The art with which Mary received gifts was no less happy than her manner of giving, and the letter of thanks which she wrote to Cromwell, just after he had been made Lord Privy Seal, in acknowledgment of his services to her, is a pleasant contrast, in its spontaneous expressions of gratitude, to the former grovelling effusions, which purported to have emanated from her, but which were really the compositions of Cromwell himself. “MY LORD, “In my heartiest manner I commend me unto you, as she which cannot express in writing the great joy and comfort that I have received as well by your letters as by the report of my servant this bearer, concerning the King my Sovereign father’s goodness towards me; which I doubt not but I have obtained much the better by your continual suit and means. Wherefore I think myself bound to pray for you during my life; and that I both do and will continue with the Grace of God. Sir, as touching mine apparel, I have made no bill. For the King’s Highnes favour is so good cloathing unto me, that I can desire no more; and so have written to his Grace, resting wholly in him, and willing to wear whatever his Grace shall appoint me. My Lord, I do thank you with all my heart for the horse that you sent me with this bearer. Wherein you have done me a great pleasure. For I had never a one to ride upon sometimes for my health, and besides that my servant sheweth me that he is such a one, that I may of good right accept not only the mind of the giver, but also the gift. And thus I commit you to God, whom I do and shall daily pray to be with you in all your business, and to reward you for so exceeding great pains and labours that you take in my sutes.”[201] And again:— “MY LORD,