Relatively Little Info on Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour's signature as Queen

I find it amazing that there is so little information out there on Jane Seymour. There is very little documenting her life before she took the interest of the King, and then she only lived for about 2 years after that point. One would think there might be some documentation about Jane's life during her younger years; her family was an elite family, although at that time not as high as many of the other families.

Even after she became Queen there is not much that was written by her. I have heard that it is likely she was relatively uneducated but that didn't stop other Queen's from having people write for them. I can imagine that she would have wanted to appear the opposite of her predecessor so was unlikely to make any grand declarations. The only letter that I can find that was written from her is a letter to the Privy Council about the birth of her son. The following is the text of that letter.

"Right trusty and well beloved, we greet you well, and for as much as by the inestimable goodness and grace of Almighty God, we be delivered and brought in childbed of a prince, conceived in most lawful matrimony between my lord the king's majesty and us, doubting not but that for the love and affection which you bear unto us and to the commonwealth of this realm, the knowledge thereof should be joyous and glad tidings unto you, we have thought good to certify you of the same. To the intent you might not only render unto God condign thanks and prayers for so great a benefit but also continually pray for the long continuance and preservation of the same here in this life to the honor of God, joy and pleasure of my lord the king and us, and the universal weal, quiet and tranquility of this whole realm. Given under our signet at my lord's manor of Hampton Court the 12th day of October. Jane the Quene."

Any great sources that you know of, or sites, about Jane?




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