Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1527 is in Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII.
Books, Calendars, Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1527 July
01 Jul 1527. Love Letters IV. 3218. Henry VIII (age 36) to Anne Boleyn (age 26).
I have been in great agony about the contents of your letters, not knowing whether to construe them to my disadvantage "comme en des aucunes autres," or to my advantage. I beg to know expressly your intention touching the love between us. Necessity compels me to obtain this answer, having been more than a year wounded by the dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail or find a place in your affection. This has prevented me naming you my mistress; for if you love me with no more than ordinary love, the name is not appropriate to you, for it denotes a singularity far from the common. But if it please you to do the office of a true, loyal mistress, and give yourself, body and heart, to me, who have been and mean to be your loyal servant, I promise you not only the name, but that I shall make you my sole mistress, remove all others from my affection, and serve you only. Give me a full answer on which I can rely; and if you do not like to answer by letter, appoint some place where I can have it by word of mouth.
01 Jul 1527. Love Letters VIII. 3219. Henry VIII (age 36) to Anne Boleyn (age 26).
Though it is not for a gentleman to take his lady in the place of a servant, nevertheless, according to your desire, I shall willingly grant it if thereby I may find you less ungrateful in the place chosen by yourself than you have been in the place given you by me; thanking you most heartily that you are pleased still to have some remembrance of me.
01 Jul 1528. Love Letters X. 3220. Henry VIII (age 37) to Anne Boleyn (age 27).
Although, my mistress, you have not been pleased to remember your promise when I was last with you, to let me hear news of you and have an answer to my last, I think it the part of a true servant to inquire after his mistress's health and send you this, desiring to hear of your prosperity. I also send by the bearer a buck killed by me late last night, hoping when you eat of it you will think of the hunter. Written by the hand of your servant, who often wishes you in the place of your brother.
01 Jul 1528. Love Letters I. 3221. Henry VIII (age 37) to Anne Boleyn (age 27).
I and my heart put ourselves in your hands. Let not absence lessen your affection; for it causes us more pain than I should ever have thought, reminding us of a point of astronomy that the longer the days are, the further off is the sun, and yet the heat is all the greater. So it is with our love, which keeps its fervour in absence, at least on our side. Prolonged absence would be intolerable, but for my firm hope in your indissoluble affection. As I cannot be with you in person, I send you my picture set in bracelets.
Books, Calendars, Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1527 August
06 Aug 1527. R. O. Ellis, 3 Ser. II. 62. 3334. Lawrence Stubbs To Wolsey.
The plague is no longer reigning in Westminster. Since your departure there have been great assemblies of Sanctuary men, who endeavored to rescue the prisoners in the Gate-house. Mr. Scuse, Cromwell and I spoke with the Abbot and Sir Hugh Vaghan, and have ordered a watch. The Sanctuary men are more straitly kept; since which, Mulsey, a Sanctuary man, the King's servant, has refused the same, and gone abroad with a number of unthrifty persons, eight of whom have been arrested for stealing horses. It is suspected that the rioters intended some harm to your mansion in York Place. Last night my Lord Steward's servant at Chelsea was wounded. Sergier and Servington, of the Inns of Court, and one Pen, who lay in wait to slay Cromwell, made the rescue.
The prior of St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield, is sick and likely to die. The friends of William Fynch, cellarer of the same, have offered to give you £300 for your college at Oxford, for your favour towards his preferment. Dr. Barrye, residentiary of Southwell, is deceased, by whose death there is a prebend in York in your gift, and other promotions. The prior of Launde has gone to the coast to procure your salt provisions. Your buildings at York Place, Hampton Court, &c., go forward; and I understand from Cromwell, who has come from Oxford, that he has certified you of the forwardness of the works there.
I thank you for restoring me to the presidentship of Magdalen College, Oxford. My lord of Winchester minded to have prevented your visitation begun by Dr. Claybrok. Mr. Burges, the late pretended elect, and his electors have fallen into such breach of the statutes as without your mercy they shall be expelled. Burges has taken £75 out of the College chest. York Place, 6 Aug.
Hol. Add.
Aug 1527. Love Letters V. 3325. Henry VIII (age 36). to Anne Boleyn (age 26).
For a present so beautiful that nothing could be more so I thank you most heartily, not only for the splendid diamond and the ship in which the solitary damsel is tossed about, but also for the pretty interpretation and too humble submission made by your benignity. I should have found it difficult to merit this but for your humanity and favor, which I have sought and will seek to preserve by every kindness possible to me; and this is my firm intention and hope, according to the motto, Aut illic aut nullibi. Your letter, and the demonstrations of your affection, are so cordial that they bind me to honor, love and serve you. I desire also, if at any time I have offended you, that you will give me the same absolution that you ask, assuring you that henceforth my heart shall be devoted to you only. I wish my body also could be. God can do it if he pleases, to whom I pray once a day that it may be, and hope at length to be heard. "Escripte de la main du secretaire qui en ceur, corps et volonte est vostre loiall et plus assure serviteure.
Aug 1527. Love Letters II. 3326. Henry VIII (age 36). to Anne Boleyn (age 26).
