O Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God, have mercy on me, a miserable sinner.
Lord, I know not what to pray for as I ought . . . I praise you for the grace you have given me, for the continuance of my good health (I have had no need of physic for the last two months at least, praise be) and that of my kin and my friends . . . I should rather say, in my sister Orange’s case, for the restoration of her good health, for the word from her Court is that she is now fully out of danger. When the fits of her ague were at their height, when her death was hourly expected, I feared for her very much, especially as she was in the hands of the Prince’s physicians – who you know do not bleed enough . . . You know what was in my heart then, please forgive me if I do not speak of it now, I do not think my spirit could bear it.
I must thank you too for what else is restored to us: that spring is here at last, after so long a winter – it does my heart good to find the trees in the Park in bud again, to see the first flowers in the ground when I stroll. I can look forward now to long rides in fair weather – and perhaps to hunt with my father as I was not able in Flanders – for I must thank you for his return too – for I understand the King has Parliament at bay, so for all that is said or written or printed or signed against the Duke, they can at least pass no Bills to hurt him – to hurt us, I should say – to hurt this family . . .
And thank you too for the safe return of my dear Mrs Churchill’s husband, who I am sure will comfort her as I cannot for the loss of her baby Harriet, whom you have in your goodness made so perfectly happy.