Love Letters of Henry Eighth to Anne Boleyn
The Love Letters of Henry Viii to Anne Boleyn
With Notes
John W. Luce & Company Boston: London
COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY JOHN W. LUCE & COMPANY
D. B. UPDIKE, THE MERRYMOUNT PRESS, BOSTON
Table of Contents
Page
Letter First i
Letter Second iv
Letter Third v
Letter Fourth vii
Letter Fifth x
Letter Sixth xiii
Letter Seventh xvi
Letter Eighth [Anne Boleyn to Wolsey] xviii
Postscript [by Henry VIII] xx
Letter Ninth xxii
Letter Tenth xxv
Letter Eleventh xxviii
Letter Twelfth xxx
Letter Thirteenth xxxiv
Letter Fourteenth xxxvii
Letter Fifteenth xxxix
Letter Sixteenth xli
Letter Seventeenth xliii
Letter Eighteenth xlv
Notes li
Love Letters of Henry Eighth to Anne Boleyn
Letter First To Anne Boleyn
On turning over in my mind the contents of your last letters, I have put myself into great agony, not knowing how to interpret them, whether to my disadvantage, as you show in some places, or to my advantage, as I understand them in some others, beseeching you earnestly to let me know expressly your whole mind as to the love between us two. It is absolutely necessary for me to obtain this answer, having been for above a whole year stricken with the dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail of finding a place in your heart and affection, which last point has prevented me for some time past from calling you my mistress; because, if you only love me with an ordinary love, that name is not suitable for you, because it denotes a singular love, which is far from common. But if you please to do the office of a true loyal mistress and friend, and to give up yourself body and heart to me, who will be, and have been, your most loyal servant, (if your rigour does not forbid me) I promise you that not only the name shall be given you, but also that I will take you for my only mistress, casting off all others besides you out of my thoughts and affections, and serve you only. I beseech you to give an entire answer to this my rude letter, that I may know on what and how far I may depend. And if it does not please you to answer me in writing, appoint some place where I may have it by word of mouth, and I will go thither with all my heart. No more, for fear of tiring you. Written by the hand of him who would willingly remain yours,
H. R.