110 
for all he will say to ye in my behalf. 
Written by the hand of, in all your 
servant, wit Sow 
LETTER III. 
The doubt I have been in ef your 
health, troubled and so greatly alarm- 
ed me, that I could not rest quietly 
without some certain knowledge of it. 
As hitherto you have suffered no 
attack, I trust, and indeed will go so 
far as to take an assurance, you will 
escape altogether. While at Wal- 
tham, two ushers, two valets, and your 
brother Master Jesoner, fell ill; but 
are now recovered: for, since our 
return to Hanson-house, we have not 
(Heaven be praised!) to this moment 
felt any infection. I therefore think, 
if you wish to leave Surrey, as we did, 
you may pass through without danger. 
Another consideration may comfort 
ye: it is reported here, for truth, that 
few or no women have been taken ill, 
particularly none of our court; and 
that still fewer have died. I beseech 
e, then, my love, to fear not, nor suf- 
fer my absence to distress ye: where- 
ever I am, Iam yours; and we must 
fain obey such calls of fortune, not- 
withstanding our inclinations. The 
man who would struggle against such 
an emergency, might find himself still 
farther removed from you. Comfort 
yourself, therefore, and be of good 
spirit; and guard yourself, with all 
possible care, from danger. I hope 
soon to make ye sing me “the Re- 
turn.” At this moment want of time 
leaves me no more.to say, than that I 
wish you were in my arms, there to 
part with a few of your little unrea- 
sonable thoughts. Written by the 
hand of him who is, and ever will be, 
immutable, is fhe 
LETTER IV. 
In considering the contents of your 
letters, I have been thrown into the 
greatest agony, not knowing how to 
interpret them,—whether to my ad- 
vantage or disadvantage; not a pas- 
sage is there to instruct me. Be 
pleased then, I beseech ye, in kind- 
ness to certify to me your intentions 
in the matter of our love. I am con- 
strained, — necessitated, — to engage 
your answer on this subject; having 
been now more than a year attainted 
by the dart of love, and as yet unas- 
sured either of the failure of my 
hopes, or that I have obtained an in- 
terest in the affections of your heart. 
For this reason, I have awhile back 
been careful not to call ye my mistress; 
Translation of Henry the Eighth's Love-Letters, 
[Sept.1, 
for, in case [am only regarded by you 
with ordinary affection, the name for ~ 
you is inappropriate ; inasmuch as it . 
denotes a peculiarity far from ordi- 
nary. But, if it please ye to give me 
the service of a truly loyal mistress 
and love, and to yield yourself, body 
and heart, up to one, who esteems ye, 
and is himself your truly loyal ser- 
vant; I promise ye (unless *P.’s 
rigor forbids it,) that not merely the 
name shall be yours: I will make ye 
my only mistress, to the rejection of 
many other great ones, who, upon your 
conseut, shall be out of my thoughts 
and out of my affections; £ promise to 
serve only you. I beseech ye to an- 
swer this rude letter, and let me 
know what and how much I may rely 
on; and, in case it does not please ye 
to write me your answer, assign some 
place at which I may receive it from 
your lips, and I shall repair thither 
with pleasure. Not more to trouble 
ye, this is written by the hand of him 
who would willingly remain yours. 
* * 
LETTER V. 
For your pretty present,—which, 
altogether, nothing can exceed,—I 
thank ye very cordially; and not so 
much for the fine diamond and ship, 
in which the lone damsel sits troubled, 
as principally for the lovely assurance 
you make me, and the very humble 
submission your benignity has in this 
matter adopted. I weigh well the 
very great difficulty I shall have to find 
occasion to merit all this, even with 
the aid of your kindness and favour ; 
by them I have fondly sought, and 
still will fondly seek, through all pos- 
sible indulgence, to fix myself in the 
course my hopes have long since made 
almost immutable, as they whispered 
out, aut illic aut nullabi, or there or no- 
where. Such are the demonstrations 
of your love,—the sweet words of 
your letter are so heartfully couched, 
as to bind me ever truly to love, 
honour, and serve, ye. Be you pleased 
still firm and constant to preserve 
your intentions.—[ Here the original to 
the Translator was utterly unintelligi- 
ble. |—I pray ye, also, if in any respect 
I have hitherto offended ye, that you 
indulge me with that, absolution for it 
which yourself you beg for; and I 
assure ye, that henceforward my 
heart 
* An abbreviation; allusive, probably, 
to her father,—perhaps to the Pope. , 