The time seems so long since I heard of your good health and of you, that I send the bearer to be better ascertained of your health and your purpose; for since my last parting from you I have been told you have quite given up the intention of coming to court, either with your mother or otherwise. If so, I cannot wonder sufficiently; for I have committed no offence against you, and it is very little return for the great love I bear you to deny me the presence of the woman I esteem most of all the world. If you love me as I hope you do, our separation should be painful to you. I trust your absence is not wilful on your part; for if so, I can but lament my ill fortune, and by degrees abate my great folly.
Books, Calendars, Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1527 December
23 Dec [1527]. R. O. Herbert, 118. 3686. The DIVORCE.
1. Proposed bull of dispensation for Henry VIII., in case his marriage with Katharine, his brother's widow, be pronounced unlawful, to marry another, even if she have contracted marriage with another man, provided it be not consummated, and even if she be of the second degree of consanguinity, or of the first degree of affinity, ex quocumque licito seu illicito coitu1; in order to prevent uncertainty in the succession, which in past times has been the occasion of war. Orvieto, 10 kl. Jan. 1527, 5 Clement VII2.
Copy in Knight's hand, pp. 3. Add.: To the King's Highness. Endd.: A conditional dispensation for the King's Majesty from the bishop of Rome.
Note 1. From any lawful or unlawful union.
Note 2. Apparently sent by Knight, Jan. 1, 1528.
R. O. Pocock, I. 22. 2. Another copy, similar to § 3, with comments in the margin, in the same hand as the text, complaining of the preamble, and desiring it should be expunged as reflecting unworthily on the King.
The writer contends that the dispensation should be unconditional, without reference to the dissolution of the present marriage, &c.
Pp. 11, in Gambara's hand. Endd.
Tib. C. X. 72. B. M. Wilkins, III. 707. 3. Modern copy of the bull, dated inaccurately 16 kal. Jan., as in Herbert, with variations from § 1.
27 Dec [1527]. R. O. St. P. VII. 29. 3693. WOLSEY to SIR GREGORY CASALE.
In my other letters by Taddeo, I have instructed you fully of the King's wishes and the dispensation to be obtained, of which I send you a clean copy in the form in which it is to be expedited. I also send you a clean copy of a commission directed to me in the form and style you will see by the copy. They will require nothing more than the Pope's signature. How you are to conduct yourself, you will learn from my letter, taking with you the King's and my letters to the Pope, to the bishop of Verona, and the cardinal S. Quatuor (Pucci). The King considers how important it is in these proceedings to avoid all occasions of suspicion and scandal, and exclude all evil reports. For this reason he thinks it would be advisable, and confer some additional gravity on the process, if Campeggio, Trano or Farnese were sent into England with sufficient commission to determine this cause. So all objection which might be urged by the Queen against me as the King's subject, and all evil surmises, might be avoided; and I doubt not but his Holiness, for various prudential reasons, will consent, considering especially that, in the state in which this kingdom now is, the King could not be in equity compelled to have his suit referred to a place to which none of his subjects could have safe access. Moreover, the proofs must depend upon witnesses, who must be examined in England. I cannot believe that his Holiness will offer any obstacle; wherefore the King and I earnestly request that, whether the previous commission directed to me, and other matters sent by Taddeo, be granted or not, the Pope will by all means send some legate hither.
Should it so happen that you have made no motion to the Pope of the first commission before you receive these, then first of all propose to him to send the legate. If there be any delay on the part of the Pope or the Cardinals, or an intention to send one not favourable to the King, then urge the prior commission. Tell the Pope that haste is of the utmost importance, and delays are dangerous. If you have got the first commission, send it with all speed, and urge that a legate be sent without revocation of the prior commission. So it will be in the King's power to proceed according to the speed of the legate or otherwise. He intends to put off till the coming of the legate the final decision, which can then be given conjointly with me according to the form of the commission; and this mode of proceeding appears more honorable and impartial, and satisfactory to all parties, and the King is much inclined to follow it, except it occasion great delays. Consequently, unless you have already obtained the former commission, urge that the legate be sent with all speed. But get the commission by all means, and send it here, and write frequently, sparing neither money nor couriers. But do not let an Imperialist cardinal be sent, but ask that the legacy be given to Campeggio, or some one like Trano or Farnese. Assent to no other.
If the Pope proposes to send a legate to inquire of the facts, and reserve sentence to himself, without conceding a commission, tell him that the cause has been duly discussed and examined already, and the King cannot assent to this course without the greatest prejudice to the jurisdiction of the Church. You must follow strictly these instructions, and avoid delay. Urge the Cardinal, who is appointed, to make diligent speed, and tell him he shall be liberally provided for. Let him not excuse himself for want of money. The despatch now sent to you has been sent also to Knight and the prothonotary Gambara, that either may act as he sees his opportunity. Strive who can do best, and by all means get the dispensation, of which I again send you a copy. If you cannot obtain an interview with the Pope, consult with Gambara.
London, 27 Dec. 1527. Signed.
P.S.—Suggests other cardinals who might be sent,—as De Cesis, De monte and Sienna, as favorable to the King.
Lat. Add. Endd.
27 Dec [1527]. Vit. B. XII. 178. B. M. Burnet, IV. 481. 3694. The DIVORCE.
Lat. Draft.
Note 1. The references are taken from Mr. Pocock's edition of Burnet. It will be seen that I differ both from Burnet and his recent editor as to the dates of some of these documents.
Note 2. Blank in MS.
Note 3. Without any objection or the lodging of an appeal.