“Pleaseth your Lordship to understand, that arriving here at Hertford castle this afternoon about two of the clock, upon knowledge given of my coming and desire to speak with my Lady Mary’s Grace, I had immediately access to the same, to whom after the delivery of the King’s Majestie’s token, with his Grace’s most hearty commendations, I opened the cause and purpose of my coming, in as good sort as my poor witt had conceived the same. Whereunto she made me answer, that albeit the matter were towards her of great importance, and besides of such sort and nature, as the King’s Majestie not offended, she would wish and desire never to enter that kind of religion, but to continue still a maid during her life: yet remembering how by the laws of God and nature she was bound to be in this, and all other things obedient to the King’s Highness, and how by her own bond and obligation she had heretofore of her free will, according to her said bond and duty, obliged herself to the same, tho she might by frailty be induced in this so weighty a thing to cast many doubts, and to take great stay with herself: yet wholly and entirely without qualification, she committed herself to his Majestie, as to her most benign and mercifull father and most gracious Soveraign Lord; trusting and assuredly knowing, that his goodness and wisdom would so provide in all things for her, as should much exceed her simple capacity, and redound to his Grace’s honour and her quiet; which thing she will this night write with her Grace’s own hand, to be sent by me to-morrow at my return. I assure your Lordship, here can no more be desired, than with all humility and obedience is offered. And because I must tarry all night for these letters, I thought meet to signifie how farr I had proceeded, to the intent, the King’s Majestie knowing the same, may further in all things determine, as to his Grace’s high wisdom shall be thought meet and expedient. “When I had done with her Grace, I went then to my Lady Elizabeth’s Grace, and to the same made the King’s Majestie’s most hearty commendations, declaring that his Highness desired to hear of her health, and sent her his blessing. She gave humble thanks, enquiring again of his Majestie’s welfare, and that with as great a gravitie as she had been 40 years old. If she be no worse educated than she now appeareth to me, she will prove of no less honor and womanhood than shall beseem her father’s daughter; whom our Lord long preserve unto us, and send your Lordship also long life many years to serve the same. “From Hartford Castle this Wednesday the seventeenth of December. “Your lordship’s bounden beadsman, “THOMAS WRIOTHESLEY.”[235]