Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 183, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Lady Jane Grey, queen of England for nine days, artist unknown.
Above: William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, Lieutenant of the County of Surrey, drawn by Hans Holbein the Younger.
The letter:
JANE THE QUENE.
Right trustie and right welbeloved Cousen, we grete you well, advertising the same that where yt hath pleased Almighty God to call to his mercie out of this lief our derest Cousen the King your late Sovereigne Lorde, by reason wherof ande suche Ordenances as the said late King did establishe in his lief tyme for the securitie and welthe of this Realme, we are entrerid into our rightfull possession of this Kingdome, as by the last Will of our said derest Cousen, our late progenitor, and other severall instruments to that effect signed with his own hande and sealed with the grete Seale of this Realme in his own presence, wherunto the Nobles of this realme for the most parte and all our Counsaill and Judges, with the Mayor and Aldermen of our Cytie of London, and dyvers other grave personages of this our Realme of England, have also subscribed there names, as by the same Will and Instrument it maye more evidently and plainly apere; We therfore doo You to understand, that by th'ordenance and sufferaunce of the hevenly Lord and King, and by th'assent and consent of our said Nobles and Counsellors, and others before specifyed, We doo this daye make our enterye into our Towre of London as rightfull Quene of this realme; and have accordingly sett furthe our proclamacions to all our loving subjects gyvenge them therby to understande their duties and allegeaunce which they now of right owe unto us as more amplie by the same you shall briefly perceyve and understand; nothing doubting, right trustie and right welbeloued cosen, but that you will indever yourself in all things to the uttermost of your powre, not only to defend our just title, but also assist us in our rightfull possession of this kingdome, and to disturbe, repell, and resist the fayned and untrue clayme of the Lady Mary basterd daughter to our grete uncle Henry the Eight of famous memory; wherein as you shall doo that which to youre honor, truthe, and dutie aperteyneth, so shall we remembre the same unto you and yours accordingly. And our further pleasure is that you shall contynue, doo, and execute every thinge and things as our Lieutenant within all places, according to the tenor of the Commission addressed unto you from our late Cousen King Edward the vj.th in such and like sorte as if the same hadd byn, as we mynde shortely it shal be, renued, and by us confirmed under our grete Seale unto you. Yeven under our Signet at our Tower of London the xj.th of July, the furst yere of our Reign.
To our right trusty and right welbeloved Cousyn and Counsaillor the Marquiss of Northampton our Lieutenant generall of our County of Surrey and to our trusty and welbeloved the Deputes of that Lieutenancy, and the Sheriff, the chief Justices of Peace and the worshipfull of that Shire.
With modernised spelling:
JANE THE QUEEN.
Right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin, We greet you well, advertising the same that where it hath pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy out of this life Our dearest Cousin the King your late Sovereign Lord, by reason whereof and such Ordinances as the said late King did establish in his lifetime for the security and wealth of this Realm, We are entered into Our rightful possession of this Kingdom, as by the last Will of Our said dearest Cousin, our late progenitor, and other several instruments to that effect signed with his own hand and sealed with the great Seal of this Realm in his own presence, whereunto the Nobles of this realm for the most part and all our Counsel and Judges, with the Mayor and Aldermen of our City of London, and diverse other grave personages of this our Realm of England, have also subscribed their names, as by the same Will and Instrument it may more evidently and plainly appear; We therefore do You to understand, that by the ordinance and sufferance of the heavenly Lord and King, and by the assent and consent of Our said Nobles and Councillors, and others before specified, We do this day make our entry into Our Tower of London as rightful Queen of this realm; and have accordingly set forth Our proclamations to all Our loving subjects, giving them thereby to understand their duties and allegiance which they now of right owe unto Us as more amply by the same you shall briefly perceive and understand; nothing doubting, right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin, but that you will endeavour yourself in all things to the uttermost of your power, not only to defend Our just title, but also assist Us in Our rightful possession of this kingdom, and to disturb, repel, and resist the feigned and untrue claim of the Lady Mary bastard daughter to Our great uncle Henry the Eight[th] of famous memory; wherein as you shall do that which to your honour, truth, and duty appertaineth, so shall We remember the same unto you and yours accordingly. And Our further pleasure is that you shall continue, do, and execute every thing and things as Our Lieutenant within all places, according to the tenor of the Commission addressed unto you from Our late Cousin King Edward the VIth in such and like sort as if the same had been, as We mind shortly it shall be, renewed, and by Us confirmed under Our great Seal unto you. Given under Our Signet at Our Tower of London the XIth of July, the first year of Our Reign.
To Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Councillor the Marquess of Northampton Our Lieutenant General of Our County of Surrey and to Our trusty and well-beloved the Deputies of that Lieutenancy, and the Sheriff, the chief Justices of Peace and the worshipful of that Shire.
Notes: In accordance with the nobility's ideals in the early modern era, kings and queens considered themselves siblings; when talking to someone of a lower rank than their own, they would refer to that person as "my cousin", regardless of whether or not they were related. As for King Edward VI and Jane, they actually were cousins.
sufferance = permission.
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