Dublin Core
Title
Letter from King Edward VI 1547 to Kilkenny notifying them of the appointment of Sir Edward Bellingham as lord deputy of Ireland.
Subject
This letter was written by ten-year old King Edward VI (only son of King Henry VIII) to Kilkenny informing the city of the retirement of Sir Anthony St Leger as lord deputy and the appointment of Sir Edward Bellingham as his replacement.
Description
Note how this letter is signed at the top by ten-year old King Edward VI and signed by Edward Seymour at the bottom. Following the death of both his parents, King Edward VI was placed under the guardianship of his Uncle, Edward Seymour who also acted as Lord protector of England. The appointment of Sir Edward Bellingham was linked to Edward Seymour, whose family members has served with him in the army. When Edward Seymour was ousted from his post as Lord Protector in October 1549, Bellingham was recalled two months later.
While the letter is legible to the modern reader, there are many examples of Tudor English evident here, with many variations in spellings.
The text reads:
Edward
Trustie and welbiloved we grete you well. And late you witte that where upon thumble suts and often desires made both to our dearest father of most famous memory and sithenne to us by our trustie and right wilbiloved connsailor Sir Anthony Sentleger, knyght of our ordre and deputie of that our realme of Ireland, we have now fynallie by thadvise and consent of our dearest uncle the duke of Somerset, governor of our person and protector of our realms, dominions and subjects, and the rest of our privie counsaill, assented to his desires and granted him leave to returne to our presence at his libertie. And for the supplie of that office and the good government of that our realme have appointed by thadvise and consent aforsaid our trustie and right biloved counsailor Sir Edwarde Bellingham, knight, one of the gentlemen of our privie chambre, to be our deputie there. Like as we have had good proofe of his wisdom, experience and good dexteratie, and, for that cause, have him in special nedite. So have we given him straitly in charge and commandment to shewe himself favourable unto you and all others the noblemen, gentlemen and others our loving subjects of that our realme and to do the office of a good ministre and deputie in thadvancement of the comely welthe thereof, and indifferent and just administeares of all things to his office apperteyning. Whereunto we dubte not he well have such diligent and earnest respecte as to his bounden duetie appertayneth. And bicause we have ben informed of our good forwarding and earnest diligence in thadvancement of our service in that our realme, we have willed our said counsailor to conferre specially with you upon certeyn things, unto whom we require you both to give firm and undubted nedite, and also to shew yourselfs alwaes ayding and assisting unto him in suche matters as he shall from tyme to tyme on our behalf inquire of you for the quiet and good government of that our realme and thadvancement of our service there. Whereby you shall both answere to the good expectation that we have conceived of you and also ministere unto us right acceptable service which we shall not fayle to reteyn alwaes in our good remembrance to be considered towards you and yours as any occasion shall require accordinglie. Geven under our sygnet at our manner of Grenewich the xiith of Aprill the seconf year of our reign.
E. Somerset
On the back of the letter it reads:
To our trustworthy and welbeloved the mayor and commons of our town of Kylkenny.
While the letter is legible to the modern reader, there are many examples of Tudor English evident here, with many variations in spellings.
The text reads:
Edward
Trustie and welbiloved we grete you well. And late you witte that where upon thumble suts and often desires made both to our dearest father of most famous memory and sithenne to us by our trustie and right wilbiloved connsailor Sir Anthony Sentleger, knyght of our ordre and deputie of that our realme of Ireland, we have now fynallie by thadvise and consent of our dearest uncle the duke of Somerset, governor of our person and protector of our realms, dominions and subjects, and the rest of our privie counsaill, assented to his desires and granted him leave to returne to our presence at his libertie. And for the supplie of that office and the good government of that our realme have appointed by thadvise and consent aforsaid our trustie and right biloved counsailor Sir Edwarde Bellingham, knight, one of the gentlemen of our privie chambre, to be our deputie there. Like as we have had good proofe of his wisdom, experience and good dexteratie, and, for that cause, have him in special nedite. So have we given him straitly in charge and commandment to shewe himself favourable unto you and all others the noblemen, gentlemen and others our loving subjects of that our realme and to do the office of a good ministre and deputie in thadvancement of the comely welthe thereof, and indifferent and just administeares of all things to his office apperteyning. Whereunto we dubte not he well have such diligent and earnest respecte as to his bounden duetie appertayneth. And bicause we have ben informed of our good forwarding and earnest diligence in thadvancement of our service in that our realme, we have willed our said counsailor to conferre specially with you upon certeyn things, unto whom we require you both to give firm and undubted nedite, and also to shew yourselfs alwaes ayding and assisting unto him in suche matters as he shall from tyme to tyme on our behalf inquire of you for the quiet and good government of that our realme and thadvancement of our service there. Whereby you shall both answere to the good expectation that we have conceived of you and also ministere unto us right acceptable service which we shall not fayle to reteyn alwaes in our good remembrance to be considered towards you and yours as any occasion shall require accordinglie. Geven under our sygnet at our manner of Grenewich the xiith of Aprill the seconf year of our reign.
E. Somerset
On the back of the letter it reads:
To our trustworthy and welbeloved the mayor and commons of our town of Kylkenny.
Creator
Kilkenny Corporation
Source
Kilkenny County Library Service
Date
15th April 1548
Rights
Kilkenny County Council Library Service
Relation
Reference taken from the book 'Treasures Of Kilkenny - Charters and civic records of Kilkenny City' by John Bradley
Format
1 sheet parchment and ink. Seal attached.
Language
English