In most humble wise I beseech your grace of your daily blessing. Pleaseth the same to be advertised that this morning my chamberlain came and showed me that he had received a letter from Sir William Paulet, comptroller of your household; the effect whereof was that I should, with all diligence, remove to the Cast of Hertford. Where upon I desired him to see that letter, which he showed me, wherein was written that ‘the Lady Mary, the king’s daughter, should remove to the place aforesaid’- leaving out in the same the name of princess. Which, when I heard, I could not a little marvel, trusting verily that your grace was not privy to the same letter, as concerning the leaving out of the name of princess, forasmuch as I doubt not that your grace doth take me for your lawful daughter, born in true matrimony. Wherefore, if I were to say to the contrary, I should in my conscience run into the displeasure of God, which I hope assuredly that your grace would not that I should do. And in all other things, your grace shall have me, always, as humble and obedient daughter and handmaid as ever was child to the father, which my duty bindeth me to, as knoweth our Lord, who have your grace in his most holy tuition, with much honour and long life to his pleasure.
By your most humble daughter,
Mary, Princess.
And I do humbly beseech my said most dearest lord and husband to accept of my bequest and to keep for a memory of me one jewel, being a table diamond, which the emperor’s majesty, his and my most honourable father, sent unto me by the Count d’Egmont, at the insurance of my said lord and husband, and also one other table diamond which his majesty sent unto me by the Marquis de les Nanes, and the collar of gold set with nine diamonds, the which his majesty gave me the Epiphany after our marriage, also the ruby now set in a gold ring, which his highness sent me by the Count of Feria, all which things I require his majesty to dispose of at his pleasure, and, if his highness think meet, to the issue between us.