Princess Elizabeth's letter to her stepuncle Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, year 1549

Source:

The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909

https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueene00mumb/page/60/mode/2up

Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.

Above: Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, artist unknown.

The letter:

1549.

My very good Lord, — Many lines will not serve to render the least part of the thanks that your Grace hath deserved of me, most especially for that you have been careful for my health; and sending unto me not only your comfortable letters, but also physicians, as Doctor Bill, whose diligence and pain has been a great part of my recovery; for whom I do most heartily thank your Grace, desiring you to give him thanks for me, who can ascertain you of mine estate of health, wherefore I will not write it. And although I be most bounden to you in this time of my sickness; yet I may not be unthankful for that your Grace hath made expedition for my patent; with my most hearty thanks and commendations to you and to my good lady your wife, most heartily fare you well. From Cheshunt this present Friday. Your assured friend to my power, ELIZABETH.

Princess Elizabeth's letter to her stepuncle Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, dated March 7, 1549

Source:

The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909

https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueene00mumb/page/56/mode/2up

Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.

Above: Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, artist unknown.

The letter:

HATFIELD, March 7, 1549.

My Lord, — I have a request to make unto your Grace which fear has made me omit till this time for two causes, the one because I saw that my request for the rumours which were spread abroad of me took so little place, which thing when I considered, I thought I should little profit in any other suit; howbeit, now I understand that there is a proclamation for them (for the which I give your Grace and the rest of the Council most humble thanks), I am the bolder to speak for another thing; and the other was, because, peradventure your lordship and the rest of the Council will think that I favour her evil doing, for whom I shall speak, which his Kateryn Ashley, that it would please your Grace and the rest of the Council to be good unto her. Which thing I do, not to favour her in any evil (for that I would be sorry to do), but for these considerations, that follow, the which hope doth teach me in saying, that I ought not to doubt but that your Grace and the rest of the Council will think that I do it for other considerations. First, because that she hath been with me a long time, and many years, and hath taken great labour and pain in bringing me up in learning and honesty; and, therefore, I ought of very duty speak for her; for Saint Gregory sayeth, "that we are more bound to them that bringeth us up well than to our parents, for our parents do that which is natural for them that bringeth us into this world, but our bringers up are a cause to make us live well in it." The second is, because I think that whatsoever she hath done in my Lord Admiral's matter, as concerning the marrying of me, she did it because knowing him to be one of the Council, she thought he would not go about any such thing without he had the Council's consent thereunto; for I have heard her many times say "that she would never have me marry in any place without your Grace's and the Council's consent." The third cause is, because that it shall, and doth make men think, that I am not clear of the deed myself; but that it is pardoned to me because of my youth, because that she I loved so well is in such a place. Thus hope, prevailing more with me than fear, hath won the battle, and I have at this time gone forth with it; which I pray God be taken no otherwise than it is meant. Written in haste from Hatfield, this seventh day of March. Also, if I may be so bold, not offending, I beseech your Grace and the rest of the Council to be good to Master Ashley, her husband, which, because he is my kinsman, I would be glad he should do well. Your assured friend, to my little power, ELIZABETH.

Princess Elizabeth's letter to her stepuncle Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, dated February 6, 1549

Source:

The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909

https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueene00mumb/page/50/mode/2up

Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.

Above: Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, artist unknown.

The letter:

HATFIELD, February 6, 1549.

My Lord, — I have received your gentle letter and also your message by Master Tyrwhitt, for the which two things especially (although for many other things) I cannot give your lordship sufficient thanks, and whereas your Grace doth will me to credit Master Tyrwhitt, I have done so, and will do so as long as he willeth me (as he doth not) to nothing but to that which is for mine honour and honesty. And even as I said to him and did write to your lordship, so I do write now again, that when there doth any more things happen in my mind which I have forgotten, I assure your Grace I will declare them most willingly, for I would not (as I trust you have not) so evil an opinion of me that I would conceal any thing that I knew; for it were to no purpose, and surely forgetfulness may well cause me to hide things, but undoubtedly else I will declare all that I know. Your assured friend to my little power, ELIZABETH.

To my very good lord, my Lord Protector.

Princess Elizabeth's letter to her stepuncle Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, dated February 21, 1549

Source:

The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909

https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueene00mumb/page/54/mode/2up

Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.

Above: Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, artist unknown.

The letter:

HATFIELD, February 21, 1549.

