Source:
The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909
Above: Queen Mary I of England, painted by Hans Eworth.
Above: Sir Henry Bedingfeld, artist unknown.
Above: Princess Elizabeth, artist unknown.
The letter:
FARNHAM CASTLE, June 25, 1554.
Mary, the Queen.
Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas our pleasure was of late signified to you for the Lady Elizabeth to have licence to write to us, we have now received her letters, which contain only certain arguments devised for her declaration in such matters as she has been charged withal by the voluntary declaration of divers others. In which arguments she would seem to persuade us that the testimony of those which have opened matters against her were not such as they are, or, being such, should have no credit. But as we were most sorry at the beginning to have any occasion for suspicion, so, when it appeared that copies of her secret letters to us were found in the packet of the French ambassador, and that divers of the most notable traitors made their chief account upon her, we can hardly be brought to think they would have presumed to do so, except they had had more certain knowledge of her favour towards their unnatural conspiracy than is yet confessed by her. And therefore, though we have for our part, considering the matters brought to our knowledge against her, used more clemency and favour towards her than it has been customary in the like matters, yet these fair words cannot so much abuse us but we do well understand how things have been wrought. Conspiracies are secretly practised, and things of that nature are many times judged by probable conjectures and other suspicions and arguments, where the plain direct proof may chance to fail; even as wise Solomon judged who was the true mother of the child by the women's behaviour and words, when other proof failed and could not be had. By the arguments and circumstances of her said letter, and with the other articles declared on your behalf by your brother to our Privy Council, it may well appear that her meaning and purpose is far other than her letter purports; wherefore our pleasure is that we shall not be hereafter molested any more with her disguised and colourable letters, but wish for her that it may please our Lord to grant her His grace that she may be towards Him as she ought to be; then shall she be the sooner towards us as it becomes her to be. This much have we thought good to write to you, to the intent that you might understand the effect of those letters, and so continue your accustomed diligence in the charge committed by us to you. Given under our signet at the Castle of Farnham, the 25th day of June, in the first year of our reign.
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