“In as hearty manner as I can devise, I recommend me unto you, as she which thinketh her self much bound unto you, for the great pain and labour that you have taken for me, and specially for obtaining of the King my father’s blessing and licence to write unto his Grace; which are two of the highest comforts that ever came to me: desiring you of your gentle and friendly continuance in your suit for me, wherein (next unto God) I trust you shall find me as obedient to the King’s grace as you can reasonably require of me. Wherefore I have a great hope in your goodness, that by your wisdom, help and means, his Grace shall not only withdraw his displeasure, but also that it may like his Grace (if it may stand with his gracious pleasure) to licence me to come into his presence, for the which I pray you in the honour of God to be a continual suitor for me, when your discretion shall think the time most convenient. For it is the thing which I ever have and do desire above all worldly things. And in all these things, good Mr. Secretary, for the love of him that all comfort sendeth, I beseech you to be my most humble petitioner, and that in like case (I take God to be my Judge) I would be for you, if the same did lie in my power. And thus I must desire you to accept this short and evil written letter. For the rheum in my head will suffer me to write no more at this time. Wherefore I pray you in all things to give credence to this bearer; and with this end I commit you to Almighty God, whom I shall pray to be with you in everything that you go about. From Hounsden, the 30 day of May (1536). “By your bounden loving friend MARYE.”[179] In accordance with the permission obtained, two days later Mary wrote to her father:—