Henri II de Bourbon, prince de CONDÉ (1588-1646) first prince of the blood, peer and grand master of France; took part in the Fronde and was imprisoned; governor of Berry, Lorraine and then Burgundy; head of the Conseil de Régence during the minority of Louis XIV; father of the Grand Condé. L.A.S., Narbonne May 20, 1641, to M. de Chavigny "Conseiller du Roy en ses Conseils et Secrétaire de ses commandemens"; 1page folio, address on back with small red wax seals (broken). Interesting historical letter concerning French intervention in Catalonia. [Following a revolt in Barcelona in June 1640, the Cortes of Catalonia called on the King of France for help. Louis XIII was elected Count of Barcelona on January 23, 1641, and in February Marshal de Camp La Mothe-Houdancourt, sent to Catalonia with an army, laid siege to Tarragona, which he had to abandon in August of the same year. It was between these two dates that the Prince de Condé wrote this letter, and the situation already seems quite complicated]. He was deeply saddened by the death of M. de Megrin, but rejoiced at the recovery of M. de Brézé [Urbain de Maillé, maréchal de Brézé, who would become viceroy of Catalonia in 1642]: "He will do well not to haster his journey until the Tarragonne affair is over, we hope variously. M. Despenan, who was there, told me that Mr de La Motte Oudancourt did not want to stay there"... If M. de Brézé came, M d'Argenson "tells me that he has not yet agreed with the principality to receive the Viceroy on oath. I beg you to keep this secret, for perhaps it is not true, and only tell Mr. Mareschal de Brese. Mr de La Motte despant force argent en ceste armée de Catalongne et sil continue longtemps il n'en restera gueres à larrivée de mr le mareschal"...