1: Written to Katharine Parr in July of 1548.
Althougth I coulde not be plentiful in giuing thankes for the manifolde kindenis receyued
at your hithnis hande at my departure, yet I am some thinge to be borne with al, for
truly I was replete with sorowe to depart frome your highnis, especially leuinge you
vndoubful of helthe, and albeit I answered litel I wayed it more dipper whan you
sayd you wolde warne me of al euelles that you shulde hir of me, for if your grace
had not a good opinion of me you wolde not haue offered frindeship to me that
way, that al men iuge the contrarye, but what may I more say ^than thanke God for pro-
uidinge suche frendes to me, desiringe God to enriche me with ther longe life, and
me grace to be in hart no les thankeful to receyue it, than I nowe am glad in wri-
tinge to shewe it, and althougth I haue plentye of matter, hire I wil staye for I
knowe you ar not quiet to rede. Frome Cheston this present Saterday.Your hithnis humble doughter,
Elizabeth
Although I could not be plentiful in giving thanks for the manifold kindness received at your highness' hand at my departure, yet I am some thing to be borne withal, for truly, I was replete with sorrow to depart from your highness, especially leaving you undoubtful of health. And, albeit I answered little, I weighed it more deeper [sic] when you said you would warn me of all evils that you should hear of me, for if your grace had not a good opinion of me you would not have offered friendship to me that way, that all men judge the contrary. But what may I more say than thank God for providing such friends to me (desiring God to enrich me with their long life, and me grace to be in heart no less thankful to receive it, than I now am glad in writing to show it)? And although I have plenty of matter, here I will stay, for I know you are not quiet to read. From Cheston this present Saturday.
Your highness' humble daughter,
Elizabeth
2: Written to Katherine Parr on 31 July, 1548.
This letter refers to Katherine Parr's advancing pregnancy. Unfortunately, the right edge has frayed somewhat.
Although your hithnys letters be most joyfull to me in absens, yet consideringe what
paine hit ys to you to writea~dyour grace beinge so great with childe, and so sikely
your c~omendacyon wer ynough in my Lordes letter. I rejoyce at
your helthe with the wel likinge of the country, with my humbel thankes
that your grace wisshed me with you til I were wery of that cuntrye, your
hithnys were like to be combered if I shulde not depart tyl I were w . . .
beinge with you, although hit were in the worst soile in the worl . . .
your presence wolde make it pleasant. I can not reproue my Lo . . .
not doinge your cõmendacyons in his lettar for he did hit: and al . . .
he had not, yet I wil not cõplaine on him for that he shalbe dilige . . .
giue me knolege frome time to time how his busy childe dothe, a . . .
I were at his birth no dowt I wolde se him beaton for the trobe . . .
put you to. Master Denny and my Lady with humbel tha . . .
prayeth most intirely ^for your grace prainge the almyghty God to sende . . .
lucky deliuerance. And my mystres wisseth no les giu . . .
most humbel thankes for her cõmendacions. Wri . . .
leysor this last day of Iuly.
Although your Highness' letters be most joyful to me in absence, yet considering what pain it is to you to write, your Grace being so great with child, and so sickly, your commendation were enough in my Lord's letter. I rejoice at your health with the well liking of the country, with my humble thanks that your Grace wished me with you till I were weary of that country. Your highness were like to be cumbered if I should not depart till I were w[eary of] being with you, [for] although it were in the worst soil in the worl[d] your presence would make it pleasant. I can not reprove my Lo[rd for] not doing your commendations in his letter for he did it; and al[though] he had not, yet I will not complain on him for that he shall be dilige[nt to] give me knowledge from time to time how his busy child doth, a[nd if] I were at his birth, no doubt I would see him beaten for the troub[le he hath] put you to. Master Denny and my Lady, with humble tha[nks], prayeth most entirely for your grace, praying the almighty God to send [you] lucky deliverance. And my mistress wisheth no less [to?] give your grace most humble thanks for her commendations. Wri[tten with very little] leisure this last day of July.
[Your humble daughter,
Elizabeth]
3: Written to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset on 28 January, 1549.
In this letter, Elizabeth refers to scandalous rumours about her and Thomas Seymour, Baron Sudeley and Lord High Admiral of England. Seymour had been arrested for treason, and was charged with, among other counts, trying to marry Elizabeth and rule in her name.
