Letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

From Wikisource

Jump to: navigation, search
←Wikisource:Letters Letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn
by Henry VIII of England
A letter sent approx. 1527 from the British king Henry VIII prior to his eventful marriage to Anne Boleyn. The main text is written in English, while he appended a small attachment in French. It is currently housed in the Vatican Museums.


The original letter

[edit] Original Text

Darlyng thowght I haue scant laysor yet remembryng my pmes
I thowthe it go covenyent to certefy yow brevely in what case oure affaires stande/ as tochyng a loggyng for yow we haue gotton won by my lord cardinall menys the hafe weroff colde nott haue bene fond her abowght for all causys as thys berar shall more shew yow/ as tochyng oure other affayres I ensure yow ther can be no more done/ nor more diligente usyd/ nor all maner off dangers better bothe forsene and unintelligible for/ so thatt I trust it shall be heraffter to bothe our comforte/ the specialltes weroff wer bothe to long to be wryttyn/ and hardly by messenger to be declaryd wherfore tyll your repayre hyder I kepe suyynge in store trusty it shall nott be long to for I haue causyd my lord your fader to make hys prisions wt spede/ and thus for lake off tyme derlyng I make a nende off my letter/ wryttyn wt the hand off hym whyche I wolde wer yours/ H.R

Nenmoins il nappertiente pas a vng gentylle home pur prendre sa dame au lieu de suivante toute foyse ensuyvant vos desires volen tiers le vous ont royroy si per cela vous puisset revere moins ingrate en la plase per vous choysye qavez este en la plase par moy donee en vous marciant tres cordiallement quel vous plete encors avoire quelque sovenace de moy. B.N.R.I. de R.O.M.V.E.Z. Henry R.

[edit] Approximate Modern Translation

Darling, though I have scant leisure yet remembering my promise I thought it go convenient to certify you briefly as to how our affairs stand. As touching a lodging for you we have gotten one through my Lord Cardinal[1]'s means, the half of which could not have been found around here, for all causes, as this bearer shall more show you. As touching our other affairs I assure you there can be no more done, nor more diligence used, nor all manner of dangers better both forseen and provided for, so that I trust it shall be hereafter to both our comfort, the specialties whereof> were both too long to be written, and hardly to be sent through a messenger. Wherefore till your coming here, I keep something in store trusting it shall not be long to, for I have caused my lord, your father[2], to make his position with speed, and thus for lack of time darling, I make an end of my letter, written with the hand of him who wishes he were yours, H.R.

[edit] Annotations

  1. ↑ Likely a reference to Cardinal Wolsey, a personal friend of Henry's
  2. ↑ Anne Boleyn's father was Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire
Retrieved from "http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Letter_from_Henry_VIII_to_Anne_Boleyn"