"CHARLES:--I am sorry that I must begin my first letter with
chiding you, because I hear that you will not take physic. I hope
it was only for this day, and that tomorrow you will do it; for if
you will not, I must come to you and make you take it; for it is
for your health. I have given orders to my Lord of Newcastle to
send me word tonight whether you will or not; therefore I hope you
will not give me the pains to go. And so I rest your affectionate
mother,
HENRIETTA MARIE."
"To my dear son, the prince, 1638."
The young prince, who was then only eight years old, felt the propriety
of submitting to the maternal command, and swallowed the dose; but
amused himself with writing this sprightly little billet to his
governor, dryly stating the reason of his declining the potion: