Letter from Mabel Southampton, Margaret Taylebois, Margaret Howard, Alys Browne, Anne Knevytt, Jane Denny, Jane Meows, Anne Basset, Elizabeth Tyrwhit and Elsabeth Harvey to King Henry VIII upon visiting his new Great Ship at Portsmouth, dated August 4, year circa 1540

Source:

Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 126, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825

https://archive.org/details/originallettersi02elliuoft/page/126/mode/2up

The letter:

Most gratiouse and benigne sovraigne Lorde, please it your Highnes to understonde that wee have seene and beene in your newe Greate Shippe, and the rest of your shippes at Portismowth, wiche arr things so goodlie to beeholde, that, in our liefs wee have not seene (excepting your royall person and my lord the Prince your sonne) a more pleasaunt sight; for wiche, and the most bountiful gifts, the chere and most gratiouse enterteignment, wich your Grace hath vouchsavid to bestowe upon us your most unworthie and humble servaunts, wee rendre and send unto the same our most humble and entier thanks wich wee beseche your Ma:tie to accept in good parte, advertising the same that there rest nowe but only ij. sorowes; the tone for lacke of your royall presence that ye might have seene your said Shippes, nowe at this tyme whan wee might have waited on you here; the toodre that wee thinke long til it may eftsones lieke you to have us with you, wiche wee all most hertely beseche our Lord God may bee shortely; who preserve your most noble person, and my Lord Prince, and graunte you bothe to reigne over us; Your Majesty many yeris, His Grace with long continuance but by late succession, as never Princes did before You. From Your Majesties havon and towne of Portismowth the iiijth. of August.

Yor Highnes most bounden

and humble servaunts,

and beadwomen

MABYELL SOWTHAMPTON

MARGARET TAYLEBOIS,

MARGRETT HOWARDE,

ALYS BROWNE.

ANNE KNEVYTT.

JANE DENNY.

JANE MEOWS.

ANNE BASSET.

ELIZABETH TYRWHYT.

ELSABETH HARVY.