you give full cre
dence, for it were too long to write.
In my last letters I writ to you that
I trusted shortly to see you, which
is better known at London than with
any that is about me, whereof I not
a little marvel; but lack of discreet
handling must needs be the cause
thereof. No more to you at this time,

[ rrruii ]

loue letters of J^enrp (Bisbtb
but that I trust shortly our meetings
shall not depend upon other men's
light handlings, but upon our own.
Written with the hand of him that
longeth to be yours. H.R.

[ rrruiii ]

letter jTifteentft
Co anne Boletn

MI^E own SWSSTHSAIiJ,
this shall be to advertise you
ofthe great elengeness that I find here
since your departing; for, I ensure you
methinketh the time longer since
your departing now last, than I was
wont to do a whole fortnight. I think
your kindness and my fervency of love
causeth it; for, otherwise, I would not
have thought it possible that for so
little a while it should have grieved
me. But now that I am coming to
wards you, methinketh ^my pains be
half removed ; and also I am right well

[ rrrir ]

Idue letters of f^mtv <BiQbtb
comforted in so much that my book
maketh substantially for my matter;
in looking whereof I have spent above
four hours this day, which causeth me
now to write the shorter letter to you
at this time, because of some pain in
my head; wishing myself (especially
an evening) in my sweetheart's arms,
whose pretty dukkys I trust shortly
to kiss.
Written by the hand of him that
was, is, and shall be yours by his own
will, H.R.

[rl]

letter ^irteentb
Co anne Boleyn

DA^LIS^G, Though I have
scant leisure, yet, remember
ing my promise, I thought it con
venient to certify you briefly in what
case our affairs stand. As touching
a lodging for you, we have got one
by my lord cardinal's means, the like
whereof could not have been found
hereabouts for all causes,as this bearer
shall more show you. As touching our
other affairs, I assure you there can
be no more done, nor more diligence
used, nor all manner of dangers bet
ter both foreseen and provided for, so

[rli]

loue letters of ^enrp <Bisbtb
that I trust it shall be hereafter to both
our comforts, the specialities whereof
were both too long to be written, and
hardly by messenger to be declared.
Wherefore, till you repair hither, I
keep something in store, trusting it
shall not be long to; for I have caused
my lord, your father, to make his pro
visions with speed; and thus for lack
of time, darling, I make an end of my
letter, written with the hand of him
which I would were yours.
H.R.

[ rtii ]

letter ^euenteentt)
Co anne "Boleyn

THE reasonable request of your
last letter, with the pleasure also
that I take to know them true, caus
eth me to send you these news. The
legate which we most desire arrived
at Paris on Sunday or Monday last
past, so that I trust by the next Mon
day to hear of his arrival at Calais:
and then I trust within a while after
to enjoy that which I have so long
longed for, to God's pleasure and our
both comforts.
No more to you at this present,
mine own darling, for lack of time.

[ rliii ]

loue letters of J^enrp Bisbtb
but that I would you were in mine
arms, or I in yours, for I think it long
since I kissed you.
Written after the killing of a hart,
at eleven ofthe clock, minding, with
God's grace, to-morrow, mightily
timely, to kill another, by the hand
which, I trust, shortly shall be yours.
Henry R.

[ rliu ]

letter (Bisbtztntb
Co anne Boletn

To inform you what joy it is to
me to understand of your con
formableness with reason, and of the
suppressing of your inutile and vain
thoughts with the bridle of reason. I
assure you all the good in this world
could not counterpoise for my satis-
faftion the knowledge and certainty
thereof, wherefore, good sweetheart,
continue the same, not only in this,
but in all your doings hereafter; for
thereby shall come, both to you and
me, the greatest quietness that may
be in this world.