. . . for I knowe I haue a soule to saue as wele as other fokes haue wherfore
I wil aboue al thinge haue respect unto this same. If there be any more
thinges wiche I can remembre I wil ether write it my selfe, or cause maister
Tirwit to write it. Maister Tirwit and others haue tolde me that there go-
eth rumors abrode wiche be greatly bothe agenste myne honor, and honesti
wiche aboue al other thinkes I estime, wiche be these, that Ishuldeam in the
tower and with childe by my Lord Admiral, My Lord these ar shameful
schlanders, for the wiche besides the great desier I haue to se the Kinges Maiestie
I shal most hartely desire your Lordship that I may come to the court after your
first determination, that I may shewe my selfe ^there as I am. Writen in hast from Atfelde
this 28 of Ianuarye.Your assured frende to my litel power,
Elizabeth
. . . for I know I have a soul to save, as well as other folks have, wherefore I will, above all thing, have respect unto this same. If there be any more things which I can remember, I will either write it myself, or cause Master Tyrwhitt to write it. Master Tyrwhitt and others have told me that there goeth rumors abroad which, be greatly both against mine 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 the which, besides the great desire I have to se 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 my self there, as I am. Written in haste from Hatfield, this 28 of January.
Your assured friend, to my little power,
Elizabeth
4: Written to Mary I on February 17, 1554.
In this letter to Mary I, Elizabeth pleads her innocence of any conspiracy and begs for an audience. The new paragraph in the middle of the transcript indicates a new page. The 'as euel' at the end of the first page is blotted, but the letters are just about visible.
If any euer did try this olde saynge that a kinges worde was more thã
a nother mãs othe I most humble beseche your M. to verefie it in
me and to reme~ber your last promis and my last demañde that I
be not cõdemned without answer ^and due profe wiche it semes that now I am for
that without cause prouid I am by your counsel from you cõmanded
to go vnto the tower a place more wonted for a false traitor, thã a tru
subiect wiche thogth I knowe I deserue it not, yet in the face of
al this realme aperes that it is prouid wiche I pray god I may ^dy the
shamefullist dethe that euer any died afore I may mene any suche
thinge and to this present hower I protest afor God (who shal iuge
my trueth) whatsoeuer malice shal deuis) that I neuer practised
conciled nor cõsentid to any thinge that migth be preiudicial
to your parson any way or daungerous to the state by any
mene/ and therfore I hũbly beseche your maiestie to let
me answer afore your selfe and not suffer me to trust your
counselors yea and that afore I go to the tower (if it
be possible) if not afor I be further cõdemned; howbeit I
trust assuredly your highnes wyl giue me leue to do it afor
Ibego for that thus shãfully I may not be cried out on as now I shal
be yea and without cause let cõciens moue your hithnes to
take some bettar way with me thã to make me be cõde~ned
in al me~s sigth afor my desert knowen. Also I most hũbly
beseche your hithnes to pardon this my boldnes wiche
innoce~cy procures me to do togither with hope of your natural
kindnis wiche I trust wyl not se me cast away without desert
wiche what it is I wold desier no more of God but that you
truly knew. Wiche thinge Ithingethinke and beleue you shal
neuer by report knowe vnles by your selfe you hire. I haue
harde in my time of many cast away for want of comminge
to the presence of ther princeasand in late days I harde my
lorde of Sõmerset say that if his brother had bine sufferd
to speke with him he had neuer sufferd but the
perswasions wer made to him so gret that he was brigth
in belefe that he coulde not liue safely if the admiral lived
and that made him giue his consent to his dethe thogth
thes parsons ar not to be cõpared to your maiestie yet I
pray God as euel persuatiõs perswade not one sistar agai
the other and al for that the haue harde false report and
not harkene to the trueth
knowentherfor ons again with hublenes of my hart, bicause I am not
sufferd to bow the knees of my body I hubly craue to speke
with your higthnis wiche I wolde not be so bold to desier
if I knewe not my selfe most clere as I knowe my selfe most
true, and as for the traitor Wiat he might perauentur
writ me a lettar but on my ^faithe I never receued any from him and
as for the copie of my lettar sent to the fre~che kinge I pray
God c~ofoñd ^me eternally if euer I sent him word, mefsage
toke~ or lettar by any menes, and thisandmy truith
I wil stande ^in to my dethe.[Elizabeth drew diagonal lines across the page here to prevent any forged additions]
I humbly craue but only one worde
of Answer frõ your selfe.Your highnes most faithful subiect that
hathe bine from the beginnjng, and wyl be
to my ende.Elizabeth
