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

1656.] LETTER FROM THE PEINCESS-DOWAGEE. 105
sister and me, has redoubled that which I have already
felt, inasmuch as your majesty offers your good offices to
render the same firm and lasting, for the advancement of
our general interests. I assure you, sire, that as I have
ardently contributed all in my power towards it, I shall
always continue to do so with the like zeal, knowing how
much it will contribute to the prosperity of the Prince, our
pupil, and the good of his house ; and I predict, henceforth
all good results, since your majesty is pleased, with so
much goodness, to interest yourself in the same. I entreat
you to do me the favour of believing that I am no less
anxious to promote his weal than of old, and I pray God
to bring this to a happy conclusion, and also, Sire, to give
me the power of proving by my humble services with how
much respect and sincerity I am,
" Sire,
" Your majesty's very humble and obedient servant,
" Amelia P. D'Okange.
" Hague, this 25th Feb., 1656."
The assurance, that such a pleasant letter had been
written, was very agreeable to Mary of England, who re-
garded it as an earnest of future harmony between her and
the mother of her early lost and still inexpressibly dear
consort, the father of her only child, the young William of
Orange.
The affection for her own son did not render her the
less regardful of her brothers, especially^ of the youngest,
Henry Duke of Gloucester, to whom she had induced
Charles II. to allow, out of her annual gratuity to him,
five hundred guilders per month. We doubt, notwith-
standing Charles's solemn signature to this agreement, poor
young Gloucester often came short of his allowance. But no
such fears or misgivings troubled the mind of the generous