The king had not merely procured Anne's personal condemnation; he had also obtained a decree annulling his marriage with her, on the ground of her having been, as he attempted to prove, previously affianced to another man. This was, obviously, a mere pretense. The object was to cut off Elizabeth's rights to inherit the crown, by making his marriage with her mother void. Thus was the little princess left motherless and friendless when only three years old. CHAPTER II. THE CHILDHOOD OF A PRINCESS. 1536-1548 Elizabeth's condition at the death of her mother.--Her residence.--Letter of Lady Bryan, Elizabeth's governess.--Conclusion of letter.--Troubles and trials of infancy.--Birth of Edward.--The king reconciled to his daughters.--Death of King Henry.--His children.--King Henry's violence.--The order of succession.--Elizabeth's troubles.--The two Seymours.--The queen dowager's marriage.--The Seymours quarrel.--Somerset's power and influence.--Jealousies and quarrels.--Mary Queen of Scots.--Marriage schemes.--Seymour's promotion.--Jane Grey.--Family quarrels.--Death of the queen dowager.--Seymour's schemes.--Seymour's arrest.--His trial and attainder.--Seymour beheaded.--Elizabeth's trials.--Elizabeth's firmness.--Lady Tyrwhitt.--Elizabeth's sufferings.--Her fidelity to her friends. Elizabeth was about three years old at the death of her mother. She was a princess, but she was left in a very forlorn and desolate condition. She was not, however, entirely abandoned. Her claims to inherit the crown had been set aside, but then she was, as all admitted, the daughter of the king, and she must, of course, be the object of a certain degree of consideration and ceremony. It would be entirely inconsistent with the notions of royal dignity which then prevailed to have her treated like an ordinary child. She had a residence assigned her at a place called Hunsdon, and was put under the charge of a governess whose name was Lady Bryan. There is an ancient letter from Lady Bryan, still extant, which was written to one of the king's officers about Elizabeth, explaining her destitute condition, and asking for a more suitable supply for her wants. It may entertain the reader to see this relic, which not only illustrates our little heroine's condition, but also shows how great the changes are which our language has undergone within the last three hundred years. The letter, as here given, is abridged a little from the original: My Lord: When your Lordship was last here, it pleased you to say that I should not be mistrustful of the King's Grace, nor of your Lordship, which word was of great comfort to me, and emboldeneth me now to speak my poor mind.