Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 149, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Princess Mary, painted by Master John.
Above: Catherine Parr, painted by Master John.
Above: Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour, painted by Nicolas Denisot.
The letter:
My lorde after my harty commendacions theyse shalbe to declare to you that accordyng to your accoustumed gentilnes I have receyved six warrants from you by your seruant thys berer, for the whiche I do gyve you my harty thanks; by whom also I have receyved your lettre, wherin (as me thynketh) I perceyv strange newes concernyng a sewte you have in hande to the Quene for maryage; for the soner obtayneng wherof you seme to thynke that my lettres myghte do you pleasure. My lorde in thys case, I truste, your wysdome doth consyder, that, if it weer for my nereste kynsman & dereste frend on lyve, of all other creatures in the worlde, it standeth lest wt my poore honoure to be a medler in thys matter, consyderyng whose wyef her grace was of late; and besyds that, if she be mynded to grawnt your sewte, my lettres shall do you but small pleasure. On the other syde, if the remembrance of the Kyngs mayestye my father (whose soule God pardon) wyll not suffre her to grawnt your sewte, I am nothyng able to perswade her to forget the losse of hyme, who is as yet very rype in myn owne remembrance. Wherfore I shall moste earnestlye requyre you (the premysses consydered) to thynke non vnkyndnes in me, thoughe I refuse to be a medler any wayes in thys matter, assuryng you, that (woweng matters set aparte, wherin I beeng a mayde am nothyng connyng) if otherwayes it shall lye in my litle power to do you playser, I shalbe as gladde to do it, as you to requyre it, both for hys blodds sake that you be of, and also for the gentylnes whiche I have alwayes fownde in you. As knoweth almyghty God, to whose tuicyon I commytte you. From Wansted thys Saterday at nyghte beeng the iiij.th of June.
Your assured frend
to my power,
MARYE.
With modernised spelling:
My lord after my hearty commendations these shall be to declare to you that according to your accustomed gentleness I have received six warrants from you by your servant this bearer, for the which I do give you my hearty thanks; by whom also I have received your letter, wherein (as me thinketh) I perceive strange news concerning a suit you have in hand to the Queen for marriage; for the sooner obtaining whereof you seem to think that my letters might do you pleasure. My lord in this case, I trust, your wisdom doth consider, that, if it were for my nearest kinsman & dearest friend on life, of all other creatures in the world, it standeth least with my poor honour to be a meddler in this matter, considering whose wife her grace was of late; and besides that, if she be minded to grant your suit, my letters shall do you but small pleasure. On the other side, if the remembrance of the King's majesty my father (whose soul God pardon) will not suffer her to grant your suit, I am nothing able to persuade her to forget the loss of him, who is as yet very ripe in mine own remembrance. Wherefore I shall most earnestly require you (the premises considered) to think none unkindness in me, though I refuse to be a meddler anyways in this matter, assuring you, that (owing matters set apart, wherein I being a maid am nothing cunning) if otherwise it shall lie in my little power to do you pleasure, I shall be as glad to do it, as you to require it, both for his blood's sake that you be of, and also for the gentleness which I have always found in you. As knoweth almighty God, to whose tuition I commit you. From Wansted this Saturday at night being the IV.th of June.
Your assured friend
to my power,
MARY.
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