King Henry VIII may be viewed as a tyrant who had no problem cutting the head off anybody who angered him (including two of his six wives) but a love letter reveals that the monarch had a softer side.
The love letter was written to Anne Boleyn, the mother of Henry's daughter Princess Elizabeth (who became Queen Elizabeth I), in 1528.
The king wrote in the letter: "henceforth my heart will be dedicated to you alone."
Eight years later, Henry beheaded Anne.
Henry VIII reveals his softer side in never-before-seen gushing love letter to Anne Boleyn
14th February 2009
Daily Mail
He's infamous for beheading two of his wives, but it has emerged that Henry VIII had a much softer side.
A passionate love letter to Anne Boleyn - who later lost her head when their marriage soured - is to go on display for the first time at the British Library in London.
Enlarge
Gushing: The love letter written by Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn reveals his passion for the woman who was to become his second wife and includes a passage where he writes "henceforth my heart will be dedicated to you alone."
Henry VIII appeared to be deeply in love with Anne Boleyn.
Written in around 1528, it was kept under wraps in the Vatican for 50 years. In it, the King writes: "Henceforth my heart will be dedicated to you alone, and wishing that my body was too."
The letter, written in French five years before Anne became Queen, shows Henry in an entirely different light.
The King gushes: "The demonstrations of your affection are such, and the beautiful words of your letter are so cordially phrased, that they really oblige me to honour, love and serve you for ever, imploring you to agree to continue in this same firm and constant purpose, assuring you that for my part I will outdo you, if this be possible, rather than reciprocate, in loyalty of heart and my desire to please you; and you, without any further ties in your heart, can further this."
The letter is signed "H seeks A.B, No Other Rex".
The couple's happiness wasn't to last, however, and Anne was beheaded eight years later at the Tower of London in 1536. Henry went on to marry four more women during his lifetime.
dailymail.co.uk
The love letter was written to Anne Boleyn, the mother of Henry's daughter Princess Elizabeth (who became Queen Elizabeth I), in 1528.
The king wrote in the letter: "henceforth my heart will be dedicated to you alone."
Eight years later, Henry beheaded Anne.
Henry VIII reveals his softer side in never-before-seen gushing love letter to Anne Boleyn
14th February 2009
Daily Mail
He's infamous for beheading two of his wives, but it has emerged that Henry VIII had a much softer side.
A passionate love letter to Anne Boleyn - who later lost her head when their marriage soured - is to go on display for the first time at the British Library in London.
Enlarge
Gushing: The love letter written by Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn reveals his passion for the woman who was to become his second wife and includes a passage where he writes "henceforth my heart will be dedicated to you alone."
Henry VIII appeared to be deeply in love with Anne Boleyn.
Written in around 1528, it was kept under wraps in the Vatican for 50 years. In it, the King writes: "Henceforth my heart will be dedicated to you alone, and wishing that my body was too."
The letter, written in French five years before Anne became Queen, shows Henry in an entirely different light.
The King gushes: "The demonstrations of your affection are such, and the beautiful words of your letter are so cordially phrased, that they really oblige me to honour, love and serve you for ever, imploring you to agree to continue in this same firm and constant purpose, assuring you that for my part I will outdo you, if this be possible, rather than reciprocate, in loyalty of heart and my desire to please you; and you, without any further ties in your heart, can further this."
The letter is signed "H seeks A.B, No Other Rex".
The couple's happiness wasn't to last, however, and Anne was beheaded eight years later at the Tower of London in 1536. Henry went on to marry four more women during his lifetime.
dailymail.co.uk