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

78 MARY, PRINCESS-ROYAL. [1655.
Teyling ; and although we cannot by any means believe
or expect, from the wisdom and reason of the said mighty
lord, the King, that he would or durst, undertake, contrary
to the Treaty of Peace made the last year with the Com-
monwealth of England, to come within the limits of this
State, and directly against our particular orders, compre-
hended in our resolutions of the 30th of July, 2nd and
3rd of August, all in the year of 1653, and the writing-
made by virtue thereof, to be given to your royal highness,
within the province of Holland and West Friesland. So
have we, after good reasons and for settling ourselves in
entire rest, found meet with these to set before the eyes of
your royal highness, what is said before, with a desire and
demand that you will speedily declare and assure us of
the truth hereof, nothing doubting, but desiring and
requiring your royal highness, as much as in her (you) lies,
by all good offices and duties, to be willingly helpful to
take heed and effect, that the said mighty lord, the King,
do not cast himself within the limits of their high mighti-
nesses ; and referring ourselves thereto.
" Most excellent Princess, we commit your royal high-
ness to God's protection.
" Written in the Hague the 8th of March, 1655,
" Your royal highness's good friends,
" The States of Holland and West Friesland."*
The Princess was compelled to request her brother to
leave the States, as it was out of her power to show the
hospitality, she desired, to him in the present aspect oi
affairs. Soon after he wrote to ask her to send some
Italian books, to which she replies : — ■
" I have received your note of what Italian books you
would have, and hope to get them sent to you by the
* Superscribed to Her Boyal Highness the Lady Princess-dowager
of Orange. ' Correspondence of John Evelyn,' vol. iv. p. 227.