My Lord, — Having received your Lordship's letters, I perceive in them your good will towards me, because you declare to me plainly your mind in this thing, and again for that you would not wish that I should do anything that should not seem good unto the Council, for the which thing I give you most hearty thanks. And whereas, I do understand, that you do take in evil part the letters that I did write unto your lordship, I am very sorry that you should take them so, for my mind was to declare unto you plainly, as I thought, in that thing which I did, also the more willingly, because (as I write to you) you desired me to be plain with you in all things. And as concerning that point that you write, that I seem to stand in mine own wit, it being so well assured of mine own self, I did assure me of myself no more than I trust the truth shall try; and to say that which I know of myself I did not think should have displeased the Council or your Grace. And surely, the cause why I was sorry that there should be any such about me, was because that I thought the people will say that I deserved, through my lewd demeanour, to have such a one [Lady Tyrwhitt] and not that I mislike anything that your lordship, or the Council, shall think good, for I know that you and the Council are charged with me, or that I take upon me to rule myself, for I know that they are most deceived that trusteth most in themselves, wherefore I trust you shall never find that fault in me, to the which thing I do not see that your Grace has made any direct answer at this time, and seeing they make so evil reports already shall be but an increasing of these evil tongues.

Howbeit, you did write "that if I would bring forth any that had reported it, you and the Council would see it redressed," which thing though I can easily do it, I would be loth to do, because it is mine own cause; and, again, that it should be but abridging of an evil name of me that am glad to punish them, and so get the evil will of the people, which thing I would be loth to have. But if it might seem good to your lordship, and the rest of the Council, to send forth a proclamation into the countries that they refrain their tongues, declaring how the tales be but lies, it should make both the people think that you and the Council have great regard that no such rumours should be spread of any of the King's Majesty's sisters (as I am, though unworthy,) and also that I should think myself to receive such friendship at your hands as you have promised me, although your lordship hath showed me great already. Howbeit, I am ashamed to ask it any more, because I see you are not so well minded thereunto. And as concerning that you say I give folks occasion to think, in refusing the good to uphold the evil, I am not of so simple understanding, nor I would that your Grace should have so evil an opinion of me that I have so little respect of my own honesty, that I would maintain it if I had sufficient promise of the same, and so your Grace shall prove me when it comes to the point. And thus I bid you farewell, desiring God always to assist you in all your affairs. Written in haste. Your assured friend, to my little power, ELIZABETH.

Princess Elizabeth's letter to her stepuncle Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, dated January 28, 1549

Source:

The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909

https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueene00mumb/page/42/mode/2up

Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.

Above: Edward Seymour, 1st Duke and Protector of Somerset, artist unknown.

The letter:

HATFIELD, January 28, 1549.

My Lord, — Your great gentleness and good will towards me, as well in this thing as in other things, I do understand, for the which even as I ought, so I do give you humble thanks; and whereas your lordship willeth and counselleth me as an earnest friend, to declare what I know in this matter, and also to write what I have declared to Master Tyrwhitt, I shall most willingly do it. I declared unto him first, that after the cofferer had declared unto me what my Lord Admiral answered, for Allen's matter, and for Durham Place, he told me that my Lord Admiral did offer me his house for my time being with the King's Majesty, and further said and asked me, "if the Council did consent that I should have my Lord Admiral, whether I would consent to it, or no?" I answered, "that I would not tell him what my mind was"; and I further inquired of him "what he meant by asking me that question, or who bade him say so?" He answered me, and said, "Nobody bade him say so, but that he perceived, as he thought, by my Lord Admiral inquiring whether my patent were sealed or no, and debating what he spent in his house, and inquiring what was spent in my house, that he was given that way rather than otherwise." And as concerning Kat Ashley, she never advised me to it, but said always, when any talked of my marriage, "that she would never have me marry, neither in England nor out of England, without the consent of the King's Majesty, your Grace's, and the Council's."

And after the Queen was departed, when I asked of her "What news she heard from London?" she answered, merrily, "They say your Grace shall have my Lord Admiral, and that he will shortly come to woo you. And, moreover, I said unto him, that the cofferer sent a letter hither, that my lord said that he would come this way as he went down into the country." Then I bade her write as she thought best, and bade her show it to me when she had done; so she wrote, "that she thought it not best, for fear of suspicion," and so it went forth, and the Lord Admiral, after he had heard that, asked the cofferer, "why he might not come to me as well as to my sister?" and then I desired Kate Ashley to write again (lest my lord might think that she knew more in it than he), that she knew nothing, but only suspected, and I also told Master Tyrwhitt that to the effect of the matter, I never consented to any such thing without the Council's consent thereto. And as for Kate Ashley and the cofferer, they never told me that they would practise it. These be the things which I declared to Master Tyrwhitt, and also, whereof my conscience beareth me witness, which I would not for all earthly things offend in anything, for I know I have a soul to be saved as well as other folks have, wherefore I will, above all things, have respect unto this same. If there be any more things which I can remember, I will either write it myself, or cause Mr. Tyrwhitt to write it. Master Tyrwhitt and others have told me that there goeth rumours abroad which be greatly both against my honour and honesty, which, above all other things, I esteem, which be these, that I am in the Tower, and with child by my Lord Admiral. My lord, these are shameful slanders, for which, besides the great desire I have to see the King's Majesty, I shall most heartily desire your lordship that I may come to the Court after your first determination that I may show myself there as I am. Written in haste. Your assured friend to my little power, ELIZABETH.

