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Letter of Katharine Parr to her husband, King
Henry VIII
July 1544
Background
Katharine Parr wed King Henry VIII on 12 July 1543
at Hampton Court Palace. Henry was her third husband and not her
personal choice. She was in love with Thomas Seymour, the brother of
Henry's third wife, Jane; he eventually became her fourth husband just a few
months after Henry's death in 1547. Once the marriage to Henry was
settled upon, Katharine worked to make it successful. She was, in all
respects, admirably suited to the task. She had experience managing
temperamental elderly men and nursing their various ailments. She was
very intelligent and committed to scholarship, but she also participated fully
in the life of Henry's court. She grew as fond of finery as any of his
wives and dressed magnificently.
She and Henry grew
close. He refused to allow anyone else to wrap his badly ulcered leg; he
also made her Queen-Regent while he attended the siege of Boulogne in
1544. This letter was written during that six-week absence and its tone
is loving and respectful. In it, Katharine mentions the King of
Scotland's widow, Marie de Guise, as well as Henry's three children. In
addition to her success as a sixth wife, Katharine was an admirable stepmother
who genuinely loved the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth and Prince
Edward.
Although the distance of time and account of days neither is
long nor many of your majesty's absence, yet the want of your presence, so
much desired and beloved by me, maketh me that I cannot quietly pleasure in
anything until I hear from your majesty. The time, therefore, seemeth
to me very long, with a great desire to know how your highness hath done
since your departing hence, whose prosperity and health I prefer and desire
more than mine own. And whereas I know your majesty's absence is never
without great need, yet love and affection compel me to desire your
presence.
Again, the same zeal and affection force me to be best content
with that which is your will and pleasure. Thus love maketh me in all
things to set apart mine own convenience and pleasure, and to embrace most
joyfully his will and pleasure whom I love. God, the knower of
secrets, can judge these words not to be written only with ink, but most
truly impressed on the heart. Much more I omit, lest it be thought I
go about to praise myself, or crave a thank; which thing to do I mind
nothing less, but a plain, simple relation of the love and zeal I bear your
majesty, proceeding from the abundance of the heart. Wherein I must
confess I desire no commendation, having such just occasion to do the same.
I make like account with your majesty as I do with God for his benefits
and gifts heaped upon me daily, acknowledging myself a great debtor to him,
not being able to recompense the least of his benefits; in which state I am
certain and sure to die, yet I hope in His gracious acceptation of my
goodwill. Even such confidence have I in your majesty's gentleness,
knowing myself never to have done my duty as were requisite and meet for
such a noble prince, at whose hands I have found and received so much love
and goodness, that with words I cannot express it. Lest I should be
too tedious to your majesty, I finish this my scribbled letter, committing
you to the governance of the Lord with long and prosperous life here, and
after this life to enjoy the kingdom of his elect.
From Greenwich, by
your majesty's humble and obedient servant,
Katharine the
Queen.
to Letters of the Six Wives
of Henry VIII
to
Primary Sources
to Tudor England
to Katharine
Parr website
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