An interesting note; a person learned in English history recently told me that the depictions of Anne Boleyn as a beautiful and sexy woman are completely false. Apparently, she was exceedingly ugly.
I do detect some insecurity and anxiety in his words. For example, "...for by absence we are kept a distance from one another, and yet it retains its fervour, at least on my side; I hope the like on yours..." and then, "...but for the firm hope I have of your unchangeable affection for me." Henry was obviously unsure. He then sends her a picture of himself "set in bracelets".
I think that there is a good chance that she really did not want him as much as her wanted her, at least at first. He was not one to be trusted as he was married, and rumor has it that her sister had just recently given birth to his son, Henry. It is terribly ironic that the first woman to give him a son, (Mary Boleyn), was not his wife and all those women had to have their heads chopped and be replaced by the next woman so that he could sire an heir.
In his second letter Henry writes, "I am sure that I have since never done anything to offend you, and it seems a very poor return for the great love which I bear you to keep me at a distance." I think she later was keeping him at a distance because she was waiting for him to obtain an annulment. That process took seven years and completely changed the world of Christianity; it caused the "irrevocable breach" of England from the Catholic Church.
The second thing that struck me was that after reading the love letters, it is hard to imagine that he would have her executed. The story is a very sad one and I found the following very interesting:
"This account of Anne Boleyn's speech at her execution. The execution took place on 19 May 1536 at 8 o'clock in the morning. It was the first public execution of an English queen.
'Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.'
After being blindfolded and kneeling at the block, she repeated several times:
'To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesu receive my soul.' "1
I find the whole thing very creepy.
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