King Henry VIII - 1528 2nd Love Letter
Famous Love Letters
Henry VIII, born in 1491, was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.
His reign was overshadowed by his six marriages and many loves. The love he shows to Anne would not last long because she was accused of adultry and incest and was executed for infidelity (a treasonous charge) in May 1536. He married Jane Seymour by the end of the same month, who died giving birth to Henry's lone male heir, Edward, in October 1536.
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1528
In debating with myself the contents of your letters I have been put to a great agony;
not knowing how to understand them, whether to my disadvantage as shown in someplaces, or to my advantage as in others.
I beseech you now with all my heart definitely to let me know your whole mind as to the love between us;
for necessity compels me to plague you for a reply, having been for more than a year now struck by the dart of love,
and being uncertain either of failure or offinding a place in your heart and affection,
which point has certainly kept mefor some time from naming you my mistress, since if you only love me with an ordinary
love the name is not appropriate to you, seeing that it stands for an uncommon position very remote from the ordinary;
but if it pleases you to do the duty of a true, loyal mistress and friend, and to give yourself body and heart to me,
who have been, and will be, your very loyal servant (if your rigour does not forbid me),
I promise you that not only the name will be due to you, but also to take you as my sole mistress
casting off all others than yourself out of mind and affection, and to serve you only;
begging you to make me a complete reply to this my rude letter as to how far and in what I can trust;
and if it does not please you to reply in writing, to let me know of some place where I can have it by word of mouth,
the which place I will seek out with all my heart. No more for fear of wearying you.
Written by the hand of him who would willingly remain yours.
HR
Read King Henry VIII - 1528 Love Letter to Anne Boleyn
