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12:14 pm
June 7, 2011
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This letter from Anne to Henry while imprisoned in the tower has long been considered a forgery. As far as I know this copy was found amongst Cromwell's papers before his execution. According to sources it isn't the original – what I want to know is – How do they know its not the original? Surely if a letter like this did come into Cromwell's hands, he would be the last man who would want to give it to Henry, or spend the time writing a copy to keep for whatever purpose… After all, he wanted Anne dead.
Even so, I think it is Anne, it captures what I believe to be her way of diplomacy and passion. Even threatened with death, she fights. Defiantly a bold lady…
“Your grace's displeasure and
my imprisonment are things so strange to me, that what to write, or what
to excuse, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you send to me (willing
me to confess a truth and so obtain your favor), by such a one, whom
you know to be mine ancient professed enemy, I no sooner received this
message by him, than I rightly conceived your meaning; and if, as you
say, confessing a truth indeed may procure my safety, I shall with all
willingness and duty, perform your duty. But let not your grace ever
imagine that your poor wife will be brought to acknowledge a fault, where
not so much as a thought ever proceeded. And to speak a truth, never
a prince had wife more loyal in all duty, and in all true affection,
than you have ever found in Anne Bulen – with which name and place I
could willingly have contented myself, if God and your grace's pleasure
had been so pleased. Neither did I at any time so far forget myself
in my exaltation or received queenship, but that I always looked for
such alteration as I now find; for the ground of my preferment being
on no surer foundation than your grace's fancy, the least alteration
was fit and sufficient (I knew) to draw that fancy to some other subject.
You have chosen me from low estate
to be your queen and companion, far beyond my desert or desire; if, then,
you found me worthy of such honor, good your grace, let not any light
fancy or bad counsel of my enemies withdraw your princely favor from
me; neither let that stain – that unworthy stain – of a disloyal heart
towards your good grace ever cast so foul a blot on me, and on the infant
princess your daughter.
Try me, good king, but let
me have a lawful trial, and let not my sworn enemies sit as my accusers
and as my judges; yea, let me receive an open trial, for my truth shall
fear no open shame. Then you shall see either my innocency cleared,
your suspicions and conscience satisfied, the ignominy and slander of
the world stopped, or my guilt openly declared. So that, whatever God
and you may determine of, your grace may be freed from an open censure;
and my offense being so lawfully proved, your grace may be at liberty,
both before God and man, not only to execute worthy punishment on me
as an unfaithful wife but to follow your affection already settled on
that party for whose sake I am now as I am, whose name I could some while
since have pointed unto – your grace being not ignorant of my suspicions
therein. But if you have already determined of me, and that not only
my death, but an infamous slander must bring your the joying of your
desired happiness, then I desire of God that he will pardon your great
sin herein, and likewise my enemies, the instruments thereof; and that
he will not call you to a strait account for your unprincely and cruel
usage of me at his general judgment-seat, where both you and myself
must shortly appear; and in whose just judgment, I doubt not (whatsoever
the world may think of me), mine innocency shall be openly known and
sufficiently cleared.
My last and only request shall
be, that myself only bear the burden of your grace's displeasure, and
that it may not touch the innocent souls of those poor gentlemen, whom,
as I understand, are likewise in strait imprisonment for my sake. If
ever I have found favor in your sight – if ever the name of Anne Bulen
have been pleasing in your ears – then let me obtain this request; and
so I will leave to trouble your grace any further, with mine earnest
prayer to the Trinity to have your grace in his good keeping, and to
direct you in all your actions.
From my doleful prison in the Tower,
the 6th May.”
"It is however but Justice, & my Duty to declre that this amiable Woman was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs..." Jane Austen.
3:00 pm
June 1, 2010
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It would seem likely that this is a letter from Anne. I also doubt that Cromwell would have let the King see this letter in case he started to doubt her guilt and changed his mind. It doesn't make sense that he would keep a forged letter from Anne in his possession.
4:15 pm
June 7, 2010
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Just my thoughts: I doubt this letter is from Anne. There is no evidence that she asked for writing utensils while imprisoned. If she had, Kingston would have reported it to Cromwell. He noted everything else that was said and done. I would need some credible evidence to support this letter being authentic. Most likely it's a forgery. There are many things Anne is attributed to which has proven to be false.
