Letter of Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey, 1528.¹

[In this letter, Anne Boleyn expresses her gratitude to Wolsey for his efforts to find a solution to "The King's Great Matter", that is, Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. She promises to repay Wolsey once she is queen.]

My Lord, after my most humble recommendations, this shall be to give unto your Grace, as I am most bound, my humble thanks for the great pain and travail that your Grace doth take in studying by your wisdom and great diligence how to bring to pass honourably the greatest wealth that is possible to come to any creature living; and in especial remembering how wretched and unworthy I am in comparing to his Highness. And for you I do know myself never to have deserved by my deserts so that you should take this great pain for me, yet daily of your goodness I do perceive by all my friends; and though that I had not knowledge by them, the daily proof of your deeds doth declare your words and writing toward me to be true. Now, good my lord, your discretion may consider as yet how little it is in my power to recompense you but all only with my good will, the which, I assure you, that after this matter is brought to pass you shall find me, as I am bound in the meantime to owe you my service; and then look what thing in this world I can imagine to do you pleasure in; you shall find me the gladdest woman in the world to do it. And, next unto the King's grace, of one thing I make you full promise to be assured to have it, and that is my hearty love unfeignedly during my life. And being fully determined, with God's grace, never to change this purpose, I make an end of this my rude and true unfeigned letter, praying our Lord to send you much increase of hour with long life. Written with the hand of her that beseeches your Grace to accept this letter as proceeding from one that is most bound to be

Your humble and obedient servant,
Anne Boleyn

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