Stephen Gardiner
This letter was written by Anne Boleyn on 4 April 1529 and is important because not many of Anne’s letters from the period of the divorce survive and, furthermore, it demonstrates the personal interest Anne took in the divorce proceedings.
Stephen Gardiner was sent to Pope Clement VII on a number of occasions to try and persuade him to grant Henry VIII’s wish and annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. His missions though proved disappointing, as he was never able to persuade the Pope to accede to Henry’s request.
In this letter Anne refers to Gardiner’s previous mission, with Edward Foxe, to Italy – one that had obviously proven disappointing to Anne. Elizabeth Norton offers some background information on previous embassies:
‘The pair had visited the Pope at Orvieto and received his confirmation that he would satisfy the King as far as he was able. On hearing this, Foxe had rushed back to England, sailing from Calais in April 1528. When he arrived at the court at Greenwich Henry commanded him to go straight to Anne’s chamber. The couple were pleased to her the news, which led, in June 1528, to the Pope agreeing to send Cardinal Campeggio to England to hear the divorce case.’
Anne Boleyn to Stephen Gardiner, 4 April 1529
A copy of Anne Boleyn's letter to Stephen Gardiner
Master Stephen.
I thank you for my letter, wherein I perceive the willing and faithful mind you have to do my pleasure, not doubting but as much as it is possible for man’s wit to imagine, you will do. I pray God to send you well to speed in all matters, so that you will put me in a study how to reward your service. I do trust in God you shall not repent it, and that the end of this journey shall be more pleasant to me than your first, for that was but a rejoicing hope, which ceasing, the lack of it does put to the more pain, and they that are partakers with me, as you do know. Therefore I do trust that this hard beginning shall make the better ending.
Master Stephen, I send you here the cramp-rings for you, and Master Gregory, and Master Peter; pray you to distribute them both, as she, that (you may assure them) will be glad to do them any pleasure which shall be in my power. And thus I make an end, praying God send you good health.
Written at Greenwich the 4th day of April,
By your assured friend,
Anne Boleyn
ReferencesNorton, E. Anne Boleyn: In her own words and the words of those who knew her, 2011.
It is a very friendly and encouraging letter to Gardiner, and its amazing that it has survived all this time, when many letters haven’t..
I love all of Tudor history. I am so addicted to anything that involves Anne or Henry. I am baffled to be reading this letter that was written by the hand of Anne Boleyn. I feel as if I almost knew who she was. I feel that she was an exceptional person who had a very tragic end.
Do you think this is in her own hand or dictated to a secretary? The handwriting’s so clear and almost as good as Elizabeth I’s italic.