Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 186, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Lady Jane Grey, queen of England for nine days, artist unknown.
The letter:
JANE THE QUENE. By the Quene.
Trustie and wilbiloved we grete you well. Albeit that our estate in this imperiall Crowne wherof we be actually and really possessed, as partely may appere by our Proclamacion wherin our tytle is published, is not ne can be in any wise doubtfull to all suche our good faithfull subjects as, setting blynd affection apart, do with reason and wysdom consider the very foundacion and grounde of our tytle, with the grete commodities therby coming thorough Gods providence to the preservacion of our Comon Weale and polycie; yet for that we undrestande the Ladye Marye dothe not cease by Lettres in hir name, provoked therto by hir adherents, enemyes of this realme, to publishe and notiefie sklanderously to dyverse of our subjects matter derogatorye to our title and dignitie royall, withe the slandre of certen of our Nobilitie and Counsell, We have thought mete to admonishe and exhorte You, as our true and faithfull subjects, to remayne fast in your obeysaunce and duetie to the imperiall Crowne of this Realme, whereof we have justely the possession; and not to be removed any wise from your duetie by sklanderous reports or lettres, dispersed abrode either by the said Lady Marye, or by hir adherence; for truelye like as the Nobilitie of our Realme, our Counsell, oure Prelats, oure Judges, and lerned men, and others good wise men, godly and naturall subjects, do remayne fast and surelye in their Allegiance towards us, redy to adventure their lives, landes, and goodes for our defence, so can a greate numbre of the same Nobilitie, Counsailors, and Judges truely testifye to all the worlde, with savetye of their conscience, howe carefully and ernestly the late King of famous memorye our dere Cousen King Edward the Sixt from tyme to tyme mentioned and provoked them partelye by perswasion, partely commandements, to have suche respecte to his succession if God shuld call him to his mercye without issue, as might be the preservacion of the Crowne in the hole undefyled English bloud; and therfore of his owne mere motion, both by graunt of his Lettres patents, and by declaration of his Will, established the succession as it is declared by our Proclamacion. And for the testimonye herof to the satisfaction of suche as shall conceyve any doubt herin, We understand that certen of our Nobilitie have written at this present, in some parte to admonishe You of your duties, and to testifie their knowledge of the truethe of our tytle and right. Wherfore we leave to procede further therin, being assured in the goodnes of God that your harts shalbe confirmed to owe your duetye to us your soveraigne Lady, who meane to preserve this Crowne of England in the royall blound, and out of the of straungers and papists, with the defence of all you our good subjects, your lieves, lands, and goods, in our peace agaynst the invasions and violence of all forein or inward enemies and rebells. Yeven under our Signet at our Tower of London the xvj.th day of July, in the first yere of our reigne.
To our Trustie and welbeloved the Shirieff, Justices of Peace, and other Gentilmen of our Countie of Surrey, and to every of them.
With modernised spelling:
JANE THE QUEEN. By the Queen.
Trusty and well-beloved We greet you well. Albeit that Our estate in this imperial Crown whereof We be actually and really possessed, as partly may appear by Our proclamation wherein Our title is published, is not ne can be in any wise doubtful to all such Our good faithful subjects as, setting blind affection apart, do with reason and wisdom consider the very foundation and ground of Our title, with the great commodities thereby coming through God's providence to the preservation of Our Commonweal and policy; yet for that We understand the Lady Mary doth not cease by letters in her name, provoked thereto by her adherents, enemies of this realm, to publish and notify slanderously to diverse of Our subjects matter derogatory to Our title and dignity royal, with the slander of certain of Our Nobility and Counsel, We have thought meet to admonish and exhort you, as Our true and faithful subjects, to remain fast in your obeisance and duty to the imperial Crown of this Realm, whereof We have justly the possession; and not to be removed any wise from your duty by slanderous reports or letters, dispersed abroad either by the said Lady Mary, or by her adherence; for truly like as the Nobility of Our Realm, Our Counsel, Our Prelates, Our Judges, and learned men, and others good wise men, godly and natural subjects, do remain fast and surely in their allegiance towards Us, ready to adventure their lives, lands, and goods for Our defense, so can a great number of the same Nobility, Councillors, and Judges truly testify to all the world, with safety of their conscience, how carefully and earnestly the late King of famous memory Our dear Cousin King Edward the Sixt[h] from time to time mentioned and provoked them partly by persuasion, partly commandments, to have such respect to his succession if God should call him to His mercy without issue, as might be the preservation of the Crown in the hole undefiled English blood; and therefore of his own mere motion, both by grant of his letters patents, and by declaration of his will, established the succession as it is declared by our proclamation. And for the testimony hereof to the satisfaction of such as shall conceive any doubt herein, We understand that certain of Our Nobility have written at this present, in some part to admonish you of your duties, and to testify their knowledge of the truth of our title and right. Wherefore We leave to proceed further therein, being assured in the goodness of God that your hearts shall be confirmed to owe your duty to Us your sovereign Lady, who mean to preserve this Crown of England in the royal blood, and out of the of strangers and papists, with the defense of all you Our good subjects, your lives, lands, and goods, in Our peace against the invasions and violence of all foreign or inward enemies and rebels. Given under Our Signet at Our Tower of London the XVIth day of July, in the first year of Our reign.
To Our trusty and well-beloved the Sheriff, Justices of Peace, and other Gentlemen of Our County of Surrey, and to every of them.
Notes: ne = nor.
Commonweal = Commonwealth.
meet = appropriate, suitable.
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