Source:
The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909
Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.
Above: King Edward VI of England, painted by William Scrots.
The letter:
I am able, most noble King, to offer many excuses that I have not followed my old custom, in preparing some fresh little present at this season for your Highness. For, in the first place, every description of learning, which in me was ever very small, has been either so wasted by the long duration of my sickness, or so far cut off by my being unused to study, or so hindered by the infirm state of my health, that my old custom of bringing something or other out of my scanty literary store-house — a custom always very easily performed by me, when very well approved by you — has been now altogether taken from me. And, even though I had not been quite an invalid, yet I should be afraid to send (as I was wont) to your Majesty anything trifling, since you now so much excel in learning, that you can receive with a welcome nothing but what is excellent and perfect. I, thus altogether debarred from my old custom of sending, began to turn my thoughts to a new one: I was thinking about some present in gold or gems. When I was revolving in my mind this design, I saw that everything of mine is so far beneath your dignity, that I was thinking of sending no present at all, rather than one of no value. But from this concern about selecting something excellent, which I might with propriety offer you, my Lord Protector relieved me, by whose counsel of sending new year's gifts should be abolished; and the wisdom of his policy I shall willingly follow. However, this short letter I have sent to make known to your Majesty what new reason I have followed, in laying aside my old custom.
Therefore, instead of the accustomed present, I offer, as I have ever done by these letters of mine, to your Majesty, that affection, zeal, good-will, fidelity, and reverence, which either nature can demand in a sister, or obedience in a very humble subject. And that testimony of my ready duty, which I now willingly make by letter, I myself, in person, would most willingly express, if I were assured it would not displease your Majesty at all.
May the great and good God increase your Majesty more and more, daily, in virtue, learning, and honour. At Hatfield, 2nd January. Your Majesty's most humble sister and servant, ELIZABETH.
To the most illustrious and most noble King Edward the Sixth.
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