Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 176, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Princess Mary, painted by Master John.
Above: King Edward VI of England, painted by William Scrots.
The letter:
My dutye moste humbly remembred unto your Majestie. It maye please the same to be advertysed that I have by my servantes receaved your moste honorable Letter, the contentes wherof doe not a litle trouble me, and so much the more for that any of my servants should move or attempte me in matteres towching my sowle, which I thinke the meaneste subjecte within your Realme could evell beare at their servantes hande; havinge for my parte utterly refused heretofor to talke with them in such matteres, and of all other persones leaste regarded them therein; to whom I have declared what I thinke as she which trusted that your Majestie would have suffered me your poore humble sister and beadeswoman to have used the accustomed Masse, which the Kinge your father and myne with all his predecessores evermore used; wherin also I have been brought upp from my youth, and therunto my conscyence doth not only bynde me, which by noe meanes will suffer me to thinke one thing and do another, but also the promise made to the Emperore by your Majesties Counsell was an assurance to me that in so doinge I should not offend the Lawes, although they seeme now to quallefye and deny the thing.
And at my laste waytinge upon your Majestie I was so bould to declare my mynd and conscyence to the same, and desired your Highnes, rather then you should constraine me to leave the Masse, to take my life, whereunto your Majestie made me a very gentle answere.
And nowe I beseche your Highnes to give me leave to write what I thinke towching your Majesties Letteres. In deed they be signed with your owne hand, and neverthelesse in my oppinione not your Majesties in effecte, because it is well knowne (as heretofore I have declared in the presence of your Highnes) that althoughe, Our Lorde be praysed, your Majestie hath farre more knowledge and greater guiftes then otheres of your yeares, yett it is not possyble that your Highnes can at theis yeares be a judge in matters of Religeon. And therefore I take it that the matter in your Letter procedeth from such as do wish those thinges to take place, which be moste agreeable to themselves; by whose doinges (your Majestie not offended) I intend not to rule my Conscyence.
And thus, without molestynge your Highnes any further, I humblye beseeche the same ever, for Gods sake, to beare with me as you have done, and not to thinke that by my doinges or ensample any inconvenyence might growe to your Majestie or your Realme; for I use it not after any such soarte; puttyng no doubte but in tyme to come, whether I live or die, your Majestie shall perceave myne intente is grownded upon a true love towardes you, whose royall estate I beseech Almightie God longe to contynewe, which is and shalbe my daylie prayer, accordinge to my dutye.
And after pardon craved of your Majestie for thes rude and boulde Letteres, yf neither at my humble suite, nor for regard of the promise made to the Emperor, your Highnes will suffer and beare with me, as you have done, tyll your Majestie may be a Judge herein yourselfe, and right understand their proceedinges, (of which your goodness yet I dispaire not,) otherwise, rather then to offend God and my conscyence I offer my bodye at your will, and death shall be more welcome than lyfe with a trowbeled conssyence.
Moste humbly beseching your Majestie to pardon my slowenes in answeringe your Letteres, for my owlde deseasse would not suffer me to write any soner. And thus I praye Almightie God to keepe your Majestie in alle vertue and honor, with good health and longe lyfe to his pleasure. From my poore howse at Copped Hall the xix of Auguste.
Your Majestie's moste
humble sistere
MARY.
With modernised spelling:
My duty most humbly remembered unto Your Majesty. It may please the same to be advertised that I have by my servants received your most honourable letter, the contents whereof do not a little trouble me, and so much the more for that any of my servants should move or attempt me in matters touching my soul, which I think the meanest subject within your realm could evil bear at their servant's hand; having for my part utterly refused heretofore to talk with them in such matters, and of all other persons least regarded them therein; to whom I have declared what I think as she which trusted that Your Majesty would have suffered me your poor humble sister and beadswoman to have used the accustomed Mass, which the King your father and mine with all his predecessors evermore used; wherein also I have been brought up from my youth, and thereunto my conscience doth not only bind me, which by no means will suffer me to think one thing and do another, but also the promise made to the Emperor by Your Majesty's Council was an assurance to me that in so doing I should not offend the Lawes, although they seem now to qualify and deny the thing.
And at my last waiting upon Your Majesty I was so bold to declare my mind and conscience to the same, and desired Your Highness, rather than you should constrain me to leave the Mass, to take my life, whereunto Your Majesty made me a very gentle answer.
And now I beseech Your Highness to give me leave to write what I think touching Your Majesty's letters. Indeed they be signed with your own hand, and nevertheless in my opinion not Your Majesty's in effect, because it is well known (as heretofore I have declared in the presence of Your Highness) that although, Our Lord be praised, Your Majesty hath far more knowledge and greater gifts then others of your years, yet it is not possible that Your Highness can at these years be a judge in matters of religion. And therefore I take it that the matter in your letter proceedeth from such as do wish those things to take place, which be most agreeable to themselves; by whose doings (Your Majesty not offended) I intend not to rule my conscience.
And thus, without molesting Your Highness any further, I humbly beseech the same ever, for God's sake, to bear with me as you have done, and not to think that by my doings or ensample any inconvenience might grow to Your Majesty or your realm; for I use it not after any such sort; putting no doubt but in time to come, whether I live or die, Your Majesty shall perceive mine intent is grounded upon a true love towards you, whose royal estate I beseech Almighty God long to continue, which is and shall be my daily prayer, according to my duty.
And after pardon craved of Your Majesty for these rude and bold letters, if neither at my humble suite, nor for regard of the promise made to the Emperor, Your Highness will suffer and bear with me, as you have done, till Your Majesty may be a judge herein yourself, and right understand their proceedings, (of which your goodness yet I despair not,) otherwise, rather than to offend God and my conscience I offer my body at your will, and death shall be more welcome than life with a troubled conscience.
Most humbly beseeching Your Majesty to pardon my slowness in answering your letters, for my old disease would not suffer me to write any sooner. And thus I pray Almighty God to keep Your Majesty in all virtue and honour, with good health and long life to His pleasure. From my poor house at Copped Hall the XIX of August.
Your Majesty's most
humble sister
MARY.
Note: advertised = warned.
suffered = allowed.
meanest = lowliest.
beadswoman = petitioner.
ensample = example.
estate = state, condition.
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