Source:
The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909
Above: Queen Mary I of England, engraving by Francis Delaram.
Above: Sir Henry Bedingfeld, artist unknown.
Above: Princess Elizabeth, artist unknown.
The letter:
WESTMINSTER PALACE, October 7, 1554.
Mary, the Queen.
Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well, letting you wit that the letters of the 25th of September last past, written with your hand and addressed by her [Elizabeth's] servant Verney to our Council, wherefore the same was fast sewn without any endorsement on the outside [when] first brought to our hands; which we have considered and do find somewhat strange, for where she thinks that her answer to the matters objected, and former letters, have been kept from our knowledge, we marvel upon what ground she has considered so ill an opinion of our Council, of whom no one has (to our knowledge) given her such cause. If her former answers might so well have satisfied indifferent ears as it seems to satisfy her own opinion, she might have been well assured to have fully enjoyed our favour before a great many others, which upon their submission have tasted thereof. You may therefore declare unto her those of our letters, signifying that we are not unmindful of her cause, and, as good occasion shall proceed from herself in deeds, so will we have such further consideration of her as may stand with her honour and the good order of our Realm.
Note: to wit = to know.
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