[riu]

loue letters of l^enrp Bisbtb
The cause why the bearer stays so
long, is the business I have had to
dress up gear for you; and which I
trust, ere long to cause you occupy:
then I trust to occupy yours, which
shall be recompense enough to me
for all my pains and labour.
The unfeigned sickness of this well-
willing legate doth somewhat retard
his access to your person; but I trust
verily, when God shall send him
health, he will with diligence recom
pense his demur. For I know well
where he hath said (touching the say
ing and bruit that he is thought im
perial) that it shall be well known in
this matter that he is not imperial;
and thus, for lack of time, sweetheart,
farewell. [ riui]

loue letters of l^enrp Bisbtb
Written with the hand which fain
would be yours, and so is the heart.
R. H.

Jfinis

J13otes

loue letters of ^enrp uiii
to anne Bolegn
^? f. ©. 5)anitoell |Jj)ilIipt(
THE Letters of Henry VIII to
Anne Boleyn, perhaps the most re
markable documents of the kind known
to exist, were published at Oxford in
1720 by Hearne, in a volume entitled
Roberti de Avesbury Historia de mirabi
libus gestis Edwardi III, and inserted in
the third volume of the Harleian Mis
cellany, 1745. These two editions differ
considerably from each other, and still
more so from the transcripts here given,
which are taken from the edition printed
at Paris by M. Meon, who held a situ
ation in the Manuscript Department of
the Bibliotheque de Roi. The fifth and
thirteenth, however, which are not com
prehended in the Vatican colIe6tion, are
supplied from Hearne's work. Of the
seventeen letters of which the series con-

iI3otes
sists, eight are written in English and
nine in French.
They appear to have been written
after Anne Boleyn had been sent away
from court, in consequence of reports
injurious to her reputation, which had
begun to be publicly circulated. Her
removal indeed was so abrupt that she
had resolved never to return. The king
soon repented his harshness, and strove
to persuade her to come back; but it
was a long time, and not without great
trouble, before he could induce her to
comply. Her retirement did not take
place before the month of May, 1528;
this is proved by a letter from Fox,
Bishop of Hereford, to Gardiner, Bishop
of Winchester, dated the 4th of May,
in that year, in which the writer, who
had just returned from Rome, whither
he had been sent to negotiate the king's
divorce, gives an account of his landing
iui:\

jOotes
at Sandwich on the 2nd, of his arrival
on the same night at Greenwich, where
the king then was, and of the order he
received from him to go to the apart
ments of Anne Boleyn, which were in
the Tiltyard, and inform her how anx
ious he had been to hasten the arrival
of the legate, and how much he was re
joiced by It. This letter, formerly in the
coUedion of Harley, Earl of Oxford, is
now at Rome.
It must have been very soon after
wards that Anne Boleyn left the court.
In fad, in the first letter (4 of this se
ries) the king excuses himself for being
under the necessity of parting from her.
In thc second (6) he complains of the
dislike which she shows to return to
court; but in neither of them does he
allude to the pestilential disease which
In that year committed such ravages In
England. In the third (10), however, he
[liiil

Jl3otes

does advert to it as a disorder which has
prevailed for some time, and on which
he makes some observations.
Between this letter, probably written
In the month of July, and the sixth (17),
In which the king speaks of the arrival
of the legate in Paris, and which must
have been written about the end of Sep
tember, there are two letters (i and 5)
certainly written within a few days of
each other. In the second of these two,
viz., the fifth of this series, the king ex
presses his extreme satisfadion which he
has received from the lady's answer to
his request. In the effusion ofhis grati
tude, he pays a visit to his mistress, and
both address a letter (8) to Cardinal
Wolsey, In which Henry manifests his
astonishment at not having yet heard of
the arrival of Campeggio, the legate, in
Paris. The date of this letter may thus
be fixed in the month of September.

