Mary Queen-Dowager of France to her Brother, Henry VIII. February 15, 1515.

In this series:

• Mary Queen-Dowager of France to her Brother, Henry VIII. February 15, 1515. 
• Mary Queen-Dowager of France to her Brother, Henry VIII. Late January, 1515. 
• Henry VIII. to the French Minister. January 14, 1515. 

As Henry VIII’s sister, Mary, the Dowager Queen of France, waited to be escorted back to England, she was much pressed by the married Francis, newly King of France, whether she was now promised to anyone in marriage. Francis may or may not actually have pressured her for her hand. It seems more likely, however, that Mary was aware of the danger that Henry would go back on his word to permit her to marry whoever she would choose and that this pressure from Francis was a ploy to draft another king as her advocate. If so, Francis was a remarkably good sport and she a remarkable negotiator for the man of her heart.

 

Pleaseth it your grace, the French [king], on Tuesday night last [past], came to visit me, and [had] with me many diverse [discoursin]g, among the which he demanded me whether I had [ever] made any promise of marriage in any place, assuring me upon his honour, and upon the word of a prince, that in case I would be plain [with] him in that affair, 

that he would do for me therein to the best of his power, whether it were in his realm or out of the same. Whereunto I answered, that I would disclose unto him the [secre]t of my heart, in hu[mili]ty, as unto the prince of the world after your grace in whom I had m[ost trust], and so declar[ed unto him] the good mind [which] for divers consi[derations I] bear to my lord of Suffolk, asking him not only [to grant] me his favour and consent thereunto, but [also] that he would of his [own] hand write unto your grace, and to pray you to bear your like favour unto me, and to be content with the same; the which he granted me to do, and so hath done, according as shall appear unto your grace by his said [letters]. And, sire, I most humbly beseech you to take this answer which I have [made u]nto the French king in good part, the which [I did] only to be discharged of t]he extreme pain and annoyance I was i[n, by reason] of such suit as t[he French kin]g made unt[o me not accordi]ng with mine honour, [the whi]ch he hath clearly left [off]. Also, sire, I feared greatly [lest, in] case that I had kept the matter from his knowledge, that he might have not well entreated my said lord of Suffolk, and the rather [for] to have returned to his [former] malfantasy and suits. Wherefore, sire, [sinc]e it hath pleased the said king to desire and pray you of your favour and consent, I most humbly and heartily beseech you that it may like your grace to bear your favour and consent to the same, and to advertise the said king by your writing of your own, hand of your pleasure, [and] in that he hath ac[ted after] mine opinion [in his] letter of request, [it] shall be to your great honour * * * nem to content w[ith all] your council, and [with] all the other nobles of the] realm, and agr[ee thereto] for your grace a[nd for all] the world; and therefore I eftsoons requi[re yOu], for all the love that it liked yotir grace to bear me, that you do not refuse" but grant me your favour and Consent in form before rehearsed, the which if you shall deny me, I am well assured to [lead] as desolate a life as ever had creature, the which I know well shall be mine end. Always praying your grace to have compassion of me, my most loving and sovereign lord and [brother, where]unto I have [entreated] you, beseeching [God al]ways to [preserve your] most royal [estate, Written] at Paris the 15th day of February.

          [I mo]st humbly beseech your grace to ,consider, in case that you make difficulty to condescend to the promises [as I] wish, the French king will take new courage to renew his suits to me; assuring you that I had rather to be out of the world than it so should happen; and how he shall entreat my lord of Suffolk, God knoweth, with many other inconvenience, which might ensue of the same, the which I pray our Lord that I may ne[ver ha]ve life to see.

By your loving sister and true servant,

Mary Queen of France

Source:  Letters of Royal and Illustrious Ladies (1846). I.189-92. Citing COTTON. MS. CALIGULA, D. VI. FOL. 244. [Holograph, much injured by fire.]

 

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