Note: "... I never consented to any such thing without the Council's consent thereto." = referring to Thomas Seymour's scheme to marry Elizabeth.

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Princess Elizabeth's letter to her stepfather Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour, year 1548

Source:

La vie d'Elizabeth, reine d'Angleterre, volume 1, Gergorio Leti, 1703

https://archive.org/details/dli.granth.71648/page/174/mode/2up

The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909

https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueene00mumb/page/38/mode/2up

Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.

Above: Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour, painted by Nicolas Denisot.

The letter:

MYLORD,

J'ai regardé l'honneur que vous m'avez fait jusques ici, comme un effet de la civilité qui vous est naturelle, & comme une marque du elle que vous avez pour la mémoire du feu Roi mon pere. Mais je me suis pourtant apperçûë par les visites fréquentes que vous m'avez renduës, que vous aviez d'autres pensées, & quand je me m'en serois pas apperçûë, tant de gens m'en ont parlé de vôtre part, que je ne le puis ignorer, jusques-là que l'on m'a reproché, que je ne vous rebutois que parce que je pensois à quelqu'autre personne. Je vous prie donc, Mylord, de mettre vôtre esprit en repos là-dessus, & d'être persuadé de la déclaration que je vous fais, que jusques-ici, je n'ai pas eu la moindre pensée de me marier, & que s'il m'arrive d'y penser, ce que je ne crois pas, que vous serez le premier à qui je ferai sçavoir ma résolution.

English translation (from source 2):

1548.

My Lord, — I have regarded the honour which you have paid me up to the present as an evidence of your natural courtesy, and as a testimony of the loyalty which you have for the memory of the late King, my father. But I have been forced to perceive by the frequent visits which you have made me that you have other intentions, and if I had not made the discovery for myself so many persons have spoken to me of your attentions that I could not have remained ignorant. It has also been said that I have only refused you because I was thinking of someone else. I therefore entreat you, my lord, to set your mind at rest on this subject, and to be persuaded by this declaration that up to this time I have not the slightest intention of being married, and that if ever I should think of it (which I do not believe is possible) you would be the first to whom I should make known my resolution.

Princess Elizabeth's letter to her half-brother King Edward VI, dated January 2, 1550

Source:

The girlhood of Queen Elizabeth, a narrative in letters, Frank Arthur Mumby, 1909

https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueene00mumb/page/64/mode/2up

Above: Elizabeth as princess, formerly attributed to William Scrots.

Above: King Edward VI of England, painted by William Scrots.

The letter:

I am able, most noble King, to offer many excuses that I have not followed my old custom, in preparing some fresh little present at this season for your Highness. For, in the first place, every description of learning, which in me was ever very small, has been either so wasted by the long duration of my sickness, or so far cut off by my being unused to study, or so hindered by the infirm state of my health, that my old custom of bringing something or other out of my scanty literary store-house — a custom always very easily performed by me, when very well approved by you — has been now altogether taken from me. And, even though I had not been quite an invalid, yet I should be afraid to send (as I was wont) to your Majesty anything trifling, since you now so much excel in learning, that you can receive with a welcome nothing but what is excellent and perfect. I, thus altogether debarred from my old custom of sending, began to turn my thoughts to a new one: I was thinking about some present in gold or gems. When I was revolving in my mind this design, I saw that everything of mine is so far beneath your dignity, that I was thinking of sending no present at all, rather than one of no value. But from this concern about selecting something excellent, which I might with propriety offer you, my Lord Protector relieved me, by whose counsel of sending new year's gifts should be abolished; and the wisdom of his policy I shall willingly follow. However, this short letter I have sent to make known to your Majesty what new reason I have followed, in laying aside my old custom.

Therefore, instead of the accustomed present, I offer, as I have ever done by these letters of mine, to your Majesty, that affection, zeal, good-will, fidelity, and reverence, which either nature can demand in a sister, or obedience in a very humble subject. And that testimony of my ready duty, which I now willingly make by letter, I myself, in person, would most willingly express, if I were assured it would not displease your Majesty at all.

May the great and good God increase your Majesty more and more, daily, in virtue, learning, and honour. At Hatfield, 2nd January. Your Majesty's most humble sister and servant, ELIZABETH.

To the most illustrious and most noble King Edward the Sixth.