One advantage Hyde himself reaped from his daughter’s advancement. He records that his wife, “when she had presented her Daughter to the Princess, came herself to reside with her Husband to his great Comfort and which he could not have enjoyed if the other Separation had not been made, and possibly that Consideration had the more easily disposed him to consent to the other.”[[25]]
[25]. “Life of Edward, Earl of Clarendon,” by himself. Ed. 1759.
ELIZABETH, QUEEN OF BOHEMIA
The girl’s own feeling in the matter is expressed in a letter to her father, dated 19th October, which, under the ceremonious address then alone admissible, breathes a spirit of strong family affection.
“I have received yours of the 13th and shall euer make it soe much my business strickly to observe all your commands in it that when euer I transgress any of them in the least degree it shall be out of ignorance and not willfullness soe that I hope you shall neuer have cause to repent of the good opinion you are pleased to have of me and which I shall dayly endeuour to increase, and since you thinke it fitt for me, shall very cheerfully submit to a life which I have not much desired but now looke upon not onely as the will of my Father, but of Almighty God and therefore doubtles will prove a blessing; but Sr. you must not wonder if being happy in soe excelent a Father and Mother I cannot part with them without trouble, for though as you say I have been soe unfortunate as allways to live from you yet I looke upon myself now as still more unlikely to be with you or see you, and though I shall often heare from my Mother and I hope see her, yet that will be but little in respect of being continually with her. I say not this that I repine at goeing to the Princess for I am confident that God that has made her soe gracious in desiring me will make me happy in her service, but I should be the worst of chilldren if I were not very sensible of leaving soe good a Mother and leaving her so much alone; but I hope you will be together this winter, and in the meane time I beseech you to perswad her to stay as long as shee can wth vs at the Hague, that shee may be as little as is possible alone heare; I humbly beg your blessing vpon
“Sr.
“Your most dutifull and obedient daughter,
“Anne Hyde.”[[26]]
[26]. Clarendon MS., vol. xlix., folio 70 (Bodleian Library).