The prayer of Saint Thomas of Aquin, translated out of Latin into English by the most excellent Princess Mary, daughter to the most high and mighty Prince and Princess, King Henry the VIII. and Queen Katharine, his wife, in the year of Our Lord God 1527 and the eleventh year of her age.
O merciful God, grant me to covet with an ardent mind those things which may please Thee, to search them wisely, to know them truly, and to fulfil them perfectly, to the laud and glory of Thy Name. Order my living that I may do that which Thou requirest of me, and give me grace, that I may know it, and have wit and power to do it, and that I may obtain those things which may be most convenient for my soul. Good Lord, make my way sure and straight to Thee, that I fail not between prosperity and adversity, but that in prosperous things I may give Thee thanks, and in adversity be patient, so that I be not lift up with the one, nor oppressed with the other, and that I may rejoice in nothing but in this which moveth me to Thee, nor be sorry for nothing but for those which draweth me from Thee; desiring to please nobody, nor fearing to displease any besides Thee. Lord, let all worldly things be vile to me, for Thee, and that all Thy things be dear to me, and Thou, good Lord, most special above them all. Let me be weary with that joy which is without Thee, and let me desire nothing besides Thee. Let the labour delight me which is for Thee, and let all the rest weary me which is not in Thee. Make me to lift my heart oft-times to Thee, and when I fall, make me to think and be sorry, with a steadfast purpose of amendment. My God, make me humble without feigning, merry without lightness, sad without mistrust, sober without dulness, fearing without despair, gentle without doubleness, trusting in Thee without presumption, telling my neighbour’s faults without mocking, obedient without arguing, patient without grudging, and pure without corruption. My most loving Lord and God, give me a waking heart, that no curious thought withdraw me from Thee. Let it be so strong that no unworthy affection draw me backward, so stable that no tribulation break it, and so free that no election by violence make any change to it. My Lord God, grant me wit to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, conversation to please Thee, continuance to look for Thee, and finally hope to embrace Thee, by Thy penance here to be punished, and in our way to use Thy benefits by Thy grace, and in heaven through Thy glory to have delight in Thy joys and rewards. Amen.
B.
MARGARET, LADY BRYAN, TO CROMWELL.[724]
My Lord, when your Lordship was last here, it pleased you to say, that I should not mistrust the King’s Grace, nor your Lordship, which word was more comfort to me than I can write, as God knoweth. And now it boldeth me to show you my poor mind. My Lord, when my Lady Mary’s Grace was born, it pleased the King’s Grace to appoint me Lady Mistress, and made me a Baroness. And so I have been a ... (mother?) to the children his Grace have had since.
Now it is so, my Lady Elizabeth is put from that degree she was afore: and what degree she is at now I know not but by hearing say; therefore I know not how to order her, nor myself, nor none of hers that I have the rule of: that is, her women and her grooms: beseeching you to be good Lord to my Lady and to all hers. And that she may have some raiments; for she hath neither gown nor kirtle, nor petticoat, nor no manner of linen for smocks, nor kerchiefs, nor sleeves, nor rails, nor body-stychets, nor handkerchiefs, nor mufflers, nor begens. All this her Graces Mostake, I have driven off as long as I can, that by my troth I cannot drive it no longer: beseeching you my Lord, that ye will see that her Grace may have that is needful for her, as my trust is ye will do.... My Lord, master Shelton would have my Lady Elizabeth to dine and sup every day at the board of estate. Alas, my Lord, it is not meet for a child of her age, to keep such rule yet. I promise you, my Lord, I dare not take it upon me to keep her Grace in health, and she keep that rule: for there she shall see divers meats and fruits and wine, which would be hard for me to refrain her Grace from it. Ye know, my Lord, there is no place of correction there. And she is yet too young to correct greatly. I know well and she be there, I shall neither bring her up to the King’s Grace’s honour, nor hers, nor to her health nor my poor honesty. Wherefore I show your Lordship this my discharge, beseeching you my Lord that my Lady may have a mess of meat to her own lodging, with a good dish or two, that is meet for her to eat of. And the reversion of the mess shall satisfy all her women, a gentleman usher and a groom. Which been eleven persons on her side. Sure I am, it will be (in to right little) as great profit to the King’s Grace, this way as the other way. For if all this should be set abroad, they must have three or four mess of meat, where this one mess shall suffice them all with bread and drink, according as my Lady Mary’s Grace had afore, and to be ordered in all things as her Grace was afore. God knoweth, my Lady hath great pain with her great teeth, and they come very slowly forth: and causeth me to suffer her Grace to have her will more than I would. I trust to God and her teeth were well graft to have her Grace after another fashion than she is yet; so I trust, the King’s Grace shall have great comfort in her Grace. For she is as toward a child and as gentle of conditions as ever I knew any in my life, Jesu preserve her Grace ... Hunsdon 1536.
C.
LADY JANE GREY TO QUEEN MARY.[725]