The author of The Life of Jane Dormer, Duchess of Feria observes, in the stiff phraseology of the time, that when she grew older she was commended “to the most noble and Catholic princess, the lady Mary, so persuaded by her grandfather Sidney, whom two of his daughters had served before, and died in her service much favoured of her Highness for their virtue. When the queens (the wives of King Henry) had sought with much importunity to have them in their service, they would by no means leave the lady Mary, although the King himself requested it. In those days the house of this princess was the only harbour for honourable young gentlewomen given any way to piety and devotion. It was the true school of virtuous demeanour, befitting the education that ought to be in noble damsels, and the greatest lords of the kingdom were suitors to her to receive their daughters in her service.“[220]
It was perhaps mainly on account of the esteem in which she was held, at home and abroad, that Mary was the object of so jealous a supervision on the part of Henry’s Council. The parents and guardians of the many “noble damsels” who desired an asylum in her house were peremptorily informed that she might have no more than the prescribed number; and occasionally one or two would be dismissed in the most arbitrary manner, no reason being given. Her every movement was watched with suspicion, and even when she was supposed to be enjoying her father’s favour, she was continually on the verge of losing it, for the most innocent causes. She could not exercise the least hospitality without being subjected to annoyance, and in May 1538, the fact of her having entertained guests, whom she allowed to sleep under her roof, was made a matter of accusation to the Council. Her reply to Cromwell’s remonstrance and warning is significant of the bondage in which she was held.
“My Lord,
“After my most hearty commendations to you, these shall be to give you thanks for the gentle and friendly letter which I received from you upon Sunday last, whereby I may well perceive, not only your continual diligence to further me in the King’s highness’s favour (which I take God to my judge is mine only comfort and treasure in this world), but also your wise and friendly counsel, in advertising me to eschew such things, whereby I might seem to give any other occasion than should be expedient for me; for the which your goodness, my lord, I think myself more bound to you than ever I did. For rather than I would willingly commit any jot contrary to the increasing of the King’s majesty’s favour, my most gracious and benign father, towards me, I would not only utterly eschew all occasions to the contrary (according to my bounden duty), but also suffer certain pain of body; for I take that for the chief part of my life in this world. Wherefore, concerning the lodging of strangers that you write to me of, although I fear it hath been reported to the worst, nevertheless, I will promise you, with God’s help from henceforth to refrain it so utterly, that of right, none shall have cause to speak of it; desiring you, my lord, for God’s sake to continue your goodness, both in exhorting me to follow such things as you think most convenient for me, and how I may eschew the contrary. For I confess the frailty of my youth to be such, that by negligence I may forget myself without the stay of your good counsel, which whensoever I shall hear, I trust to follow, and to the uttermost of my power, with God’s grace. To whose keeping I commit you, desiring him to reward you for your friendly part in this matter towards me, with all others in times past. From Richmond the 27th of May.
“Your assured bounden friend during my life,
“Marye.”[221]
Henry and Cromwell were both anxious to detach her from the Emperor, and they tried to do so by creating a misunderstanding between them, telling Mary that he had been wanting in zeal to promote her marriage. Hurtado de Mendoza was still in England, and Cromwell wrote to inform her that the ambassador extraordinary would pay her a visit with Chapuys, at the same time advising her to complain to them of the Emperor’s coldness on the subject of Don Loys’s suit. But Mary was not for an instant misled as to Cromwell’s intention, and her answer to his letter shows that she was learning how to deal with his unscrupulous policy. On the 24th August 1538, she wrote:—
“My Lord,
“After my most hearty commendations to you, I have received your letters by this bearer, whereby I do perceive the King’s highness’s my most gracious father’s pleasure, touching my communication to the emperor’s ambassadors, when they shall come to visit the prince’s grace, my brother; which thing (although his grace’s pleasure except) I would have been very loath to have spoken of, considering myself a young maid, and very willing to continue that life, if his said majesty will permit the same; nevertheless, according to my duty, I shall fulfil all things contained in your letters, as well as my simple wit will serve me; and also write their whole answer unto you as soon as they shall depart. In the meanwhile, not forgetting the inestimable goodness of the King’s majesty towards me, in esteeming my bestowing more than I have or shall deserve, which can do nothing but (as I am most bounden) in all things obey his grace’s commandments to the end of my life; as knoweth God, whose help I shall continually ask to perform my said duty, and thus commit you to his holy keeping.
“From Portgore, this Saint Bartholomew’s day at after dinner.