My mistress and friend: I and my heart put ourselves in your
hands, begging you to have them suitors for your good favour, and that
your affection for them should not grow less through absence. For
it would be a great pity to increase their sorrow since absence does it
sufficiently, and more than ever I could have thought possible reminding
us of a point in astronomy, which is, that the longer the days are the
farther off is the sun, and yet the more fierce. So it is with our
love, for by absence we are parted, yet nevertheless it keeps its fervour,
at least on my side, and I hope on yours also: assuring you that
on my side the ennui of absence is already too much for me: and when
I think of the increase of what I must needs suffer it would be well nigh
unbearable for me were it not for the firm hope I have and as I cannot
be with you in person, I am sending you the nearest possible thing to that,
namely, my picture set in a bracelet, with the whole device which you already
know. Wishing myself in their place when it shall please you.
This by the hand of
Your loyal servant and friend
H.Rex
No more to you at this present mine own darling for lack of time but that
I would you were in my arms or I in yours for I think it long since I kissed
you. Written after the killing of an hart at a xj. of the clock minding
with God's grace tomorrow mightily timely to kill another: by the hand
of him which I trust shortly shall be yours.
Henry R.
Mine own sweetheart, these shall be to advertise you of the great loneliness
that I find here since your departing, for I ensure you methinketh the
time longer since your departing now last than I was wont to do a whole
fortnight: I think your kindness and my fervents of love causeth
it, for otherwise I would not have thought it possible that for so little
a while it should have grieved me, but now that I am coming toward you
methinketh my pains been half released.... Wishing myself (specially
an evening) in my sweetheart's arms, whose pretty dukkys I trust shortly
to kiss. Written with the hand of him that was, is, and shall be
yours by his will.
H.R.