Lives of the last four princesses of the royal house of Stuart

1654.] HER DISCUSSIONS WITH HYDE. 60
with her ; but that she was mistress of her own family, and
might receive what servants she pleased, and that she
should commit a great fault against the Queen, if she
should forbear to do a good and just action, to which she
was inclined, out of apprehension that her majesty would
be offended at it. She knew some ill offices had been done
him with her mother, she was sorry to say ; but she
doubted not her majesty would in due time perceive that
she had been misinformed and mistaken, and then she
would approve of what her highness should now do. In
the mean time she- was resolved to take his daughter, and
would send for her as soon as she returned to Holland."*
Sir Edward Hyde's reluctance was by no means over-
come, and he replied that "he left his daughter to be
disposed of by her mother, who would, he knew, be very
unwilling to part with her."
" I'll warrant you," replied the Princess, " that my lady
and I will agree upon the matter."
Lady Hyde, when the Princess, on her return to Holland,
communicated her gracious offer, was of course much
charmed, but considered it prudent to take the opinion of
the Eeverend Dr. Morley, who resided in their family, and
he, believing it might be to the young lady's interest,
advised her to accept it.
Cromwell's spy intelligencer next proceeds to inform his
employer "that the magistrates of Aix-la-Chapelle, had
been to call on the Princess and her brother, and had
sent them a present, of wine. Yesterday," pursues he,
" R. C. and his sister, the Princess-royal, with their re-
spective trains, were invited to evensong by the canons
of the cathedral church of the blessed Virgin. They went
thither at three of the clock in the afternoon, where seats
were made for them within the choir, covered with black
* Clarendon.