me so many benefits, I ought to afford you whatever comfort I can. I wish your highness abundant health. Farewell, revered queen.

From the Tower, 7th of February, 15467!

EDWARD THE KING.

Edward VI. to his sister Mary.1

Natural affection, not wisdom, instigates us to lament our dearest father's death. For affection thinks she has utterly lost one who is dead; but wisdom believes that one who lives with God is in happiness everlasting. Wherefore, God having given us such wisdom, we ought not to mourn our father's death, since it is his will, who worketh all things for good. However, so far as lies in me, I will be to you a dearest brother, and overflowing with all kindness. May God endow you with his gifts. Farewell!

From the Tower of London, 8th February, 1548.7!

Edward VI. to Sir Edward Browne.2

E. REX.

Right trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. And whereas it has been represented unto us that in the course of the last summer you did, at your own imminent peril and at the peril of your life, protect the house wherein our dearest sister was residing at the time, from

1 MS. Harl. 5087, f. 14. From the Latin.

2 Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian Library, translated from the Latin. It is a transcript of the seventeenth century, and occurs among legal forms and similar documents.

being entered in the night by a bloodthirsty and murderous villain, who might perchance have done an incredible damage to our said sister, or at the least to her attendants in the said house, we are desirous of requiting the said service, and for that purpose we will and command you to repair without delay to our court at London. From the Tower, this 13th day of February.

E. R.

Edward VI. to the Earl of Hertford.1

Your letter, most sweet kinsman, has been the most welcome to me, for many reasons: in the first place, because, when I consider it well, I perceive in you the utmost gratitude and gentleness of disposition; in the second, I see that your mind is imbued with literature; but in the last, I mark your extraordinary diligence. Go on, then, in your illustrious pursuit, and be ever kind and gentle towards all, and do not relax your love for learning and noble philosophy: in short, apply diligently in all your undertakings. For, if you excel in kindness, all men will much admire the goodness of your nature; further, if you pursue literature with ardour, and apply yourself to the divine law, the best people will ever extol you to the skies; finally, if you be diligent and attentive, all things will succeed to you most prosperously. Therefore, for your kindness towards me, I cannot but

1 MSS. Lansd., 1236, art. 10, from the Latin. There is little doubt that this letter was written in 1547, the year of Edward's accession to the throne, although the month in which it is dated is at variance with the address to the Earl of Hertford after his creation of the dukedom of Somerset.

love you very much; for your undaunted zeal towards learning, I cannot but enhance you highly with praises; and for your unequalled diligence, I cannot but justly admire you. Farewell!

From St. James's, 9th day of June.1

Prince Edward to the Duke of Somerset.2

I acknowledge myself indebted to you, on many accounts, dearest uncle, for your very great kindness: in the first place, because you are endeavouring to restore to my state its own right and property, and are doing your best that the Scots may be our subjects; furthermore, you are striving that this kingdom be quiet and replenished with true religion, that is, with the faith in God. Wherefore I thank you exceedingly; for that which profits the state also profits me. Finally, I am obliged to you most especially, because, while I am in boyhood, you undertake all matters belonging to me.

Now, since you have done me so many services, I cannot but afford you some proof of my kind feeling towards you; and, since I can send nothing else to you more welcome than this, I give you this little present, wherein I earnestly beg of you that you ever remember these

1 Endorsed, "To my very dear kinsman, Edward Earl of Hardford." 2 MS. Harl., 5087, from the Latin. The year in which this letter was written is not stated in the MS.; but it was probably in 1547, when Somerset had concluded a treaty with the murderers of Cardinal Beaton, and planned a marriage between his sovereign and the young Queen of Scots. At the time he received it, he was preparing for his expedition into Scotland.

virtues, namely, equity and justice; secondly, faith and true religion; lastly, fortitude and bravery.

I pray God to lead you forward, and to lead you back again with full prosperity.

From the court at Hampton, 24th August.

EDWARD REX.

Edward VI.'s conversations with the Lord Admiral.1

In the month of September, A.D. 1547, the Lord Admiral told me that mine uncle, being gone into Scotland, should not pass the peace without the loss of a great number of men or of himself, and that he did spend much money in vain. After the return of mine uncle, he said that I was too bashful in my matters, and that I would not speak for my right. I said I was well enough. The Lord Admiral came to me at the last parliament, and desired me to write a thing for him. I asked him what. He said it was none ill. It is for the queen's matters, I said; if it were good, the lords would allow it; if it were ill, I will not write in it. Then he said he would take in better part if I wrote. I desired him to let me alone. I asked Cheke whether it were

1 MS. in Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, No. 1729, f. 9. These very interesting and singular memoranda are so characteristic of their young and artless author, that they are inserted, although not strictly belonging to his correspondence. They exhibit very distinctly the jealousy between Seymour and Somerset, and show that the former had worked some prejudice in the King's mind against the Protector. At this period, Edward was clearly bent on not giving his written sanction to Seymour's marriage. The Fouler here mentioned was a gentleman of Edward's privychamber.

good to write, and he said no.

When he went to his country, he desired me not to believe men that would slander him, till he came himself. He said within this two year at least ye must upon you to be as ye are or ought to be, for ye shall be able, and then you may give your men somewhat, for your uncle is old, and I trust will not live long. I said it were better for him to die before. He said, ye are a beggarly king; ye have no money to play or to give. I said that Mr. Stanhope had for me. Then he said that he would give Fouler, and Fouler did give the money to divers men as I bade him, as to Master Cheke and the bookbinder, and other. He told me these things often times. Fouler desired me to give thanks to my Lord Admiral for his gentleness to me, and praised him to me very much.

E. R.

Edward VI. to the Envoy of the King of Poland.1

We give exceeding thanks to your master the king of Poland for his great civility and good will towards us; for I understand this to be a copy of his letter, and that he feels the deepest sorrow for the decease of my father; and, on the other hand, that he rejoices much that I have prosperously succeeded to the kingdom. Wherefore, to him I owe not a little. But, whereas the king of Poland your master asks and begs of me to give you leave to traverse my kingdom, and visit all the towns

1 MS. Harl., 5087, f. 17. From the Latin. This appears to have been a kind of address, perhaps not a letter. It is dated in the first year of this king's reign.