Your Grace's displeasure, and my imprisonment, are things so strange
unto me, as what to write, or what to excuse I am altogether ignorant.
Whereas you send unto me (willing me to confess in truth, and so to
obtain your favour), by such a one whom you know to be my ancient
professed enemy; I no sooner receive this message, than I rightly
conceive your meaning: and, if as you say, confessing a truth indeed
may procure my safety, I shall with all willingness and duty perform
your command. But let not your Grace ever imgaine that your poor wife
will ever be brought to acknowledge a fault, when not so much as a
thought ever proceeded: and to speak a truth, never Prince had wife
more loyal in all duty, and in all true affection, than you have ever
found in Anne Bullen; with which name and place I could willingly have
contented myself, if God and your Grace's pleasure had so been
pleased. Neither did I at any time forget myself in my Exaltation, or
received queenship, but that I always looked for such an alteration as
now I find, the ground of my preferment being on no surer foundation
than your Grace's fancy, the least alteration whereof, I knew, was fit
and sufficient to draw that fancy to some other subject.
You have chosen me from a low estate to be your Queen and Companion,
far beyond my desert or my desire: if then you find me worthy of such
Honour, Good your Grace, let not any light fancy, or bad counsel of my
enemies, withdraw your princely favour from me; neither let that
stain, that unworthy stain of a disloyal heart towards your Good
Grace, ere cast so foul a blot on your most dutiful wife, and the
infant princess your daughter. Try me, good king, but let me have a
lawful trial; and let not my sworn enemies sit as my accusers and
judge, yea, let me receive an open trial, for my truths shall fear no
open shames; then shall you see, either my innocency cleared, your
suspicion and conscience satisfied, the ignominy and slander of the
world stopped, or my guilt openly declared: so that whatsoever God or
you may determine of me, your Grace is at liberty, both before God and
Man, not only to execute worthy punishment on me as an unfaithful
wife, but to follow your affection, already settled on that party for
whose sake I now am as I am, whose name I could some while since have
pointed to, your grace not being ignorant of my suspicion therein. But
if you have already determined of me, and that not only my death, but
an infamous slander must bring you the enjoying of a desired
Happiness: then I desire of God, that he will pardon your great sin
herein, and likewise my enemies, the instruments thereof; and that he
will not call you to a strict account for your unprincely and cruel
usage of me, at his general judgement-seat, where both you and myself
must shortly appear, and in whose just judgement, I doubt not,
whatsoever the world may think of me, my innocency shall be openly
known, and sufficiently cleared.
My last and only request shall be, that myself may bear the burden of
your Grace's displeasure and it may not touch the innocent souls of
those poor Gentlemen, who, as I understand, are in strait imprisonment
for my sake. If ever I have found favour in your sight, if ever the
name of Ann Bullen hath been pleasing in your ears, let me obtain this
last request, I will so leave to trouble your Grace any further, with
my earnest prayers to the Trinity, to have your Grace in his good
keeping, and to direct you in all your actions.
Your most loyal and faithful wife,
ANN BULLEN.
From my doleful prison in the Tower,
The sixth of May, 1536.