King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

King Henry VIII (1491 - 1547) of England, changed the face of both politics and religion in 16th century Europe. Determined to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Henry broke from the Catholic Church to establish his own Church of England. In 1533 he divorced Catherine to marry Anne Boleyn. The love that he expresses to Anne in the following letter would not last long; she would be executed for infidelity in 1536.

To Anne Boleyn

My Mistress and Friend,
I and my heart put ourselves in your hands, begging you to recommend us to your good grace and not to let absence lessen your affection...or myself the pang of absence is already to great, and when I think of the increase of what I must needs suffer it would be well nigh intolerable but for my firm hope of your unchangeable affection...

Henry VIII (1528)