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All About History Books
The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Original Letters relative to the English Reformation is in Letters.
Simon Grynæus1 To Martin Bucer. Dated Sept. [10], 1531.
Note. The original of this letter is preserved in the Archives of St Thomas, at Strasburgh.
Note 1. Simon Grynseus was Greek professor at Basle, where ho was employed by king Henry VIII. to collect the opinions of the Reformed in Switzerland respecting the lawfulness of his marriage with his brother's widow. See Burnet, Hist. Ref. i. 150.
[10th September 1531] Health. Whether she [Anne Boleyn (age 30)] has children by the king, I do not know. She has not any acknowledged as such1: they may probably be brought up in private, (which, if I am not mistaken, I have heard more than once,) though there are those who positively deny that the king has any intercourse with her, which in my opinion is not at all likely. But she is young, good looking, of a rather dark complexion, and likely enough to have children; and he himself is in the vigour of his age: indeed you never saw a taller or more noble looking personage.
Note 1. These slanderous imputations upon Anne Boleyn's character have been fully and effectually refuted by Sharon Turner, Hist, of Henry VIII. Vol. ii. p. 200-206. Ed. 1828. See also Burnet, i. 60, &c. ; Soames, i. 380. The report in the text seems to have been utterly false, and was never in any way authenticated or confirmed.
Your first letter to Zuinghus I sent ; the last two I return you. You will employ some one, whom I will recompense for his trouble, to procure an elegant volume, in which he will forthwith copy out either both letters, or the latter only, which is the most strong in argument, and manifestly expresses your judgment twice over. I would have had them transcribed, if I had a suitable copyist at hand, or if we could accomphsh every thing by merely reading them over : and as both letters are to go to the king, you will suppress whatever seems to be irrelevant to the subject. But as far as I can see, you need not alter any thing.
The others too will send their last letters. Capito1 will make no alteration, neither will Matthew. Hedio2 will make some slight alterations, which he well understands. You will make a single packet of all the letters in such a manner, that they may be distinguished by a certain mark as they follow each other ; so that the first written may be first in order. This you can do immediately ; for you can tell of your own knowledge when you received the two letters of Œcolampadius, the two of Zuinglius, your own two, together with those last sent by Capito and Hedio and Matthew. So the king will perceive, as I have stated to be the case, that you are still occupied in this business3, and also the feeling of each party at the present moment. But let the etters be copied on the evening that the bearer reaches you; for there will be time, unless he intends to go on foot as far as Coloo-ne. The fair will be over. If you wish him to go on to Wittemberg, you will act just as you think best. Yours, Simon.
Note 1. Wolfgang Fabricius Capito was professor of divinity at Basle. He died in 1541.
Note 2. Caspar Hedio was minister at Strasburgh. He died in 1552, and was succeeded by Zanchy.
Note 3. Namely, of the king's divorce from queen Catharine, to which the letters mentioned in the postscript refer,
The order will be as follows. The long letter of Zuinglius, then the first of Œcolampadius. The former of your last two letters. The shorter letter of Zuinghus, and the other of Œcolampadius which you still have by you, and the two replies of Phrygio1 The last reply of Phrygio. Your last letter, together with those three letters of Capito, Hedio, and Matthew. You will oblige me too by inserting mine, giving the name and date, which you may ascertain with sufficient accuracy. You will insert this also in its proper order, as also the replies of Phrygio which you have not yet sent. It is necessary however that your letters should all bo copied by the same person, lest they should seem to be in divers handwritings. I will take care that they shall be copied in London by the king's secretary, and in the same order, before they are presented to himself. For they adopt the French character, and the king could not read our writing. You will place first, that is, before the rest in the packet, the letter which I intend to write2 to the king. I send you my signet ring, that you may seal all the letters, having fairly transcribed them in the order in which they are to be placed. It will only be an hour's trouble, which I beg of you not to refuse me.
Note 1. Paul Constantino Phrygio was minister of St Peter's at Basle in 1520, and afterwards at Tubingen, where he died in 1543.
Note 2. See the next Letter.