1: Written in 1528 to Cardinal Wolsey
Although the traditional interpretation has been that Anne nursed an implacable hatred of Wolsey, throughout 1528 she was in correspondence with the Cardinal on a regular basis. The real nature of her relations with Wolsey are still debated.
My lord after my most hu~ble recõmendacions this shall be to gyve vnto yro grace
as I am most bound my humble thanks for the gret payn and trabell that yro
grace doth take in studying by yro Myssane and gret dylygens howe to bryng
to pas honerably the gretyst welsh that is possyble to com to creator lyvyng
and in especyall remembryng howe wrecchyd and vnworthy I am in cõparyng
to his hyghnes/ and for you I do wishe my self neuer to have des~vyd by my des~ny so
that you shuld take this gret payn for me yet dayly of yro goodnes I do p~ceyve
by all my ffrends and though that I hade most knowlege by them the dayly
presse of yro deds doth declare yro words and wrytyng tollard me to be
trewe nowe good my lord yro dyscressyon may consyder as yet howe lytle it
is in my power to Recõpence you but all only wt my good wyl the whiche
I asseuer you that after this matter is brought to pas you shall fynd me
as I am bownd in the meane tym to owe you my s~vyse and then looke
what thyng in this woruld I can in magan to do you pleasor in you
shall fynd me the gladdyst woman in the world to do yt and next
vn to the kings grace of one thyng I make you full promes to be assewryd
to have yt and that is my harty love unffaynydly deweryng my lyf
and beyng ffully determynd wt godds grace neuer to change thys
porpus I make anend of thys my Rude and trewe unfanyd letter
prayng ower lord to send you muche increse of hower wt long lyfe
Wrytten wt the hand of her that besychys yro grace to accept this letter
as prosydyng from one that is most bownd to beFrom Mrs Anne Bullen befor her Mariadg to the king. [added by a later writer]
yro hu~ble and
obedyent s~vant
Anne Boleyn
My lord, after my most humble recommendations this shall be to give unto your Grace, as I am most bound, my humble thanks for the great pain and trouble that your Grace doth take in studying by your mission and great diligence how to bring to pass honourably the greatest wish that is possible to come to any creature living, and in especial remembering how wretched and unworthy I am in comparing with his Highness. And for you I do wish myself never to have deserved by my destiny so that you should take this great pain for me, yet daily of your goodness I do perceive by all my friends and though that I had most knowledge by them the daily press of your deeds doth declare your words and writing told me to be true. Now, good my lord, your discretion may consider as yet how little it is in my power to recompense you but all only with my good will, the which I assure you that after this matter is brought to pass you shall find me, as I am bound in the meantime to owe you my service, and then look what thing in this world I can imagine to do you pleasure in; you shall find me the gladdest woman in the world to do it and next unto the king's grace of one thing I make you full promise to be assured to have it, and that is my hearty love unfeignedly during my life. And being fully determined with God's grace never to change this purpose, I make an end of this my rude1 and true unfeigned letter, praying our Lord to send you much increase of hour with long life. Written with the hand of her that beseeches your Grace to accept this letter as proceeding from one that is most bound to be
From Mistress Anne Bullen before her marriage to the King. [added by a later writer]
Your humble and obedient servant,
Anne Boleyn
1 Here, simple or unsophisticated.
2: Letter to Stephen Gardiner (later Bishop of Winchester; at this stage known as Master Stephens), 4 April 1529
This letter refers to the attempts made by Masters Stephens, Gregory and Peters in Italy. They were attempting to rule out as a forgery a recently discovered brief of Julius II's, which was meant to remedy defects in the original dispensation for Henry VIII's marriage to Katherine of Aragon. They were unsuccessful in this, but they did secure a new papal commission for the legatine court which, it was hoped, would rule on the annulment in England.
