Source:
The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909
Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.
Above: Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, artist unknown.
The letter:
HATFIELD, January 28, 1549.
My Lord, — Your great gentleness and good will towards me, as well in this thing as in other things, I do understand, for the which even as I ought, so I do give you humble thanks; and whereas your lordship willeth and counselleth me as an earnest friend, to declare what I know in this matter, and also to write what I have declared to Master Tyrwhitt, I shall most willingly do it. I declared unto him first, that after the cofferer had declared unto me what my Lord Admiral answered, for Allen's matter, and for Durham Place, he told me that my Lord Admiral did offer me his house for my time being with the King's Majesty, and further said and asked me, "if the Council did consent that I should have my Lord Admiral, whether I would consent to it, or no?" I answered, "that I would not tell him what my mind was"; and I further inquired of him "what he meant by asking me that question, or who bade him say so?" He answered me, and said, "Nobody bade him say so, but that he perceived, as he thought, by my Lord Admiral inquiring whether my patent were sealed or no, and debating what he spent in his house, and inquiring what was spent in my house, that he was given that way rather than otherwise." And as concerning Kat Ashley, she never advised me to it, but said always, when any talked of my marriage, "that she would never have me marry, neither in England nor out of England, without the consent of the King's Majesty, your Grace's, and the Council's."
And after the Queen was departed, when I asked of her "What news she heard from London?" she answered, merrily, "They say your Grace shall have my Lord Admiral, and that he will shortly come to woo you. And, moreover, I said unto him, that the cofferer sent a letter hither, that my lord said that he would come this way as he went down into the country." Then I bade her write as she thought best, and bade her show it to me when she had done; so she wrote, "that she thought it not best, for fear of suspicion," and so it went forth, and the Lord Admiral, after he had heard that, asked the cofferer, "why he might not come to me as well as to my sister?" and then I desired Kate Ashley to write again (lest my lord might think that she knew more in it than he), that she knew nothing, but only suspected, and I also told Master Tyrwhitt that to the effect of the matter, I never consented to any such thing without the Council's consent thereto. And as for Kate Ashley and the cofferer, they never told me that they would practise it. These be the things which I declared to Master Tyrwhitt, and also, whereof my conscience beareth me witness, which I would not for all earthly things offend in anything, for I know I have a soul to be saved as well as other folks have, wherefore I will, above all things, have respect unto this same. If there be any more things which I can remember, I will either write it myself, or cause Mr. Tyrwhitt to write it. Master Tyrwhitt and others have told me that there goeth rumours abroad which be greatly both against my honour and honesty, which, above all other things, I esteem, which be these, that I am in the Tower, and with child by my Lord Admiral. My lord, these are shameful slanders, for which, besides the great desire I have to see the King's Majesty, I shall most heartily desire your lordship that I may come to the Court after your first determination that I may show myself there as I am. Written in haste. Your assured friend to my little power, ELIZABETH.
Note: "... I never consented to any such thing without the Council's consent thereto." = referring to Thomas Seymour's scheme to marry Elizabeth.
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