'PRICELESS' letters from Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour, have been discovered at Dunham Massey.

The sixteenth century notes were found at the National Trust property during a routine check of a store room.

They were hidden among many other letters received over the centuries by the Booth family, who owned Dunham Massey.

Dunham Massey house steward, Katie Taylor, who discovered the letters, said: “I was going through letters in a folio and when I saw these I knew immediately they were important."

The National Trust called in an expert, John Hodgson from the John Rylands’ Library, who identified Henry's signature and the letter sent for Jane.

Katie continued: "That was really exciting. They are priceless to us - the trust will never sell them."

Henry's 1543 letter, addressed to George Booth, calls for help to raise an army to fight the Scots, while Jane's announces the birth of their son, the future Edward VI. It is dated October 12 - the actual day of the birth in 1537.

Jane died just 12 days later of postnatal complications.

Katie added: "These documents are older than any of our buildings at Dunham and almost the oldest things in our collection.”

The letters, together with others signed by William of Orange and King Charles 11 in 1659 - the year prior to his restoration to the English throne - form part of a new exhibition at Dunham Massey, ‘Faithful and Obedient’, marking the Queen’s diamond jubilee year.

It is open from Saturdays to Wednesdays, 11am – 5pm. For details go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunhammassey

A transcript of the letters - adapted to modern English

By the Queen

Trust and well beloved, we greet you well. And forasmuch as by the inestimable goodness and grace of Almighty God, we have been delivered and brought to child-bed 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 the commonwealth of this realm the knowledge of which you should be joyous and glad tidings unto you, we have thought good to certify you of the same, to the intent that you might not only render unto God condign thanks and praise for so great benefit, but also pray for the long continuance and preservation of the same here in this life to the honour of God, joy and pleasure of my lord the King and us, and the universal peace, quiet and tranquility of this whole realm. Given under our Signet [seal] at my lord’s manor of Hampton Court, the 12th day of October.

By the King

Trusty and well-beloved we greet you well, letting you know that forasmuch as by the manifold injuries, wrongs and displeasures done unto us, our realm and our subjects by the Scots, we have been forced lately to enter into open war and hostility with the same, which we intend and purpose, god willing (unless the nobles of Scotland conform themselves to reason), to prosecute with such force as shall redound to our honour and to the common- wealth of our realm and subjects. To the intent that we may better know the forces of our said realm and thereby put the same in such order and readiness as they may serve us in this enterprise as the case shall require, we have thought meet and necessary to have special musters taken of all our people and thereupon to have all such plan and perfect certificate made as shall declare what be trusted to in that behalf. Wherefore our pleasure and commandment is that you, by virtue and authority hereof, shall with all convenient diligence take the musters of all the able men, both horsemen and footmen, which you can make and furnish, both of our tenants inhabiting upon farms, holdings and tenancies within any office under us of which you have the stewardship, if you have any such, and also of your own servants and tenants dwelling upon your own tenancies. And the same so taken, to certify in writing to our right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin and counsellor the Duke of Sussex, lieutenant general in the northern areas, with all possible diligence, with a special note and declaration to be expressed in the said certificate, how many of the said persons are furnished with horses able to occupy [carry] a spear or javelin, how many are archers and how many billmen, and how many principal men may be picked out of every sort of the whole number. Forcing [taking care] that in these musters and certificate you do not meddle in any way with any mariners, forasmuch as we intended to reserve the same of our furniture by sea [i.e. navy], and that you put all the same readiness as they [to] set forth in one hour’s warning, whenever you receive commandment from our said cousin in that behalf. And these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge herein accordingly. Given under our signet at our Palace of Westminster the 10th day of February, the 34th year of our reign.