[HtJ]

JI3otes
The fourth (i), apparently written in
August, is the most interesting of the
whole coUedion, inasmuch as It fixes the
period of the commencement of the
king's affedion for Anne Boleyn. He
complains of "having been above a whole
year struck with the dart of love," and
that he is not yet certain whether he shall
succeed in finding a place in the heart
and affedions of her whom he loves.
The last letter (i8), which makes
mention of the illness of the legate as
the cause of the delay in the affair of
the divorce, shows that this correspon
dence ended in May, 1529, at which
time the court of legates was open for
the final decision of that point.
Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn,
subsequently created Earl of Wiltshire,
after passing many years at the court of
Claude, queen of Francis I of France,
returned to England about the end ofthe
[ItJ]

Jl3otes
year 1525, at the age of eighteen. Here
she was soon appointed maid of honour
to Queen Katherine, and attraded the
particular attentions of Henry VIII, who
was then engaged in soliciting a divorce
from the Pope. The marked preference
shown by the king for Anne Boleyn
raised so much jealousy and slander that
it was thought advisable by her family to
remove the new favourite from the court;
and it was during this retirement at He
ver, a seat of her father's in Kent, that
these letters were addressed to her by her
royal lover. It was no doubt to render
them the more agreeable that he wrote
some of them In French. They breathe a
fondness and an ardour which could
scarcely leave room to doubt the sincerity
of his love. H
We have reprinted Mr. Halliwell Phil
lips to call attention to the change In or-

jQotes
der in this edition. A very little study of
the letters themselves showed that the
old order was impossible. The first six
fall into a group by themselves, the
6th being the first to which we gave a
nearly approximate date (July, 1527),
before Anne's return to court. Henry's
passion must date therefore from 1526.
The 7th is fixed by references in other
correspondence to February, 1528, and
the 8th to June before she left the court.
The 9th, IOth and nth relate to the
sweating sickness (end of June, order
fixed by incidental references), and the
1 2th is after July 5th; the 13 th and 14th
are before her return. The reference to
his book in No. 15 fixes the date as
August, and No. 16 is fixed for August
20th, by Wolsey's finding a lodging for
Anne. No. 17 Is fixed for September
(i6th?) by Campeggio's arrival at Paris
(September 14, 1528), and No. 18 by
[ lUii ]

3l3otes
his Illness as towards the end of Odo
ber. The scheme had been partly worked
out when the editor observed that Mr.
Brewer had already arranged them in his
Calendar of State Papers, and to him
therefore this order is due.
The old arrangement was 4, 6, 10, i, 5,
17, 16, 2, 11,3, 13, 9, 12, 7, 14, 15, 18,8.
Page X. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn.
Written July, 1527. "Aut illic, aut nul
libi." Either there, or nowhere.
The signature means "H. seeks no
other (heart). R."
xiii. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. This
letter was written in July, 1527.
xvi. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten February, 1528. "Ultra posse non
est esse." One can't do more than the
possible. xviii. Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey.
MS. Cott. Vitellius, B. xii. f 4. Written
June II, 1528. Printed by Ellis as from
[ lUiii ]

jQotes
Katherine of Arragon. There is another
letter from Anne to Wolsey, thanking
him for a present. It is very similar to
this, and is found in MS. Cott. Otho. c.
X. f 218 (printed in Burnet, i, 104, and
in ElUs, Original Letters, vol. i).
xxii. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten June i6j 1528.
xxv. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. This
letter was written June 20. "It." The
sweating sickness. This is the 1528 epi
demic. "Your brother." George Boleyn, after
wards Viscount Rochford, executed 1 536
on a charge of incest.
xxviii. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn.
Written about June 22, 1528. "Welze"
is the same person as " Welshe "onp. xxx.
xxx. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten July 6 (?), 1528. "Suche" Is prob
ably Zouch.
"Destain." Stain. [Iir]

Botes
xxxiv. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten July 20, 1528.
xxxvii. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten July 21, 1528.
XXXIX. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten August, 1528. "Elengeness." Lone
liness, misery.
"My book." On the unlawfulness of
his marriage with Katherine.
xli. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Written
August 20, 1528.
xliii. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten September 16, 1528. Campeggio ac
tually arrived at Calais on Monday, Sep
tember 14.
xlv. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Writ
ten at the end of Odober, 1528.

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