l 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 judges; yea, let me receive an open trial, for my truth
shall fear no open shame; then shall you see either mine innocence
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 may be freed from
an open censure; and mine offence being so lawfully proved, your grace
is at liberty, both before God and man, not only to execute worthy
punishment on me as an unlawful wife, but to follow your affection,
already settled on that party for whose sake I am now as I am, whose
name I could some good while since have pointed unto, 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 your desired
happiness; then I desire of God, that he will pardon your great sin
therein, and likewise mine 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 judgment-seat, where both you and myself
must shortly appear, and in whose judgment, I doubt not, (whatsoever
the world may think of me,) mine innocence shall be openly known and
sufficiently cleared.

"My last and only request shall be, that myself may only bear the burden
of your grace's displeasure, and that it may not touch the innocent
souls of those poor gentlemen, who (as I understand,) are likewise in
strait imprisonment for my sake. If ever I have found favor in your
sight, if ever the name of Anne Boleyn hath been pleasing in your ears,
then let me obtain this request; and I will so leave to trouble your
grace any further, with mine earnest prayers to the Trinity to have your
grace in his good keeping, and to direct you In all your actions. From
my doleful prison in the Tower, this sixth of May.

"Your most loyal and ever faithful wife,

"ANNE BOLEYN."]

[Footnote 12: NOTE L, p. 234. A proposal had formerly been made in the
convocation for the abolition of the lesser monasteries; and had been
much opposed by Bishop Fisher, who was then alive. He told his brethren,
that this was fairly showing the king the way how he might come at the
greater monasteries. "An axe," said he, "which wanted