Extract from a letter written by Queen Henrietta Maria to her son, the exiled Prince Charles (later King Charles II).

I discovered this long letter during my research, and thought this extract from the end offers a poignant impression of the widowed queen's mind and relationship with her son:

I have no other rainbow than that of remembering that I am your mother, and in your generous spirit it is well seen that you are the son of so great a father; and if God, who is above destiny, should please to replace you on his throne, which I cannot hope to see in my few remaining days, you will show yourself still more so. But meanwhile, what can your wretched mother advise you? The crowns of Scotland and Ireland are doubtless fitting steps to bring you to your entire kingdom of Great Britain, yet, nevertheless, I fear the infidelity of the Scots, who for the price of a few pieces of money, sold the life of the king, your incomparable father, to the Parliament. My afflicted heart knows that if you declare yourself Catholic, as you have so often promised me, they will not think your title good ; and if you do not do so, with what affection will Ireland follow you ? I will never believe that this promise will betray you, for he who fears God, cannot be faithless to his prince. Would it had pleased heaven that Henry VIII., your ancestor, had never apostatized from God ! then would the kingdom of England not now have committed, with so detestable infidelity, so execrable a parricide to the king!

Would that my father, the great Henry, could rise again, to read you a lecture on the manner in which you should govern these kingdoms ! recommend yourself, however, to the Most High, that He may direct your actions to the desirable end ; — as all the remaining hours of my few days will be for you, and to unite you with God, though I am so cast down and dispirited by grief, that I do not remember any more to say to you. Yet my real afflictions do not make me forget your brothers, and that unfortunate Elizabeth. Oh ! if before my death, I could see her out of the hands of the traitors, I could die content. To this at least, I will exhort you, to employ every force, to use every artifice, to withdraw so dear a part of my own heart, this innocent victim of their fury, your worthy sister, from London. Do it, I pray and conjure you, by the spirit of the king, my lord and your father.

Instead of the counsels which I could give you, and which you ask from me, you must receive all I have to give, which my secretary will deliver you in my name, with a most fervent embrace ; that is, almost all the jewels which I have left, reserving two only, one for Elizabeth, if I can give it to her, and the other for my own support, during my short residue of life ; whilst, having taken leave of the court, I retire with only two maids, my secretary, and confessor, to private life, to finish my days with the least possible disturbance, disentangled from the world ; and you may be even sure that my spirit, which hopes for eternal rest in imperturbable felicity, will ever pray for you and your happy success. I conclude by remaining.

Yours as ever.