The Reverend John Lewis completed the manuscript of his biography of the Bishop of Rochester[1] in the early 1700s from a particularly impressive array of antiquarian sources. It would not be published until 1855.It would not be published until 1855. Here he quotes extracts from “The Life of the Virtuous Christian and Renowned Queen Anne Boleigne. By George Wyatt. Esq. Grandson to Sir Thomas Wyat the elder.”
Even two centuries later, Lewis sought to polish up Henry
VIII’s image by reporting that he had decided he must divorce Catherine of
Aragon, on the basis that she had intercourse with his late brother, before
having met Anne. The pretext was actually created after he had decided he must
marry her.
Following this description of Anne’s early appearance at Court,
is the text of the poem spoken of by Thomas Wyatt.
[There] was at this present presented to the eye of the
Court the rare and admirable bewtie of the fresh and younge Lady Anne Boleine
to be attendinge upon the Queene. In this noble imp the gracese of nature
graced by gracious educa[t]ion seemed even at the first to have promised blis unto
her aftertimes. She was taken at that time to have a bewtie not so whit[e]ly as
cleere and fresh above al we may esteeme, which appeared much more excellent by
her favour passinge sweete and cheerfull, and [these] both also increased by
her noble presence of shape and fassion representinge both mildnes and [majesty]
more [than] can be exprest.
Ther was founde indeede upon the side of her naile upon one
of her fingers some little shewe of a naile, which yet was so smale, by the
report of those that have seen her, as the woorkmaister[2]
seemed to leave it an occasion of greater grace to her hand, which with the tip
of one of her other fingers might be and was usualy by her hidden without any
lest blemish to it. Likewise ther were said to be upon some parts of her boddy
certin smale moles incident to the clearest complections. And certainly both thes[e]
were none other [than] might more staine their writings with note of malice
that have catch at such light motes in so bright beames of bewtie [than] in any
part shaddow it, as may right well appeere by many arguments, but chiefly by the
choice and exquisit judgments of many brave spirits that were esteemed
honorably to honour the honourable parts in her, even honored of envie itself.
Amongst [these] two were observed to be of principal marke.
The one was Sir Thomas [Wyatt] the elder. The other was the Kinge himself. The Knight in the beginninge cominge to
beholde the sudden apearance of this new bewtie came to beholden and surprized somewhat
with the sight therof, after much more with her wittie and graceful speach his
eare also had him chained unto her, so as finaly his hart seemed to say, I could
gladly yeald to be tiede for ever with the knot of her love, as somewhere
in his verses hath bin thought his meaninge was to expres. She on the other
part findinge him to be then married, and in the knot to have been tiede then x
years rejected al his speach of love, but yet in such sort as what so ever
tended to regard of her honour she shewed not to scorne, for the general favour
and good will she perceived al men to beare him, which might the rather
occasion others to [turn] their lookes to that which a man of his woorth was
brought to gaze at in her, as indeede after it happened. The King is held to
have taken his first apprehension of this love after such time as upon the
doubte in [those] treaties of mariages with his daughter Mary, first with the
Spaniard, then with the French, by some of the learned of his owne land he had
veh[e]mently in their publique sermons and in his confessions to his g[h]ostly
fathers bin [prayed] to forsake that his [incestuous] life by accompaninge with
his brothers wife, and [especially] after he was moved by the Cardinal, then in
his greatest trust with the Kinge, both for the better quietnes of his
conscience, and for more [sure settling] of the succession to more prosperous
issue.
About this time, it is saide that the Knight intertaininge talke
with her as she was earnest at woorke, in sporting wise caught from her a
certin smale jewel hanginge by a lace out of her pocket, or otherwise loose
which he thrust into his bosome, neither with any earnest request could she
obtain it of him againe. He kept it therfore and ware it after about his necke
under his cassoque, promisinge to himself either to have it with her favour, or
as an occasion to have talke with her, wherein he had singuler delight, and she
after seemed not to make much [reckoning] of it, either the thinge not beinge
much worth, or not worth much strivinge for.
THE LOVER DESPAIRING TO ATTAIN UNTO HIS LADY'S GRACE,
RELINQUISHETH THE PURSUIT.
Whoso list
to hunt? I know where is an hind!
But as for
me, alas! I may no more,
The vain
travail hath wearied me so sore;
I am of them
that furthest come behind.
Yet may I by
no means my wearied mind,
Draw from
the deer; but as she fleeth afore
Fainting I
follow; I leave off therefore,
Since in a
net I seek to hold the wind.
Who list her
hunt, I put him out of doubt
As well as
I, may spend his time in vain!
And graven
with diamonds in letters plain,
There is
written her fair neck round about;
'Noli me
tangere; for Caesar's I am,
And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.'
Sir Thomas Wyatt.
[1]
Lewis, John. The Life of Dr. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester In The Reign of
King Henry VIII. (1855). 361-363.
[2]
woorkmaister] God.
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