Anne Boleyn, and she was of the noble birth required to serve at court. The king wrote numerous letters to Anne and sent her extravagant gifts of jewelry. Anne, however, was well aware that Henry had multiple mistresses at court – included her own sister, Mary. Anne refused the king’s gifts and advances, asserting her belief that no happiness would come to her in the role of mistress: "If you ... give yourself up, heart, body and soul to me ...” wrote Henry, “I will take you for my only mistress, rejecting from thought and affection all others save yourself, to serve only you." To which Anne
...more
