16th century letter from Princess Elizabeth to King Edward VI

This 16th century letter from Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth I) to her half-brother King Edward VI. The letter is not dated but Edward's reign was short: he became king at the age of nine in 1547 and died six years later in 1553. Elizabeth was 13 when Edward became king, and so must have been a teenager when this letter was written. Elizabeth had a genuine affection for her brother, and was desperate to visit him, but hte king was governed by a council of nobles who would not allow Elizabeth to see him.

A version of the letter with modernised spelling is printed beneath the original.

  LIKE as a shipman in stormy wether plukes downe the sailes tarijnge for bettar winde, so did I, most noble Kinge, in my vnfortunate chanche a thurday pluk downe the hie sailes of my ioy and comfort and do trust one day that as troblesome waues have repulsed me bakwarde, so a gentil winde wil bringe me forwarde to my hauen.  Two chief occasions moued me muche and griued me gretly, the one for that I doubted your Maiesties helthe, the other bicause for al my longe tarijnge I wente without that I came for.  Of the first I am releued in a parte, bothe that I vnderstode of your helthe, and also that your Maiesties loginge is far from my Lorde Marques chamber.  Of my other grief I am not eased, but the best is that whatsoever other folkes wil suspect, I intende not to feare your graces goodwil, wiche as I know that I never disarued to faint, so I trust wil stil stike by me. For if your Graces aduis that I shulde retourne (whos wil is a commandemente) had not bine, I wold not haue made the halfe of my way, the ende of my iourney.  And thus as one desirous to hire of your Maiesties helth, thogth vnfortunat to se it, I shal pray God for euer to preserue you.  From Hatfilde this present Saterday.

Your Maiesties humble sistar
to commandemente
ELIZABETH.

To the Kinges most 
     excellent Maiestie.