The ultimate question is Why? Why would Anne do this? What purpose would is solve? What is the intention?
Just my opinion for what it's worth….
"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn
2:13 am
May 19, 2011
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I agree with DOB. The letter has to many leads in it to be from Anne- “in Anne Bullen… recieved queenship.. you have choosen me from low estate… try me but let me have a fair trial.. not judged by my enemies… but to follow your affection already settled on that party for whose sake I am now as I am, whose name I could some while since have pointed unto – your grace being not ignorant of my suspicions therein.. etc.
If it were genuine I don't think it would have all these pointers in it. Plus Anne was being watched and reported on back to Cromwell. In current evidence there is nothing to say that she called for writing materials (as her daughter Elizabeth did to escape the tide some 20ish years later) and nothing that mentions she wrote a letter.
Having said this, not very much remains of Anne as Henry had the majority destroyed.. He must have had brain damage from his fall in 36 to have done what he did to Anne.. to be able to believe his own delusions..
"A fresh young damsel, who could trip and go"
6:15 am
June 7, 2011
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E said:
I agree with DOB. The letter has to many leads in it to be from Anne- “in Anne Bullen… recieved queenship.. you have choosen me from low estate… try me but let me have a fair trial.. not judged by my enemies… but to follow your affection already settled on that party for whose sake I am now as I am, whose name I could some while since have pointed unto – your grace being not ignorant of my suspicions therein.. etc.
If it were genuine I don't think it would have all these pointers in it. Plus Anne was being watched and reported on back to Cromwell. In current evidence there is nothing to say that she called for writing materials (as her daughter Elizabeth did to escape the tide some 20ish years later) and nothing that mentions she wrote a letter.
Having said this, not very much remains of Anne as Henry had the majority destroyed.. He must have had brain damage from his fall in 36 to have done what he did to Anne.. to be able to believe his own delusions..
But why would Cromwell have kept it if it were a forgery? Her prison was wasn't a dungeon, I'm sure she had access to small luxuries. If Henry forgave Anne, Cromwell would have died.
If I were trying to get my husband to not kill me (God forbid), I would keep mentioning my name. That way it's more personal. Maybe she thought he would still hold some feeling to her name.
"It is however but Justice, & my Duty to declre that this amiable Woman was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs..." Jane Austen.
7:17 am
June 7, 2010
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Okay, Cromwell was known to keep documentation for everything. He was, basically, Secretary of State and it was his job to have notations of what was going on.
Anne may not have been in a “prison cell,” but her confinment was no luxury. Yes, she was housed in the royal apartments, but her every move was watched and noted by Kingston and the four women attendants. If she wanted paper, pen and ink, she would have been made to request it. Furthermore, how would she have sent it to Cromwell? If she did, it would have gone through Kingston. There would be some indication of this letter, its contents, etc. There is no way in hell any of the women were her carriers. Anne was a prisoner, regardless of her station.
The letter sounds all wrong. Why would Anne refer to herself in the third person? There are other writing samples, and this letter does not fit with her other writings.
Until real evidence can be provided, I will not accept it. Sorry!
"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn
7:39 am
June 7, 2011
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DuchessofBrittany said:
Okay, Cromwell was known to keep documentation for everything. He was, basically, Secretary of State and it was his job to have notations of what was going on.
Anne may not have been in a “prison cell,” but her confinment was no luxury. Yes, she was housed in the royal apartments, but her every move was watched and noted by Kingston and the four women attendants. If she wanted paper, pen and ink, she would have been made to request it. Furthermore, how would she have sent it to Cromwell? If she did, it would have gone through Kingston. There would be some indication of this letter, its contents, etc. There is no way in hell any of the women were her carriers. Anne was a prisoner, regardless of her station.
The letter sounds all wrong. Why would Anne refer to herself in the third person? There are other writing samples, and this letter does not fit with her other writings.
Until real evidence can be provided, I will not accept it. Sorry!
First off, please don't twist what I say. Of course Cromwell had papers – my question was, why would he keep a forgery? Rather than, I dunno, burn it, throw it down the privy? What's the significance of it?
