Queen Mary II's letter to Electress Sophia of Hanover, dated May 23/June 3, 1689

Source:

Memoirs of Mary, queen of England (1689-1693), together with her letters, etc., edited by Richard Doebner, Leipzig, Veit & comp., 1886

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015066445514&view=1up&seq=89

Above: Queen Mary II, painted by Willem Wissing.

Above: Electress Sophia of Hanover, painted by Michel Jean.

The letter:

De Hamptoncour ce 23. de May }
                                     3. de Juin
                                     1689.

Ma cousine.
Je vous suis fort obligee pour les bons souhaits que vous me faites dans vostre letre et J'espere que je n'aures pas beaucoup de pain a vous persuader que tous ce qui vient de vous m'est fort agreeable. Quoi que je n'ay jamais eu le bonheur de vous cognoistre, je ne laise pas d'avoir une estime pour vous que j'ose nommer amitie et comme on est sujet a croire facilement ce qu'on souhaite, je me flate que le sang a eu le mesme efect sur vous que sur moi, et cella me tiendera lieu de meritte. Md. l'Electrice de Branden. a ce que je voy a parle de moi d'une maniere qui me seroit desavantageuse si je devres estre veu apres cela, mais comme je suis une peu eloigne de cette esperence j'en suis bien aise, ce ne m'est pas une petite joye de savoir qu'elle estoit contente de son voyage a la Haye. L'esperence que j'avois de la revoir me fit quiter ce lieu avec encore plus de regrette. Vous voules bien que je passe sous silance le comancement de vostre letre, elle estoit bien obligente pour moi, mais mon malheur est tell qu'il vaut mieux que je passe beaucoup de choses sous silence dont les autre peuvent parler. Je ne doute pas de la justese de vos sentiments, et j'espere que les miene sont raisonable, ayent beaucoup a soufrir pour les mallheur d'une pere, mais cella ne m'empeche pas de me rejouir du bien publick, et la satisfaction que j'ay d'avoir un marri qui a fait son devoir et de n'avoir pas manque moi mesme, est asses grande pour me donner beaucoup de repos d'esprit. Je voys qu'il est dificile de finir, je crains, Madame, de vous enuyer, c'est pour quoi il faut achever cette letre, vous prient de me croire tousjour,
Ma cousine,
vostre tres afectionee cousine
Marie R.

English translation (my own):

From Hampton Court, 23 May/3 June, 1689.

My cousin,
I am very much obliged to you for the good wishes you give me in your letter and I hope that I would not have much difficulty in convincing you that all that comes from you is very pleasant to me. Although I have never had the good fortune to know you, I do not fail to have an esteem for you that I dare to call friendship; and as one is subject to easily believe what one wishes, I flatter myself that blood has had the same effect on you as it has on me, and that will stand for me. Madame the Electress of Brandenburg has what I see talking about myself in a way which would be disadvantageous to me if I should be seen after that, but as I am a little removed from this hope I am very happy that it is not so. It is no small joy to me to know that she was happy with her trip to The Hague. The hope that I had to see her again made me leave this place with even more regret. You would like me to pass over the beginning of your letter in silence, it was very obliging to me, but my misfortune is such that it is better that I pass over many things in silence that others can talk about. I do not doubt the justice of your feelings, and I hope that mine are reasonable, having much to suffer for the misfortune of a father, but that does not prevent me from rejoicing in the public good, and the satisfaction that I have of having a husband who has done his duty, and not to have failed myself, is great enough to give me great peace of mind. I see that it is difficult to finish, I am afraid, Madame, of boring you, that is why this letter must be completed, begging you to believe me always [to be],
My cousin,
your very affectionate cousin
Mary R.