Princess Elizabeth Writes To Her Stepmother ~ Katherine Parr
On 31st July 1548, fourteen year-old Princess Elizabeth, wrote to her stepmother Katherine Parr, the Dowager Queen.
Elizabeth had been sent away from the home Katherine Parr shared with her husband Thomas Seymour, to go and live with Katherine’s good friends, Sir Anthony Denny and his wife, at Cheshunt.
Thomas Seymour had been acting inappropriately with Elizabeth, and Katherine had found Elizabeth and Seymour in each other’s arms.
Katherine had to send Elizabeth away, not only to protect Katherine’s marriage, but also to protect Elizabeth’s reputation.
The letter was written just before the pregnant Katherine took to her chamber, and just weeks before Katherine died of puerperal (childbed) fever.
Written in beautiful handwriting, Elizabeth writes~
“Although your Hignness’s letters be most joyful to me in absence, yet, considering what pain it is for you to write, your Grace being so sickly, your commendations were enough in my Lord’s letter.
I much rejoice at your health, with the well liking of the country, with my humble thanks that your Grace wished me with you till you were weary of that country.
Your Highness were like to be cumbered, if I should not depart till I were weary of being with you; although it were the worst soil in the world, your presence would make it pleasant.
I cannot reprove my Lord for not doing your commendations in his letter, for he did it; and although he had not, yet I will not complain on him; for he shall be diligent to give me knowledge from time to time how his busy child doth; and if I were at his birth, no doubt I would see him beaten, for the trouble he hath put you to.
Master Denny and my lady, with humble thanks, prayeth most entirely for your Grace, praying the Almighty God to send you a most lucky deliverance, and my mistress wisheth no less, giving your Highness most humble thanks for her commendations.
Written with very little leisure this last day of July.
Your humble daughter,
ELIZABETH.”