I didn't say her prison was luxurious, I said she would have had access to small luxuries as in a proper bed, food, books, possibly a desk and writing materials… I.E. Not a bed of straw and only rats to keep her company.
If Cromwell didn't want Henry to get the letter, he would of told Kingston to not mention it?
I am unsure as to whether its real or not, but it's interesting none the less.
"It is however but Justice, & my Duty to declre that this amiable Woman was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs..." Jane Austen.
8:39 am
February 24, 2010
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I have always wondered who would have written this letter? How did it come to be in Cromwell's posession? Why would the Secretary of State keep a forged document with his important papers?
I have not seen any evidence that points to it being from Anne, but it certainly leaves me with many questions. As Duchess says, it does not fit with Anne's other writings. That is the selling point for me.
9:11 am
June 7, 2011
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Hmmm maybe Cromwell had it written just incase he changed his mind about getting rid of her…
"It is however but Justice, & my Duty to declre that this amiable Woman was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs..." Jane Austen.
9:47 am
June 7, 2010
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Elliemarianna said:
First off, please don't twist what I say. Of course Cromwell had papers – my question was, why would he keep a forgery? Rather than, I dunno, burn it, throw it down the privy? What's the significance of it?
I didn't say her prison was luxurious, I said she would have had access to small luxuries as in a proper bed, food, books, possibly a desk and writing materials… I.E. Not a bed of straw and only rats to keep her company.
If Cromwell didn't want Henry to get the letter, he would of told Kingston to not mention it?
I am unsure as to whether its real or not, but it's interesting none the less.
First off, sorry to offend. I did not mean to twist your words.
I answered why, in my opinion, Cromwell kept the papers. It's only my opinion.
As for my opinion on luxury: I was simply stating that, she may not have been in a dungeon, but she was certainly not afford many luxuries. She was housed according to her station, but she was a prisioner none the less. You did not define whay luxuries you meant, i so I took you meant living quarters, not access to other resources.
I agree, Sharon. This letter does not match Anne's other writing samples. I was sold there, too.
"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn
1:33 pm
February 10, 2010
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There were ballads against Jane Seymour circulating when Anne was imprisoned because Henry writes to her about them. Is it possible that there were letters supposedly from Anne also doing the rounds? If so Cromwell might have kept it as an example of what the people thought. (It would have been read to those who weren't literate.) Even at the time of the English Civil War, a century later, the printed word still had a magic about it – the belief was that if it was printed it must be true.
2:35 pm
June 7, 2011
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"It is however but Justice, & my Duty to declre that this amiable Woman was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs..." Jane Austen.
12:56 am
January 17, 2011
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Sorry I don't believe the letter is true but just to prove it maybe it should be given to a handwriting expert 
2:31 am
June 7, 2011
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It’s a copy of an original apparently, so the handwriting probably wouldnt match anyway. Upon further thought, I think it’s fake too, the way she spelt her name is odd, as she spelt it correctly in all letters but the two that are presumed fakes. Maybe I just liked the idea of her last little telling off towards Henry. I wonder if she would of been able to persuade Henry to not have her murdered if she had another chance to speak to him…
"It is however but Justice, & my Duty to declre that this amiable Woman was entirely innocent of the Crimes with which she was accused, of which her Beauty, her Elegance, & her Sprightliness were sufficient proofs..." Jane Austen.
8:29 am
May 19, 2011
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Could the letter have been found yearsafter the players deaths then added to Cromwell's papers- all collated into the one spot? I don't know enough about the letter, but it was just a thought..
"A fresh young damsel, who could trip and go"
1:17 pm
February 24, 2010
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Elliemarianna said:
I wonder if she would of been able to persuade Henry to not have her murdered if she had another chance to speak to him…
Ellie,
I think you are onto something there. There was no way any of Anne's enemies wanted Henry and Anne to talk to each other. They had quarelled so often, and the court had witnessed their arguments. They were well aware that Henry and Anne always made up afterwards. Keeping them separate was important. Henry knew this, too. He wanted Anne out of his life, and the way to do that was to stay away from her. He knew that if he spoke to her, he would believe her.
2:58 pm
June 1, 2010
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Even if the letter were given to Kingston, he would have given it to Cromwell. Everything Anne did was reported back to him, so it is reasonable to suppose that everything she wrote was reported/given to him.
