gish in my efforts, the ants would be better than I;1 for ants do toil, and I should be a sluggard. And, what the Hebrew sage hath said, methinks agrees with this my remark: “The hand of the sluggard maketh poor; but of the diligent, maketh rich." 2 I thank you also for telling me of my fault; for they are my friends who point out to me my errors.

May the God everlasting and the cheerer of all, give you joy, and keep you in safety and health! and increase your wisdom, and give you grace; that after this life you may live again in Christ in his everlasting kingdom. Farewell, dearest preceptor.

At Hunsdon, 3rd June, 1546.

Prince Edward to the King's Majesty. 4 Most noble king and most illustrious father,

I wish you a peace with the enemy for two reasons both, because I should hope to visit you sooner, and because you would have a rest and recreation. On the other hand, if you continued the war, you would have no rest, but would be in torment and trouble. 5

1 Alluding, perhaps, to the text-" Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise."

2 See Proverbs, chapter xiii. verse 4. 3 Exhilarator omnium. MS. orig.

4 MS. Harl. 5087. From the Latin.

5 This letter was written about the time that Henry had concluded his expensive war by consenting to a treaty of peace with Francis. On the announcement of peace, there was a grand exhibition of the valuable ornaments of the Church in a public procession at London, the last time of such a display, the king shortly afterwards taking them into his own possession.

However, I should like to see you, for I am anxious to be assured that you are safe and well; for, though I have some reliance on the hearing of the ear, yet I have more confidence in my own eyes. And I should heartily wish your majesty to take a respite, since it would not only be a source of rejoicing to your subjects, but especially to myself. For, as war brings on noise and tumult, so does peace usher in tranquillity. Noise and riot is an evil; therefore war is an evil. Rest is a blessing; therefore peace is a blessing. Perhaps too, what Periander the Corinthian says, may serve to this my argument"Rest is a good thing, or a blessing." I wish to you the best things; therefore I wish you peace. Further, I pray God that you may rejoice and be safe and sound in this life, and after this pilgrimage, may you live with Christ in Paradise!

Most heartily farewell, O king most illustrious and father most revered!

At Hunsdon, 10th June, 1546.

EDWARD, PRINCE.

Prince Edward to Queen Catharine. 1

1

Although all your letters are sweet to me, yet these last were pleasing beyond the rest, most noble queen and most kind mother; for which I return you exceeding thanks. But truly by these I perceive that you have given your attention to the Roman characters, so that my preceptor could not be persuaded but that your se

1 MS. Harl. 5087, from the Latin.

cretary wrote them, till he observed your name written equally well. I also was much surprised. I hear too, that your highness is progressing in the Latin tongue and in the Belles Lettres. Wherefore I feel no little joy, for letters are lasting; but other things that seem so perish. Literature also conduces to virtuous conduct, but ignorance thereof leads to vice. And, just as the sun is the light of the world, so is learning the light of the mind. Every thing that comes from God, is good; learning comes from God, therefore learning is good.

A certain one hath also said, "what you see, you shall not long see;" signifying, that riches and the other goods of this life will perish.

I pray the power celestial that he keep your highness in safety. At Hunsdon, 10th of June, 1546.

Prince Edward to Richard Coxe.2

I write to you, dearest preceptor, not only because it is my duty, but likewise because it exercises my hand, and cultivates my understanding, and trims up my Latin style; for if I were to indite nothing, I should not be prepared for speaking Latin, and my intellect would wax torpid. The mind and intellect, wherein we rational beings differ from the beasts, if not exercised in composing and devising letters for a long time, will become He was a learned draw up a code of

1 Ludovicus Vives, according to a note in the MS. Spaniard, and was requested by Queen Catharine to instructions for the education of the Princess Mary. 2 MS. Harl. 5087, f. 5. From the Latin.'

inapt and sluggish, when you wish to do so 1; and, perhaps, what Erasmus in his dialogues writeth corresponds with this of mine: "idleness I shun like a plague." For from idleness springs every evil. Wherefore I would not that my intellect languish through idleness and dwindle from listlessness. However, I will write to you more fully, when I shall have more leisure.

Most loving preceptor, farewell.

At Hunsdon, 28th June, 1546.

Prince Edward to the King.

2

Most noble king and most revered father, I thank you that you have deigned to send to me Philip your servant, who is both eminent in music and a gentleman. For you have sent him to me, that I may be more expert in striking the lute; herein your love appeareth to be very great. Moreover, it hath brought some degree of joy to my mind, in that I have heard that I am to visit your majesty; for nature inclines me very much to this. Since this is true, I now obtain my second wish. My first wish was, that you and your kingdom might have peace; and secondly, that I might see you. These done, I shall be happy. Farewell, most noble king and father most illustrious! and I pray you bestow your blessing on me.

At Hunsdon, 4th July, 1546.

EDWARD THE PRINCE.

1 The young prince's Latinity is here not very happy or correct: "Res enim quare sumus viri, qua a belluis differrimus, est mens et ingenium." 2 MS. Harl. 5087, f. 7. From the Latin.

Prince Edward to the King's Majesty. '

Το you, O king most noble and father most honoured, I owe exceeding thanks; because you have treated me so kindly, like a most loving father, and one who would wish me always to act rightly. I also thank you that you have given me great and costly gifts, as chains, rings, jewelled buttons, neck-chains, and breast-pins, and necklaces, garments, and very many other things; in which things and gifts is conspicuous your fatherly affection towards me; for, if you did not love me, you would not give me these fine gifts of jewellery.

However, you grant me all these, not that I should be proud, and think too much of myself, and fancy I excel others; but that you might urge me to the pursuit of all true virtue and piety, and adorn and finish me with all the accomplishments which are fitting a prince in short, that I might feel as great love towards you, as you have towards me; which if I did not, I should be ungrateful indeed. For God commandeth me to love my enemy, and how much more to love my father, who brought me into this world.

:

Farewell, most noble king and reverend father, and I pray God to keep you.

4th August, 1546.

EDWARD THE PRINCE.

Prince Edward to Queen Catherine. 2

Most noble queen and most illustrious mother, I give

1 MS. Harl. 5087, from the Latin. 2 MS. Harl. 5087, from the Latin.