Retired florist finds the most amazing thing from 1780 hidden in family heirloom

Imagine opening an antique to find…an even more exquisite piece of history inside it. 

This is what happened to Ann Eaton when she opened a Georgian puzzle purse given to her by her late mother.

The retired florist was floored to discover something quite special in the paper box –  which had not been opened since its creation in 1782.

Yes, it hadn't been looked at in 236 years. 

What Ann found was a beautiful handwritten marriage proposal note from 1780.

Penned in eloquent prose and surrounded by sketches of doves and hearts, it was clear that this was the pining of a lovesick man to marry a woman all those years ago. 

The 73-year-old pensioner, who has now decided to sell the note, has explained why she decided to do it.

She said, ''I kept it in my jewellery box and looked at it from time to time, but never dared open it. It’s so fragile.''

''I'm not sure if it’s a family heirloom but I think it was given to my mum by her eldest brother many years ago. Mum was one of seven children and grew up in the northeast so it may originate from there.''

So what did the note say?

The lovelorn man wrote, ''Dear Love, this heart which you behold will break when you this leaf unfold even so my heart with lovesick pain, sore wounded is and broke in twain.'The powers of envy can’t pretend, to say false stories I have penned.''

''Requite me now and be not too coy. Banish any rivals from your sight. And with your love now me requite. My dear, these my meaning is in matrimonial joys. For never will my heart find any ease. ‘Til our two hearts be linked as found like these. So, if you deny my loving bride to be, you will bereave me of my felicity.''

Oh, the romance. 

Puzzle purses were seen as the ultimate declaration of love in the 1700s.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson, who is handling the sale, said, ''in the 1700s, romance was admired as a formal art. The sentiment, the beauty, the gentle words and accompanying sketches of hearts, flowers and turtle doves, sweep us back to another time, a more romantic era.''

Love is love, no matter if it's 1718 or 2018.