you uncommon thanks, that you behaved to me so kindly, when I was with you at Westminster. This gentle behaviour doth put my love to the test, although I cannot love you better. Therefore, to me it seems an age since I saw you. Therefore I would entreat your highness to pardon me, that I have not, this long time, written a letter to you. I did indeed wish it, but daily I have been expecting to be with your highness. But, went away, I had scarcely time for writing when F to the king's majesty. Further, I entreat your highness to let me know, whether the Lord-High Admiral,' who is coming from France, understands Latin well; for, if he does, I should wish to learn further what I may say to him, when I shall come to meet him. I pray God to guard you, and give you learning and virtue, the safest riches. 12th August, 1546. Prince Edward to Richard Coxe.2 To me it hath been a very great grief, dearest almoner, that I have heard you were sick this last night. However, you must ever remember the saying of holy Job; who, when his wife said, "Curse God and die," answered, "Thou talkest like a foolish woman; shalt thou receive good from God, and not evil?” And what Paul writeth to the Hebrews seems to me to coincide 1 Præfectus maris, MS. orig. 2 MS. Harl. 5087, f. 8. From the Latin. with this: "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth." Because I think that you remember many such passages, I need not write more. However, I pray God that you may get well. At Hatfield, 20th August, 1546. EDWARD THE PRINCE. Prince Edward to his sister Mary. 1 My love towards you, and brotherly feeling and nature too, induced me to write to you, dearest sister; and this love can no way be erased from my mind. And, even if thou wert not my sister, I yet must love thee, and indite letters to you, for your eminent virtue. For virtue is the loadstone of love, and shall never perish; but all other quickly come to nought.3 Wherefore, I must think about thee often, though absent; and sometimes, when I have opportunity and leisure, indite letters to thee, which I beg you to take kindly. I pray 1 MS. Harl. 5087, f. 9. From the Latin. 2 Some word, such as tempus, is here omitted in the original docu ment, 3 A very sedate sentiment, truly, for a schoolboy. Some imaginative persons might now call to mind an eloquent and touching passage in Shakespeare, speaking of the uncertainty of worldly affection : "Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, The jaws of darkness do devour it up : : God to defend you against all evils, and that he be your shield. Farewell, dearest sister. 26th September, 1546. EDWARD THE PRINCE. Prince Edward to Richard Coxe. 1 I felt infinite joy, when I heard that you had recovered, dearest preceptor; for you instruct me in literature, when you are with me. Wherefore you are deserving of my love, and I ought to rejoice at your good health. However, if I did not love you, I should be most ungrateful, since you teach me that which will profit me very much. For instruction and literature are the greatest riches; so, on the contrary, vice and ignorance are the worst of all evils. And as the desire of also ignorance and the eyes maketh the body dark, so vice maketh the mind dark. And, as the eye is the light of the body, so is instruction the light of the understanding. Wherefore, as you teach me what is useful for so many purposes, I must needs love you, and rejoice at the recovery of your health. Do, then, take diligent care of your health, that you may soon return to me; for I greatly desire to see you. My dearest almoner, farewell. At Hatfield, 7th September, 1546. EDWARD THE PRINCE. 1 MS. Harl. 5087, f. 8. From the Latin. Edward, Prince of Wales, to Henry VIII. My letters have ever one subject, O most noble king and most illustrious father, that is, in all my epistles I am returning thanks to you for your very great kindness towards me. And if I were much oftener to indite letters to you, yet I could in no wise, by this dutiful service of letters, do justice to and express the greatness of your kindness; for, who could ever compensate your kindness to me? Surely, no one, who is not as great a king and as noble a prince as you are; and such I am not. Wherefore your affection is the more welcome to me, because you do for me that which I can never compensate. Nevertheless, I will strive and do what lieth in me, to please your majesty; and I will pray God, that he may long preserve you safe and sound. Farewell, most noble king and most illustrious father. At Hatfield, 27th day of September. Your majesty's most obedient son, EDWARD THE PRINCE. Prince Edward to his sister Mary. 2 When I am writing to you, my dearest sister, my nature loses all its courage; and nature, you know, cannot be driven away by any one. For Horace, that most eloquent and learned poet, who wrote many elegant sentences, hath also indited this: "Drive out Nature by 1 Harl. MSS. 5087, translated from the Latin in the original. 2 MS. Harl. 5087. From the Latin. force, and yet she will still return. However, I give you thanks from my heart, that you have written me a letter, wherein your inexpressible love towards me is very evident, in that you wish me very much honour, and entreat God that I may grow and prosper in all piety. I wish you abundant health. Farewell, most loving sister! At Hatfield, 7th November, 1546. of EDWARD THE PRINCE. Prince Edward to the Earl of Hertford.1 Nature prompts me to call you to mind, my dearest uncle, although your affairs prevent you from seeing me; therefore I send you a letter, which may be a proof my remembrance. But if I had any better memorial of my good-will towards you than a letter is that I would send you yet, I think you will accept my letter kindly, not for the excellence of the letter, but for the good intent of the writer. And you will not be so much pleased in receiving a letter from me, as I shall be rejoiced, if I shall learn that you take this in good part; which I think you will do. Farewell in Christ Jesus! At Hunsdon, the eight of November. EDWARD THE PRINCE. Prince Edward to the Earl of Hertford,2 Dearest Kinsman-In your letter, I perceive not any 1 MS. Cott. Nero C. x. 2 MS. Harl. 5087, f. 18. From the Latin. From the Latin. The Earl of Hertford was afterwards Lord Protector, and created Duke of Somerset. This |