Virtual Grub Street: Queen Anne Boleyn to Squire Josselin, September 7, 1533.

Little Elizabeth did not have a particularly auspicious start in life for a royal princess. There was some considerable disagreement between various elite historians of the century after as to the date that her parents were married. I will assume what was at stake will be clear to the reader.

According to historians of the time, the nuptials of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were solemnized in the month of November, 1532, or in that of January, 1533. Hall, Holinshed[1], and Grafton, whose authority several of our more modern historians have followed, place it on the 14th of November, 1532, the Feast Day of St. Erkenwald; but Stow[2] informs us, that it was celebrated on the 25th of January 1533; and his assertion bears considerable weight, being corroborated by a letter from Archbishop Cranmer, dated “the xvij daye of June,” 1533, from his “manor of Croydon,” to Hawkyns, the embassador at the emperor’s court.[3]

…she was maried muche about sainte Paules daye last, as the Condicion therof dothe well appere by reason she ys nowe sum what bygg with chylde. Not withstandyng yt hath byn reported thorowte a great parte of the realme that I marred her, whiche was playnly false, for I myself knewe not therof a fortenyght after yt was donne.'[4]

Quite apart from the date of their nuptials, Henry could not hide his disappointment that the child was a girl. Here we have the Queen sending out an announcement of Elizabeth’s birth.

By the Queen[5].—

Trusty and well beloved wee greet you well. And whereas it hath pleased ye goodness of Almighty God of his infinite mercy and grace to send unto vs at this tyme good speed in ye deliverance and bringing forth of a Princess to ye great joye and inward comfort of my lord. Us, and of all his good and loving subjects of this his realme ffor ye which his inestimable beneuolence soe shewed unto vs. We have noe little cause to give high thankes, laude and praysing unto our said Maker, like as we doe most lowly, humbly, and with all ye inward desire of our heart. And inasmuch as wee undoubtedly trust yt this our good is to you great pleasure, comfort, and consolacion; wee therefore by these our Lrs aduertise you thereof, desiring and heartily praying you to give wth vs unto Almighty God, high thankes, glory, laud, and praising, and to pray for ye good health, prosperity, and continuall preservation of ye sd Princess accordingly. Yeoven under our Signett at my Lds Manner of Greenwch, ye 7th day of September, in ye 25th yeare of my said Lds raigne, An. Dno. 1533.

[1] Holinshed says, “he married priuilie the Lady Anne Bullougne the same daie, being the 14th daie of Nouember, and the feast daie of Saint Erkenwald; which marriage was kept so secret, that verie few knew ’t till Easter next insuing, when it was perceived that she was with child.” — “Chronicles,” vol. iii. p. 929. edit. 1087.

[2] Stow’s Annals (1633), by Howes, p. 502. “King Henry priuily married the Lady Anne Boleigne on the fiue and twentieth of January, being St. Paule’s daie: Mistresse Anne Sauage bore vp Queene Annes traine, and was herselfe shorlly after marryed to the Lord Barkley. Doctor Rowland Lee, that marryed the King to Queene Anne, was made Bishop of Chester, then Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and President of Wales.”