“My duty most humbly remembered to your Majesty, please it the same to understand, that I have received your letters by Master Throckmorton this bearer; the contents whereof do more trouble me than any bodily sickness, though it were even to the death; and the rather for that your highness doth charge me to be both a breaker of your laws, and also an encourager of others to do the like. I most humbly beseech your Majesty to think that I never intended towards you otherwise than my duty compelleth me unto; that is to wish your highness all honour and prosperity, for the which I do and daily shall pray. And where as it pleaseth your Majesty to write, that I make a challenge of a promise made otherwise than it was meant, the truth is, the promise could not be denied before your Majesty’s presence, at my last waiting upon the same. And although I confess the ground of faith (whereunto I take reason to be but an handmaid) and my conscience also hath and do agree with the same, yet touching that promise, for so much as it hath pleased your Majesty (God knoweth by whose persuasion) to write ‘it was not so meant’; I shall most humbly desire your Highness to examine the truth thereof indifferently, and either will your Majesty’s ambassador now being with the Emperor, to inquire of the same, if it be your pleasure to have him move it, or else to cause it to be demanded of the Emperor’s ambassador here, although he were not within this realm at that time.... “And albeit your Majesty (God be praised) hath at these years as much understanding and more, than is commonly seen in that age, yet considering you do hear but one part (your Highness not offended) I would be a suitor to the same, that till you were grown to more perfect years, it might stand with your pleasure to stay, in matters touching the soul: so undoubtedly should your Majesty know more, and hear others, and nevertheless be at your liberty, and do your will and pleasure. And whatsoever your Majesty hath conceived of me, either by letters to your council or by their report, I trust in the end to prove myself as true to you as any subject within your realm, and will by no means stand in argument with your Majesty, but in most humble wise beseech you even for God’s sake, to suffer me as your Highness hath done hitherto. It is for no worldly respect I desire it, God is my judge: but rather than to offend my conscience I would desire of God to lose all that I have, and also my life, and nevertheless live and die your humble sister and true subject. Thus, after pardon craved of your Majesty, for my rude and bold writing, I beseech Almighty God to preserve the same in honour, with as long continuance of health and life as ever had noble king. From Beaulieu the third of Feb.