THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH TO THE LORD PROTECTOR.

[MS. LANSD. 1236.fol. 33. Orig.]

...  The following Letter was probably written at the beginning of 1549, upon the substitution of the Lady Tyrwhit as governess to the Princess Elizabeth, in the room of Katherine Ashley. __________

     MY Lorde havinge reseuede your Lordeships letters, I parceve in them your goodwil towarde me bicause you declare to me plainlie your mynde in this thinge; and againe for that you wolde not wische that I shulde do any thinge that shulde not seme good unto the Counsel, for the wiche thinge I give you most hartie thankes.  And whereas I do understande that you do take in ivel parte the letters that I did write unto your Lordeshipe, I am verye sorie that you shulde take them so for my mynde was to declare unto you plainlie as I thogth in that thinge, wiche I did also the more willingelye bicause (as I write to you) you desired me to be plaine with you in al thinges.  And as concerninge that pointe that you write that I seme to stande in my none witte in beinge so wel assured of my none selfe, I did assure me of my selfe nomore than I trust the trueth shal trie; and to say that wiche I knewe of my selfe I did not thinke shulde have displeased the Counsel or your Grace.  And surelye the cause whie that I was sorye that ther shulde be anye suche aboute me, was bicause that I thogth the people wil say that I deserved throwgth my lewde demenure to have such a one, and not that I mislike any thinge that your Lordeshipe or the Counsel shal thinke good, for I knowe that you and the Counsel ar charged with me; or that I tak upon me to rule my selfe, for I knowe the* ar most disceved that trusteth most in themselves, wherfore I trust you shal never finde that faute in me, to the wiche thinge I do not se that your Grace has made anye directe answere at this time, and seinge the* make so ivel reportes alreadie, shalbe but a increasinge of ther ivel tonges. Howbeit you did write that if I wolde bringe forthe anye that had reported it, You and the Counsel wolde se it redreste, wiche thinge thogth I can easelye do it, I wolde be lothe to do it for bicause it is my none cause; and, againe, that shulde be but a bridinge of a ivel name of me that am glade to ponesse them, and so get the ivel wil of the people, wiche thinge I wolde be lothe to have.  But if it mougth so seme good unto your Lordeshipe and the reste of the Counsel to sende forthe a proclamation in to the countries that the* refraine ther tonges, declaringe hot the tales be but lies, it shulde make bothe the people thinke that You and the Counsel have great regarde that no suche rumor shulde be spreade of anye of the Kinges Maiesties Sisters, as I am, thougth vnwordie^b, and also I shulde thinke myselfe to receve suche frendeshipe at your handes as you have promised me, althogth your Lordeshipe hathe shewed me greate alreadie.  Howbeit I am aschamed to asked it anye more, bicause I se you ar not so wel minded therunto.  And as concerninge that you saye that I give folkes occasion to thinke in refusinge the tood to vpholde the ivel, I am not of so simple understandinge, nor I wolde that your Grace shulde have so ivel a opinion of me that I have so litel respecte to myn one honestie that I wolde mainteine it if I had souficiente promis of the same, and so so your Grace shal prove me whan it comes to the pointe.  And thus I bid you farewel, desiringe God alwais to assiste you in al your affaires.  Writen in hast.  Frome Hatfelde this 21 of Februarye.

Your assured frende to my litel                   
power            
ELIZABETH.

To my verey good Lorde my Lorde
            Protector.



* they.                  ^b unworthy.



  Source:
  Original Letters Illustrative of English History.  Vol II.
  Henry Ellis, ed.
  London: Harding, Triphook, and Lepard, 1824. 155-8.


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