The above is the last of this series of letters which Mary wrote to her father without help or suggestion from Cromwell. Abject as was the tone of them all, Cromwell, anxious, for reasons of his own, to make peace between Henry and his daughter, saw clearly that this would not be effected, unless she could be brought categorically to declare herself illegitimate. The King was determined on it, in order that failing legitimate male issue, he might have some show of reason for putting his natural son, the Duke of Richmond, forward as his successor. This project could be furthered by nothing that she had hitherto written, and the chief Secretary now began to give her advice as to the wording of her appeals. The result of this advice was a letter written on the 10th June, the beginning and end of which were little else than repetitions of her former expressions of sorrow for past offences, desire for forgiveness and admission into the King’s “most noble presence”. But in the middle occurs this sentence: “Eftsoones therefore, most humbly prostrate before your noble feet, your most obedient subject and humble child, that hath not only repented her offences hitherto, but also decreed simply from henceforth and wholly next to Almighty God, to put my state, continuance and living in your gracious mercy, and likewise to accept the condition of your disposition and appointment, whatsoever it shall be”.[183]
This letter she sent to Cromwell with the following:—
“Good Master Secretary,
“I do send you by this bearer, my servant, both the King’s highness’ letter sealed, and the copy of the same again to you, whereby I trust you shall perceive that I have followed your advice and counsell, and will do in all things concerning my duty to the King’s Grace (God and my conscience not offended) for I take you for one of my chief friends, next unto his Grace and the Queen. Wherefore, I desire you, for the passion which Christ suffered for you and me, and as my very trust is in you, that you will find such meanes through your great wisdome, that I be not moved to agree to any further entry in this matter than I have done. For I assure you, by the faith that I owe to God, I have done the uttermost that my conscience will suffer me; and I do neither desire nor intend to do less than I have done. But if I be put to any more (I am plain with you as with my great friend) my said conscience will in no wayes suffer me to consent thereunto. And this point except, you nor any other shall be so much desirous to have me obey the King, as I shall be ready to fulfill the same. For I promise you (as I desire God to help me at my most need) I had rather loose the life of my body, than displease the King’s Grace willingly. Sir, I beseech you for the love of God to take in good worth this rude letter. For I would not have troubled you so much at this time, but that the end of your letter caused me a little to fear that I shall have more business hereafter. And thus I commit you to God, whom I do and shall dayly pray to be with you in everything that you go about. From Hownsdon the x. of June.
“Your assured bounden loving friend during my life,
“Marye.”[184]
Mary’s surmises were correct. “More business” was pending, and meanwhile her letters only gave dissatisfaction. The contents of Cromwell’s answer to the above can be gathered from the Princess’s letter of the 13th June.
“Good Mr. Secretary,
“I do thank you with all my heart, for the great pain and suit you have had for me. For the which I think myself very much bound to you. And whereas I do perceive by your letters, that you do mislike mine exception in my letter to the King’s Grace, I assure you, I did not mean as you do take it. For I do not mistrust that the King’s goodness will move me to do anything which should offend God and my conscience. But that which I did write was only by the reason of continual custome. For I have allwayes used, both in writing and speaking, to except God in all things.
“Nevertheless, because you have exhorted me to write to his Grace again, and I cannot devise what I should write more but your own last copy, without adding or minishing; therefore I do send you by this bearer, my servant, the same, word for word; and it is unsealed, because I cannot endure to write another copy. For the pain in my head and teeth hath troubled me so sore these two or three dayes, and doth yet so continue, that I have very small rest, day or night. Wherefore I trust in your goodness, that you will accept this, and find such meanes by your wisdome, that the King’s Grace may do the same. Which thing I desire you in the honour of God to procure, as my very trust is in you. For I know none to make suit unto, nor to ask counsell of but only you, whom I commit to God, desiring him to help you in all your business. From Hounsdon the 13 day of June (1536).