II. PART he doth handle you with a good love; I beseech you agree to his pleasure with a merry heart, and be you sure, that without fail he will not suffer you to perish, if you beware to offend him. I pray God, you good daughter, to offer your self to him; if any pangs come to you, shrive your self, first make your self clean; take heed of his commandments, and keep them as near as he will give you grace to do, for then are you sure armed. And if this lady do come to you, as it is spoken, if she do bring you a letter from the king, I am sure, in the self-same letter, you shall be commanded what you shall do. Answer you with few words, obeying the king your father in every thing, save only that you will not offend God, and lose your soul, and go no further with learning and disputation in the matter; and wheresoever, and in whatsoever company you shall come, obey the king's commandments, speak few words, and meddle nothing. I will send you two books in Latin, one shall be, de Vita Christi, with the declaration of the Gospels; and the other, the Epistles of St. Hierome, that he did write always to Paula and Eustochium, and in them trust you shall see good things. And sometimes, for your recreation, use your virginals, or lute, if you have any. But one thing specially I desire you, for the love that you owe unto God and unto me, to keep your heart with a chaste mind, and your body from all ill and wanton company, not thinking or desiring any husband, for Christ's passion; neither determine your self to any manner of living, until this troublesome time be past, for I dare make you sure, that you shall see a very good end, and better than you can desire. I would God, good daughter, that you did know with how good a heart I do write this letter unto you: I never did one with a better, for I perceive very well, that God loveth you, I beseech him of his goodness to continue it: and if it shall fortune that you shall have no body to be with you of your acquaintance, I think it best you keep your keys your self, for whosoever it is, so shall be done as shall please them. And now you shall begin, and by likelihood I shall follow, I set not a rush by it, for when they have done the uttermost they can, then II. I am sure of the amendment. I pray you recommend me BOOK unto my good lady of Salisbury, and pray her to have a good heart, for we never come to the kingdom of heaven, but by troubles. Daughter, wheresoever you become, take no pain to send to me, for if I may I will send to you. By your loving mother, Number 3. A humble submission made by queen Mary to her father. Otho. C. 20. Most humbly prostrate before the feet of your most ex- Cotton lib. cellent majesty, your most humble, faithful, and obedient subject, which hath so extreamly offended your most gracious highness, that mine heavy and fearful heart dare not presume to call you father, nor your majesty hath any cause by my deserts, saving the benignity of your most blessed nature, doth surmount all evils, offences, and trespasses, and is ever merciful and ready to accept the penitent, calling for grace in any convenient time. Having received, this Thursday at night, certain letters from Mr. Secretary, as well advising me to make my humble submission immediately to your self; which because I durst not, without your gracious license, presume to do before, I lately sent unto him; as signifying that your most merciful heart, and fatherly pity, had granted me your blessing, with condition, that I should persevere in that I had commenced and begun, and that I should not eft-soons offend your majesty by the denial or refusal of any such articles and commandments, as it may please your highness to address unto me, for the perfect trial of my heart and inward affection. For the perfect declaration of the bottom of my heart and stomach. First, I acknowledg my self to have most unkindly and unnaturally offended your most excellent highness, in that I have not submitted my self to your most just and vertuous laws. And for mine offences therein, which I must confess PART II. were in me a thousand fold more grievous than they could be in any other living creature, I put my self wholly and entirely to your gracious mercy, at whose hand I cannot receive that punishment for the same that I have deserved. Secondly, To open mine heart to your grace, in these things which I have heretofore refused to condescend unto, and have now written with mine own hand, sending the same to your highness herewith, I shall never beseech your grace to have pity and compassion of me, if ever you shall perceive that I shall privily or apertly vary or alter from one piece of that I have written and subscribed, or refuse to confirm, ratify, or declare the same, where your majesty shall appoint me. Thirdly, As I have, and shall, knowing your excellent learning, vertue, wisdom, and knowledg, put my soul into your direction; and by the same hath, and will in all things from henceforth direct my conscience, so my body I do wholly commit to your mercy, and fatherly pity, desiring no state, no condition, nor no meaner degree of living, but such as your grace shall appoint me: knowledging and confessing, that my state cannot be so vile, as either the extremity of justice would appoint unto me, or as mine of fences have required or deserved. And whatsoever your grace shall command me to do, touching any of these points, either for things past, present, or to come, I shall as gladly do the same, as your majesty shall command me. Most humbly therefore beseeching your mercy, most gracious soveraign lord and benign father, to have pity and compassion of your miserable and sorrowful child, and with the abundance of your inestimable goodness, so to overcome mine iniquity towards God, your grace, and your whole realm, as I may feel some sensible token of reconciliation, which, God is my judg, I only desire, without other respect. To whom I shall daily pray for the preservation of your highness, with the queen's grace, and that it may please him to send you issue. From Hunsdon, this Thursday, at eleven of the clock at BOOK night. Your graces most humble II. and handmaid, MARY. Number 4. Another of the same strain confirming the former. An original. Most humbly, obediently, and gladly, lying at the feet Cotton lib. of your most excellent majesty, my most dear and benign Otho. C. 20. father, and soveraign lord, I have this day perceived your gracious clemency, and merciful pity, to have overcome my most unkind and unnatural proceedings towards you, and your most just and vertuous laws. The great and inestimable joy whereof, I cannot express, nor have any thing worthy to be again presented to your majesty for the same your fatherly pity extended towards me, most ingrately on my part abandoned, as much as in me lies, but my poor heart, which I send unto your highness to remain in your hand, to be for ever used, directed, and framed, whiles God shall suffer life to remain in it at your only pleasure, most humbly beseeching your grace to accept and receive the same; being all that I have to offer, which shall never alter, vary, or change, from that confession and submission which I have made unto your highness, in the presence of your council, and other attending upon the same; for whose preservation, with my most gracious mother the queen, I shall daily pray to God, whom eft-soons I beseech to send you issue, to his honour, and the comfort of your whole realm. From Hunsdon, the 26th day of June. Your grace's most humble and obedient daughter MARY. PART II. Cotton lib. Otho. C. 20. Number 5. Another letter written to her father to the same purpose. My bounden duty most humbly remembred to your From Hunsdon, the 8th day of July. Your grace's most humble and obedient daughter and handmaid, MARY. |