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have died; wherefore I beg of you, my of him who would willingly remain dearly beloved, to harbour no fear, nor yours.

Not

to give yourself uneafinefs at our abfence; for wherefoever I am I am yours. withstanding we must fometimes obey the will of fortune; for who will, in fome things, ftrive against her, are often drove the fartheft back; wherefore comfort yourfelf and be courageous, and fling away all evil as far as you can. I hope foon to make you fing the return. Time, at prefent, will let me write no more, but that I wish myself in your arms, to eafe you of your just thoughts. Written by the hand of him who is, and ever fhall be, yours.

LETTER III.

To the fame.

THE examining the contents of your letters put me into a very great agony, not knowing how to understand them, whether to my difadvantage, as in fome others I underfland; begging of you, with a fincere heart, to inform me of your intentions in regard to the love between us. Neceffity obliges me to infift on this answer, having for more than a year past been pierced by a dart of love, not being affured where to find place in your heart and affection; which certain laft point has guarded me a little while in this, not to call you my miftrefs, with which, if you love me but with a common love, this name is not appropriated to you; for that denotes a fingularity vaftly different from common love. But if you have a mind to perform the part of a truly loyal miftrefs and friend, give yourfelf body and heart to me, who would be, and has been long, your moit loyal fervant. If with rigour you do not forbid me, I promife that not only the name fhall be due to you, but likewife take you for my mistress; rejecting and treating others, in comparison of you, far from thought and affection, and to ferve you only; begging of you to give me a full anfwer to this rude letter, on which and in which I may truft. But if you do not pleafe to give an anfwer in writing, appoint fome place where I may have it by word of mouth, and with a willing heart I will meet you at the place. No more, for fear of incommoding you. Written with the hand

LETTER IV.
To the fame.

HEARTILY thank for
I
you your hand-
fome prefent, than which, well weigh-
ing the whole, nothing is more beautiful,
not only for the beautiful diamond and
veffel in which the folitary damfel is
tofled; but principally for the beautiful
interpretation and moft humble fubmif-
fion, by your goodness in this cafe made
ufe of, well thinking, that to merit this
by opportunity will be very difficult, if
your great humanity and favour did not
aflift me, for which I have watched,
watch, and will watch all opportunities of
retaliation poffible; to remain in which,
my whole hope has placed its immutable
intention, which fays, aut illic, aut nul-
libi.

The demonftrances of your affection are fuch, the beautiful words, the letters fo affectionately couched, which, in truth, oblige for ever to honour you, love and ferve you; begging of you to continue in this firm and conftant purpofe; on my part affuring you, that I will rather augment it, than make it reciprocal, if loyalty of heart, defire of pleasing you, without any other motive, may advance it; praying you, that if any time heretofore I have given you offence, that you would give me the fame pardon that you afk; affuring you that for the future my heart fhall be wholly dedicated to you, much defiring that the body might be alfo, as God can do it, if he pleafes, to whom I beg once a day to do it, hoping that in time my prayers may be heard, wifhing the time to be fhort, thinking it very long to our review. Written by the hand of my fecretary, who, in heart, body, and will, is your loyal and moft affured fervant.

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are met; which meeting is more defired on my part than any worldly thing; for what fatisfaction can be fo great in this world as to enjoy the company of one's moft dearly beloved, knowing that the has the fame pleasure on her fide? The thought of which gives me a deal of pleafure; then judge what must the perfon do whofe abfence has given me more heart-achings than tongue or writing can exprefs, and which nothing but her prefence can remedy? Begging you, my dear, to tell your father, on my part, to come two days before the time appointed, that he may be at court before, or at leaft on the day fixed; for otherwife I fhall think that he made not the courfe of the amorous, nor anfwered my expectation. No more at prefent for want of time; hoping very foon that by word of mouth, I fhall tell you the pains I have faffered during your abfence. Written by the hand of my fecretary, who wishes himself now privately with you, who is, and ever will be, your loyal and most affured fervant.

LETTER VI.
To the fame.

Darling, THESE fhall be only to advertise you, that this bearer and his fellow be patched with as many things to compfs our matter, and to bring it to pafs, our wits could imagine or devife; which brought to pafs, as I truft by their digence it fhall be fhortly, you and I fhall have our defired end, which fhould be more to my heart's eafe, and more quietnefs to my mind, than any other thing in this world, as, with God's grace, fortly I truft fhall be proved, but not fo fon as I would it were; yet I will infure you there fhall be no time loft that may be won, and further cannot be done, for wira posse non eft efe. Keep him not too long with you, but defire him, for your fake, to make the more fpeed; for the fooner we shall have word from him, the fooner thall our matter come to pais. And this upon trutt of your fhort repair to London, I make an end of my letter, mine own fweetheart. Written with the hand of him, who defireth as much to be yours as you do to have him.

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Queen Anne Bullen to King Henry.

'Sir, YOUR grace's displeasure and my imprifonment are things fo ftrange unto me, as what to write, or what to excufe, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you fend unto me (willing me to confefs a truth, and fo obtain your favour) by fuch an one whom you know to be mine ancient profeffed enemy, I no fooner received this meffage by him, than I rightly conceived your meaning; and if, as you fay, confeffing a truth, indeed, may procure my fafety, I fhall, with all willingnefs and duty, perform your command.

But let not your grace ever imagine, that your poor wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a fault, where not fo much as a thought thereof preceded. And, to speak a truth, never prince had wife more loyal in all duty, and in all true affection, than you have ever found in Anne Bullen; with which name and place I could willingly have contented myfelf, if God and your grace's pleasure had been fo pleafed. Neither did I at any time fo far forget myfelf in my exaltation, or received queenfhip, but that I always looked for fuch an alteration as now I find; for the ground of my preferment being on no furer foundation than your grace's fancy, the least alteration, I know, was fit and fufficient to draw that fancy to fome other subject. You have chofen me from a low estate to be your queen and companion, far beyond my defert and defire. If then you found me worthy of fuch honour, good your grace let not any light fancy, or bad counfel of mine enemies, withdraw your princely favour from me; neither let that ftain, that unworthy ftain, of a disloyal heart towards your good grace ever caft fo foul a blot on your most dutiful wife, and the infant princess your daughter. Try me, good king, but let me have a lawful trial; and let not my fworn enemies fit as my accufers and judges; yea, let me receive an open trial (for my truth fhall fear no open shame); then fhall you fee either mine innocence cleared, your fufpicion and confcience fatisfied, the ignominy and flander of the world ftopped, or my guilt openly declared. So that whatfoever God or vou

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