Letters of Anne (age 12) and Thomas Boleyn (age 36)

The following is the text of Anne's childish letter to her father, of which the original is at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, being bequeathed by Archbishop Parker, one of her chaplains:

I understand from your letter that you desire that all honest women, when I come to court, and you inform me that the Queen will take the trouble to converse with me, of which I am very glad to think of speaking with such a wise and honest person. This will give me even greater motivation to continue to speak good French and also especially [something erased] for the man whom you have so highly recommended to me. I assure you that I will keep them as well as I can. Monsieur, I beg you to excuse me if my letter is poorly written and spelled because I assure you that this is written by my own hand alone. The others are written by my mother, and Semmonet tells me that the letter remained unfinished. I did it myself for fear that no one should know what I am sending to you. I beg you that the light of your sight and the liberty of your will to help me should not be separated, for it seems to me that you assure me of this where you can. If it pleases you, make clear to me your words, and be certain of me that I shall have no lack of gratitude and shall pass no opportunity to do as much as you please. I end my purpose by humbly recommending myself to your good grace and written in [place name missing].

Your very humble and very obedient daughter, Anna de Boullan.

Monss^r. Je antandue par v^re lettre que a ves envy que toufs onette fame quan Je vindre a la courte et mavertisses que la Rene prendra la pein de devisser a vecc moi de quoy me Regoy bine fort de penser parler a vecc ung perscone tante sage et onnete cela me ferra a voyr plus grante anuy de continuer a parler bene franssais et oussy espel [erased] especy ale man pour sue que melaues tant Recommande et de me man vous a versty que les gardere le meux que Je poure Monss^r Je vous supplya descusser sy ma lettre et male et sipta car je vous asure quete et ottografie de monantend amant sule la vue les aultres ne sont faiz que escript de maman et Semmonet me dit la lettre mes domeura fan je le fie moy meme de peur que lone ne saces sance que Je vous mande et Je vous pry que la loumire de vu vue net libertte de separe la voullante que dites aves de me edere car hile me semble quettes ascure en lue [?] la ou vous poues sy vous plet me vere de claraison de v^re paroile et de moy coues sertene que miara cuoffice de peres ne din gratitude que sut en passer ne et fasere mon a veccfion quecte de libere deviere autant sance que vous plera me commander et vous prommes que mon amour et vondue par ung si grante fermette quele nara James pouer de sane deminuer et feres fin a mon pourpon a pres mettre Recommande bine humblemente a v^re bone grace et script a Veure¹ de V^re tres humble et tres obeiff fille Anna de Boullan."

[Transcription made for the Rev. J. S. Brewer by the Rev. J. R. Lumby.]

Note 1. It isn't clear where "Veure" is. Some argue the letter is written from Hever Castle, some from La Veure aka Tervuren, Brabant.