troublesome matters brought unto a good stay, and all things done that before were devised, Mistress Anne Bulleine was revoked unto the court, whereat she florished after in great estimation and favour; having alwaies a privy grudge against my Lord Cardinall, for breaking off the contract made betweene my Lord Piercy and her, supposing that it had bin his devised will, and no other, nor yet knowing the King's secret mind thoroughly, who had a great affection unto her, more than she knewe. But after she knewe the King's pleasure, and the bottom of his secret stomache, then she began to looke very haughty and stoute, lacking no manner of jewells or rich apparel that might be gotten for money. It was therefore judged by and bye through the court of every man, that she being in such favour, might worke masteries with the King, and obteine any sute of him for her friend. "All this while, she being in this estimation in all places, it is no doubt but good Queen Katherine, having this gentlewoman dayly attending upon her, both hearde by reporte, and sawe with her eyes, how it framed against her good Ladyshippe: although she shewed neither unto Mistress Anne Bulleine, ne unto the King, any kinde or sparke of grudge or displeasure; but accepted all things in goode parte, and with wisdome and great pacience dissimuled the same, having Mistress Anne in more estimation for the King's sake, than she was with her before, declaring herself to be a very perfect Grisell, as her patient actes shall hereafter more evidently to all men be declared." (Cavendish, p. 368.) original. It is in the strain of the love tales which abounded in the reign of Louis XIV.; possesses no merit, and only proves the popularity of the story. (Ex codice Chartac. in 4to. Biblioth. Vatic. Capponian. No. 188. Incipit:-" Ancor che il Duca di Alansone...") LETTER I. [Anna Boleyn was at court early in May. "For there is a letter, late in the Earl of Oxford's library, from Fox to Gardiner, at Rome, dated May 4th, 1528-where he writes of his landing at Sandwich two days before-his coming that night to Greenwich, where the King lay-his having been commanded to go to Mrs. Anne's chamber in the Tilt-yard and declaring to her their expedition in the King's cause, and their hastening the arrival of the legate, &c." (Introduction to these letters in the Harleian miscellany.) This'arrival corresponds with Fox's departure from Rome, which would doubtless take place on the immediate appointment of the legate, which was on the 12th of April: she left the court soon after his return, and this letter was written soon after her departure. Her retreat was, I conceive, Hever Castle in Kent, the residence of her father. In this letter, which is dictated in a strain of delicacy and affection, the King regrets the necessity of a separation, which is only supportable by a confidence in her indissoluble affection for him. In this disposition of mind, it is not probable he should be long without seeing the object of his attachment, who was only a few miles from him.] C Ms meszes. It ange / may et montéws ange/may 1 [Ma mestres et amye | moy et mon ceur] s'en remestet en vos mains vous suppliant les avoyre pur recomander a vore bone grace et que par absens vore affection ne leur soit diminué | car pur augmenter leure peine ce seroit grand Pitié car l'absence leure fait assès et plus que J'aimes je eusse pense en nos faisant remetevoir ung point de astronomie qui est telle tant plus loing que les Juors sont tant plus eloigné est le Solelle et nonobstant plus farvent arsi fait il de no re Amoure. per absence nous sumus elonies et neunmains elle garde sa farveure o moins de no re Choste | Aiant en espoire la paraylle du vore vous assurant que de ma part l'anuye de l'absence deia m'est trope grande | Et quant je pense a l'augmentation de il selluy que par force faute que je suffre il met presque intollerable si n'estoit le ferme espoire que Jay de vre indissoluble affection vers moi et pur le vous rementevoire alcune fois cela et voiant que personellement ni puis estre en vre presens chose le plus app tiante a cella qui m'est possible au present je vous envoye | c'est a dire ma picture myse enbrasseletts a toute la Device que deia saves me souhaitant en leure plase quant Ill vous pleroit c'est de la main de Vze loyall fute et amy 865 зву The Tilt-yard of Greenwich Palace is mentioned by Cavendish (p. 413.) In describing the festivities provided for the French Ambassador and suite, he says," Then was the banquetting chamber in the tilt yard at Greenwiche furnished for the entertainment of these strangers, &c.” LETTER II.. [Between the first and second Letter an interview had apparently taken place, and the Lady in consequence had consented to return to court: but he now upbraids her with baving changed her mind, declining to re-appear either without her mother, or in any other manner. The bearer of this missive must have been a person of condition, as she is referred to him for confidential information relative to the writer.] A Ma Mestres pus & gull me semble [Pur ce qu'il me semble] le Tems estre bien longe depuis avoire euye de vre bon Santé et de vous Le grande affection que j'ay vers vous ma persuade de vous envoyere ce porteure pur estre meulx assertene de vore Sante et Voloire et pur ce que depuis mon partement de avec vous on m'a averty que l'opinión en quoy Je vous laissoye est de tout asture chayngé et que no voulies venire en Court ni avec Madame vore mere ni aultrement ausi Laquel report estant vrayi je ne saroy asses emarvelliere veu que depuis je massure de vous n'avoire james faite faute et il me semble bien petite retribution pur le grande Amour que je vous port de me eloiniere et la Parrole et la Personage de la Fam du monde que plus j'estime et si vous me aimes de si bon affection comme j'espere je suis sure que la eloignment de nos deux parsones vous seroyt ung peu ennuieuse toutefois qu'il nappartient pas tant ala Mestres come au Surviteur panser bien ma Mestres que l'absens de vous fort me grefe esperant qu'il ne pas vore volonté que ainsi ce soit mais si je entendoy pur Verité que volonterement vous la desiries je non puis mais fere si non plaindre ma mauvais Fortune en relatant peu a peu ma grande folie et ainsi a faulte de Tems fay fin de ma rude Lettre suppliant de doner foy a ce porteur en ce quil vous dira de ma Part Escryt de la main du tout vore sourvteure LETTER III. [Signed as before.] [Though not authorised to change the order, yet from the progress of the subject it appears that this should have been placed after the 5th, where the reader will find some observations upon it.] L'ennuye que j'avoye du dubte de vore Santé me trobla et egarra peucup et neulz estre gers quiete sans avoire sue la Certeynte mais puisque nancors navez rien sentu jespere et me tiens pur assure que ill se passera de vous come jespere quil est de nous car nous etant a Walthan deux Vushyres deux verles de Chambre, Vore frere master Jesonere ont tombe malade et sout atsture de tout sains et depuis nous nous sumes reboutes en nore mesons de Hondson la ou nous nous somes bien troves sans occune malade pour steure dieu soyt loué et je pense que si vous vous voles retirez du lieu du Surye coe nous fimes vous le passeres sans dangrez et aussi ung aultre chose vous peut comforter car a la Verité come il desit peu ou nulles fame ont ste malady e que encore plus est nul de n're Cort et peu aillieurs en meurit parquoi je vous supply ma entiere aimee de non avoire point de peure ni de no re absens vous trope ennyere Car ou que je soy vore suis et nonobsta te il faut accune fois a telles fortunes obayere Car qui co tre fortune veult luter en telle endroit en est bien sovent tant plus eloiné parquoy reco forte vous et soyes hardy, et vidiez le mall tant que vous pourres, Et jespere bientote de vous faire chanter le renvoye n'n plus pour asteur de faute de Temps sinonque je vous souhait entre mes bras pour vous oster ung peu de vous deresonable panses. Ecrispte de la main de celluy qui est et toujours sera vore | immuable [Signed as before.] [To be continued.] |