If any ever did try this old saying, that a king's word was more than another man's oath, I most humbly beseech Your Majesty to verify it in me, and to remember your last promise and my last demand, that I be not condemned without answer and due proof - which it seems that now I am, for that without cause proved I am by your counsel from you commanded to go unto the Tower, a place more wonted for a false traitor than a true subject, which though I know I deserve it not, yet in the face of all this realm appears that it is proved, which I pray God I may die the shamefullest death that ever any died afore I may mean any such thing. And to this present hour, I protest afore God (who shall judge my truth, whatsoever malice shall devise) that I never practised, counselled nor consented to any thing that might be prejudicial to your person [in] any way, or dangerous to the state by any mean. And therefore, I humbly beseech Your Majesty to let me answer afore yourself, and not suffer me to trust your counsellors, yea, and that afore I go to the Tower (if it be possible) if not afore I be further condemned. Howbeit, I trust assuredly your highness will give me leave to do it afore I go, for that thus shamefully I may not be cried out on, as now I shall be, yea, and without cause. Let conscience move your highness to take some better way with me, than to make me be condemned in all men's sight afore my desert [is] known. Also, I most humbly beseech your highness to pardon this my boldness, which innocency procures me to do, together with hope of your natural kindness, which I trust will not see me cast away without desert - which, [being] what it is, I would desire no more of God but that you truly knew - which thing I think and believe you shall never by report know, unless by yourself you hear. I have heard in my time of many cast away for want of coming to the presence of their prince, and in late days I heard my lord of Somerset say that if his brother had been suffered to speak with him, he had never suffered - but the persuasions were made to him so great that he was bright in belief that he could not live safely if the admiral lived, and that made him give his consent to his death - though these persons are not to be compared to Your Majesty. Yet I pray God as evil persuasions persuade not one sister against the other, and all for that they have heard false report, and not hearken to the truth known. Therfore, once again, with humbleness of my heart, because I am not suffered to bow the knees of my body, I humbly crave to speak with your Highness which I would not be so bold to desire if I knew not myself most clear as I know myself most true, and as for the traitor Wyatt, he might peradventure write me a letter, but on my faith I never recieved any from him; and as for the copy of my letter sent to the French king, I pray God confound me eternally if ever I sent him word, message, token, or letter by any means, and this, my truth, I will stand in to my death.
[Elizabeth drew diagonal lines across the page here to prevent any forged additions]
I humbly crave but only one word of answer from yourself.
Your Highness' most faithful subject that hath been from the beginning, and will be to my end.
Elizabeth
5: Written to William Cecil, Lord Burghley in April 1572
This letter defers the Duke of Norfolk's execution. Norfolk had become involved in plots to marry him to Mary, Queen of Scots before. The plot that cost him his head, on June 2, was the Ridolfi Plot. After her initial outburst of rage, Elizabeth was reluctant to dispatch Norfolk, her cousin via the Boleyns. Although the original document has "sent" in the third line, I think that Elizabeth meant "send", as it fits in better.
My lord me thinkes that I am more beholdinge to the hindar
part of my hed than wel dare trust the forwards side
of the same and therfor sent to the Leuetenant
and the S. as you knowe best the ordar to
defar this execution till the here furdar
and that this may be done I doute nothing
without curiocitie of my further warrant
for that ther rasche determination upon
a very unfit day was countermanded by
your considerat admonition the causes that
moue me to this ar not now to be expressed
lest an irreuocable dede be in mene while
cõmitted. If the wyl nedes a warrant
let this suffice all written with my nowe
hand. Your most louinge soueraineElizabeth R
My lord,
Methinks that I am more beholding to the hinder part of my head than well dare trust the forwards side of the same, and therefore send to the Lieutenant and the S., as you know best, the order to defer this execution till they hear further. And that this may be done, I doubt nothing without curiosity of my further warrant, for that their rash determination, upon a very unfit day, was countermanded by your considerate admonition. The causes that move me to this are not now to be expressed, lest an irrevocable deed be in [the] meanwhile committed. If they will needs a warrant, let this suffice, all written with mine own hand.
Your most loving sovereign,
Elizabeth R
6: Written in Elizabeth's copy of the Epistles of St Paul, August 1576 or after.
Unfortunately, the myth that Elizabeth comforted herself with this book at Woodstock (in 1554) has been exploded. It was surmised that the embroidered cover (the letter "E" remains, but the second has fallen off) originally had a "C" on it, standing for Elizabetha Captiva. Under strong electric light, the outling of the second letter is actually "R". The translation of the Epistles was written in 1576, so this comment must be 1576, at the earliest.
AugustI walke many times into
the pleasant fieldes of the
holye scriptures, where
I plucke vp the goodlie
greene herbes of Sentenc
es by pruning: Eate the~
by reading: chawe the~
by musing: And laie them
vp at length in the hie
seate of memorie by gather
ing them together: that
I hauing tasted thy sweet
enes I may the lesse per
ceaue the bitternes of this
miserable life
---------------------------
This was queene
Elizabethes booke & this
was her owne hande
writting aboue
August
I walk many times into the pleasant fields of the Holy Scriptures, where I pluck up the goodly green herbs of sentences by pruning, eat them by reading, chew them by musing, and lay them up at length in the high seat of memory by gathering them together, that I, having tasted thy sweetness, I may the less perceive the bitterness of this miserable life.
---------------------------
This was Queen Elizabeth's book, & this was her own handwriting above.