“Nevertheless, because you have exhorted me to write to his Grace again, and I cannot devise what I should write more but your own last copy, without adding or minishing; therefore I do send you by this bearer, my servant, the same, word for word; and it is unsealed, because I cannot endure to write another copy. For the pain in my head and teeth hath troubled me so sore these two or three dayes, and doth yet so continue, that I have very small rest, day or night. Wherefore I trust in your goodness, that you will accept this, and find such meanes by your wisdome, that the King’s Grace may do the same. Which thing I desire you in the honour of God to procure, as my very trust is in you. For I know none to make suit unto, nor to ask counsell of but only you, whom I commit to God, desiring him to help you in all your business. From Hounsdon the 13 day of June (1536). “Your assured bounden loving friend during my life, “MARYE.” Cromwell’s draft, which the Princess copied “word for word” ran:— “In my most humble and lowly manner, beseeching your Graces dayly blessing. Forasmuch as sithens it pleased your most gracious mercy upon mine hearty repentance for mine offences and trespasses to your Majestie, and mine humble and simple submission to the same, of my life, state and condition, to be gladly received at your Highness hand and appointment, whatsoever the same shall think convenient for me, without the remainder of any will in myself, but such as shall be instilled from the most noble mouth of your excellent Majestie, to grant me licence to write unto you: albeit I have written twice unto your highness, trusting to have, by some gracious letters, token or message, perceived sensibly the mercy, clemency and pity of your Grace, and upon the operation of the same, at the last also to have attained the fruition of your most noble presence, which above all worldly things I desire: yet I have not obtained my said fervent and hearty desire, ne any peice of the same to my great and intolerable discomfort I am enforced, by the compulsion of nature, eftsones to cry unto your mercifull eares, and most humbly prostrate before your feet, to beseech your Grace to have pity and compassion of me, and in such wise to put apart your displeasure, justly conceived against me, as I may feel some piece of your most abundant grace, that hath never wanted to them that have inwardly repented their offences, not committed by malice, but by yonghe frailty and ignorance. For yet I remain almost void of all hope, saving the confidence I have in your blessed nature recomforteth me. And therefore eftsones, prostrate at your noble feet I beseech your Majestie to countervail my