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

1646.] UNDER THE CARE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 171
but being prevented at this time, I hope I shall have it
ready to entertain you, at the Hague, when you return.
Pray believe me to be
" Your most affectionate sister,
" Elizabeth.
" 11th September, 16-15.
" To my dear sister, Princess Mary."
Clarendon states " that the Earl and Countess of North-
umberland, treated the royal children with all possible
consideration and respect, but could give them no more
liberty than they were allowed by the parliament." That
body, never tired of vexatiously interfering about the
children of their sovereign, now called attention to the
money paid for their support, which was declared to be
much more than was requisite ; and required the Earl of
Northumberland to make such retrenchments as Mould
enable him to maintain them on five thousand pounds a
year, which was to be placed entirely at his disposal, and
to cover all expenses, except the cost of the physicians and
the wages of their servants, which the parliament was
bound to discharge.*
The Earl of Northumberland was empowered to select
for the residence of the royal brother and sister, either
Whitehall, Somerset House, or St. James's palace, also to
take from the royal stores such tapestries, plate, and
furniture as he thought proper for their use.f
The Earl selected St. James's palace for the residence of
the young Princess and her brother, and thither they and
their attendants were removed in the spring of 1646.
But on the surrender of Oxford, where the plague had just
broken out, one of the articles of the capitulation was that
the Duke of York, who had been left there by the King
* ' Journals of the House of Commons.'
t ' Journals of the House of Lords.'