On May 20, 1536 just one day after the execution of his wife Anne, Henry promised himself to Jane Seymour. Despite assertions that Jane was the most virtuous and discreet of Henry's wives, most Londoners believed that their relationship had been happening for a while. In fact, sometime between the arrival of Jane at Chelsea Palace and Anne's execution Henry wrote her a letter talking about the pamphlets and letters being circulated that condemned their relationship. Gossip and support of Anne were both on the rise suggesting that Henry was cruel for engaging in an extra-martial affair while his wife awaited trial in the Tower. He wrote:
"My dear friend and mistress:
The bearer of these few lines from they entirely devoted servant will deliver into they hands a token of my true affection for thee, hoping you will keep it for ever in your sincere love of me. Advertising you that there is a ballad made lately of great derision against us,which if it go abroad and is seen by you; I pray you to pay no manner of regard to it. I am not at present informed who is the setter forth of this malignant writing; but if he is found out, he shall be straitly[sic] punished for it.
For the things ye lacked, I have minded my lord to supply them to you as soon as he could buy them. Thus hoping, shortly to receive you in these arms, I end for the present,
Your own loving servant and sovereign,
H. R."
Despite this general sense of disapproval on the part of his subjects, Henry and Jane went forward with their betrothal, planning a wedding that would take place very, very soon.
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