Sources:
La vie d'Elizabeth, reine d'Angleterre, volume 1, Gregorio Leti, 1703
The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909
Above: Princess Elizabeth, artist unknown.
Above: Philip II, King of Spain and jure uxoris King of England and Ireland, painted by Anthonis Mor.
Above: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, painted by Lambert Sustris.
The letter:
SIRE,
L'honneur que V. M. m'a fait de m'envoyer un Gentilhomme pour me donner avis de la mort de l'Empereur son Pére de glorieuse memoire, me fait agreablement souvenir que V. M. continuë à m'honorer de cette bien-vaillance, qu'il lui a plû de m'accorder depuis si long-temps, & dont j'ai senti de si grands effets, que je ne puis trouver d'autre moyen de vous en témoigner ma reconnoissance qu'en me souvenant, sans jamais l'oublier, que la vie dont je jouïs est également le fruit de la bonté de la Reine ma sœur, & de la protection magnanime de V. M. Vous me faites justice si vous êtes persuadé, que je ressens autant de joye des victoires que vous remportez, & des succez heureux qui suivent vos Armes que je suis penetrée d'affliction, des deplaisirs qui vous arrivent. Le bonheur que j'ay de vous appartenir de si prez, la veneration que j'ay pour vôtre grand merite, & les obligations que j'ay à vôtre bonté, me touchent trop sensiblement pour ne pas prendre toute la part possible, à la perte que V. M. vient de faire d'un si grand & si glorieux Pére. Je voudrois pouvoir apporter quelque adoucissement à vôtre affliction; Mais je ne le puis mieux faire, qu'en faisant souvenir Vôtre Majesté, que son auguste Pére, estimoit la mort si glorieuse, qu'il a voulu la prevenir, & mourir avant que de sortir de la vie: & il est certain que si sa vie a esté un abrogé de merveilles, que sa mort sera aussi un miracle de gloire à la posterité. On ne doit donc pas pleurer l'Empereur vôtre Pére comme un mort, on le doit plûtôt regarder comme celui qui vivra dans tous les siecles futurs, dans la memoire des hommes, & si son corps est reduit en cendres, son nom vivra éternellement. Je m'occupe presentement à lire l'histoire de sa vie, & des grandes actions de courage, & de valeur qu'il a faites, afin de redoubler s'il est possible, la veneration & l'estime que j'ay pour le fils, d'un si grand Pére. Je prie Dieu, qu'au milieu des afflictions que vous cause une telle perte, il comble vôtre vie de prosperité, & de bonheur, vous assûrant que je serai toûjours. De vôtre Majesté, la trés-humble servante; & belle-sœur,
ELIZABETH.
Le 19. Octob. 1558.
English translation (from source 2):
October 19, 1558.
Sire and dearest cousin, — The honour which your Majesty has done me by sending a gentleman to advertise me of the death of the august Emperor, your father, of most glorious memory, agreeably reminds me that your Majesty continues to honour me with that generous good-will which you have been pleased ever to bestow on me, and from which I have felt so much advantage that, in calling to mind these graces and favours, I can find no other fit means of evincing my gratitude than by earnestly remembering that the life I enjoy is equally the fruit of the Queen my sister's goodness and of your Majesty's magnanimous protection.
You do me justice, Sire, in being persuaded that I feel as much joy at the victories you gain, and the happy successes that attend your arms, as I am pierced with affliction at the distresses which befall you. The happiness I have in being so nearly allied to you, and not less my veneration, esteem, and obligation for your Majesty's great merit, touch me too sensibly not to make me sympathise with you in the loss of a father so great and glorious. But since I should offer some consolation to your affliction, I cannot do it better than by reminding you that your august father thought death so glorious that he wished to die before his time came to quit this world. And it is certain that if his life has been an epitome of wonders, his death will also be a miracle of glory to all posterity. We ought not, then, to mourn the Emperor Charles, your father, as one dead; we ought rather to look on him as one who shall live in all future ages; and if his body be reduced to ashes, his name is too immortal ever to die. I am employed at present in reading the history of his warlike actions, and his great feats of courage and valour, in order to redouble, by the glorious memory of the father, the veneration and esteem which I have for the son.
I pray God that, amidst the afflictions which such a loss causes you, he may load your life with prosperity and happiness; so shall I ever, with greater satisfaction, assure you that I am your Majesty's very humble servant and sister-in-law, ELIZABETH.
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