Mast~. Stephyns I thanke you for my Letter wherin I per~yve
the willing and faithfull minde that you have to doe me
pleasõr not doubting but as much as is possible for mans
witt to immagen you well do; I pray God to send you well
to speed in all yõr Matters, soe that your would put me
to the Study how to reward yõr high Service. I doe
Trust in God you shall not repent it. And that the
end of this Jorney, shall be more pleasant to me then
your first for that was bu[t] aJealousierejoyceing hope
which causeing the like of it das put me to the more
paine, and they that are partakers wth me as you doe
know. And therefore I doe trust that this hard beginning
shall make the better ending. Mast~r Stephyns I send
you here Cramprings for you & Mast~r Gregory & Mr. Peters
praying you to distribute them as you thinke best, &
have me highly recommended to them both, as she that
you may assure them will be glad to do them any
pleasor which shall be in my Power. And thus I make
an end, praying God send you ^good health/ wrytten at
Grenwiche the iiij day of Aprill.By yõr assured ffrend
Anne Boleyn
Master Stephens, I thank you for my letter wherein I perceive the willing and faithful mind that you have to do me pleasure, not doubting but as much as is possible for man's wit to imagine you will do. I pray God to send you well to speed in all your Matters, so that you would put me to the study how to reward your high service. I do trust in God you shall not repent it. And that the end of this journey shall be more pleasant to me than your first, for that was but a rejoicing hope, which causing the like of it does put me to the more pain - and they that are partaking with me, as you do know. And therefore I do trust that this hard beginning shall make the better ending. Master Stephens, I send you here cramp rings for you and Master Gregory and Master Peters, praying you to distribute them as you think best, and have me highly recommended to them both as she that you may asure them will be glad to do them any pleasure which shall be in my power. And thus I make an end, praying God send you good health. Written at Greenwich, the fourth day of April.
By your assured friend,
Anne Boleyn
3: Announcement of Elizabeth I's birth, 12 September 1533
While this letter was written by a clerk, Anne may have dictated it. This is the famous letter where an "s" had to be inserted to accommodate the birth of a princess.
By the Quene Right trustie and welbeloued we grete you well/ And where as it hath pleased the goodnes of
almightie god of his infynite marcie and grace to sende vnto vs at this tyme good spede in the
Delyuerannce and bringing furthe of a princes to the great Joye Reioyce and inward comforte of
my lorde vs and of all his good and loving subiects of this his Realme/ Ffor the whiche his
inestymable benevolence soo shewed vnto vs, we haue noo little cause to give high thanks lande
and praising vnto oure said maker like as we doo mooste lowly humbly and wt all the inward
Desire of oure harte/ And inasmcche as we vndoubtidly truste, that this oure good spede is to yor
grait pleasure comforte and consolatõn/ We therefore by thies oure lr~ct advertise you thereof
Desiring and hartely praying you to give wt vs vnto almightie god high thankes glorie
lande and praising, and to praye for the good helth prosrõitie and continiull pressuacõn of
the said princess ac~cordingly/ yeven vnder oure Signet at my lordis Manor of Grenewiche/ the
xij day of Septemb. in the xxvth yere of my said lordis Reigne/
By the Queen Right trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And where as it hath pleased the goodness of Almighty God, of his infinite mercy and grace, to send unto us at this time good speed in the deliverance and bringing forth of a princess, to the great joy, rejoice [sic] and inward comfort of my lord, us, and of all his good and loving subjects of this his realm. For the which, his inestimable benevolence so showed unto us, we have no little cause to give high thanks, land and praising unto our said Maker, like as we do most lowly, humbly and with all the inward desire of our heart. And inasmuch as we undoubtedly trust, that this our good speed is to your great pleasure, comfort and consolation. We therefore by this our letter advertise you thereof Desiring and heartily praying you to give with us unto Almighty God high thanks, glory, land and praising, and to pray for the good health, prosperity and continual preservation of the said princess accordingly. Given under our signet at my lords' Manor of Greenwich. The 12th day of September, in the 25th year of my said lord's Reign.