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

1646.] FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE SOUNDHEADS. 215
The siege of Exeter, was at length turned into a
blockade, and the temporary supply of larks being ex-
hausted, and the garrison suffering from famine, the brave
governor, Sir John Berkeley, was under the necessity
of entering into terms for the surrender of the lo} 7 al city
on the 13th of April, 1646.
The little Princess left the city of Exeter, in as royal
a manner, as was possible for the daughter of a fugitive
King, to do ; in the arms of her faithful governess, Lady
Dalkeith, and escorted by the brave governor of the city,
Sir John Berkeley, who, with his garrison, marched out
with the honours of war. Sir John Berkeley, had stipulated
for the Princess and her governess, to be allowed full
liberty to proceed to any place in the kingdom, wherever it
might be most pleasing for them to go, within twenty days
after the surrender of Exeter, with all their plate, money,
and goods ; but it does not appear that these conditions
were observed, for the little Princess and Lady Dalkeith
were conducted to Oatlands,* where they were joined by
the rest of the household, that had been appointed by the
King, to wait on the child, and Lady Dalkeith had to pay all
the expenses of the establishment, out of her own pocket.
It was in vain that the poor lady wrote to the
Speaker of the House of Commons, and at last to the
committee of the House, for the county of Surrey, sitting
at Kingston, entreating to be repaid the money she
had expended, for the maintenance of her young royal
charge. No notice was taken of her petition for aid. At
last, however, an order was passed on the 24th of May, by
the House of Commons, " That the Princess Henrietta
should be brought up to London, placed with her sister
and brothers, at St. James's palace, and care taken
that she should want for nothing! requisite to her birth
* Whitelock's ' Memorials.' f Ibid.