Page:The Queens of England.djvu/344

 304 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. QUEEN ANNE BOLEYN's LAST LETTER TO KING HENRY. "Sir, — Your grace's displeasure, and my imprisonment, are things so strange un..o me, as what to write, or what to excuse, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you send unto me (willing me to confess a truth, and so obtain your favor) by such an one whom you know to be mine ancient and professed enemy; I no sooner received this message by him* than I rightly conceived your meaning; and if, as you say, con- fessing a truth indeed may procure my safety, I shall with all willing- ness 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 so much as thought thereof preceded. And, to speak a truth, never prince had a wife more loyal in all duty, and in all affec- tion, than you have ever found in Anne Boleyn with which name and place I could willingly have contented myself, if God and your grace's pleasure had been so pleased. Neither did I at any time so far forget myself in my exaltation, or received queenship, but that I always looked for such an alteration as now I find ; for the ground of my preferment being on no surer ground than your grace's fancy, the least alteration, I knew, was fit and sufficient to draw that fancy to some other subject. You have chosen me from a low estate to be your queen and com- panion, far beyond my desert or desire. If, then, you found me worthy of such honor, good your grace, let not any light fancy, or bad counsel of mine enemies, withdraw your princely favor from me ; neither let that stain — that unworthy stain of a disloyal heart towards your good grace, ever cast so 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 sworn enemies sit as my accusers and judges; yea, let me receive an open trial, for my truth shall fear no open shame : then shall you see either my innocency declared — your suspi- cion and conscience satisfied — the ignominy and slander of the world stopped — or my guilt openly declared. So that, whatever God or you may determine of me, your grace may be freed from an open censure ; and mine offense being so carefully proved, your grace is at liberty, both before God and man, not only to execute worthy punishment on me as an unlawful wife, but to follow your affection, already settled on that party for whose sake I am now as I am, whose name I could, some good while since, have pointed unto ; your grace being not ignorant of my suspicion therein. But if you have already determined of me, and that not only my death, but an infamous slander, must bring you the enjoying of your desired happiness, then I desire of God that He will pardon your great sin therein, and likewise mine enemies, the instru- ment thereof, and that He will not call you to strict account for your unprincely and cruel usage of me, at His general judgment-seat, where both you and myself must shortly appear, and in whose judgment I doubt not, whatsover the world may think of me, mine innocence shall be openly known and sufficiently cleared. My last and only request Strickland suggests that it must have been the Duke of Suffolk, but we incline to the belief it was Lady Rochford, and that the him ought, to be her.
 * Who this person was is not known, or at least is not stated. Miss