28 - HENRY III (Henry of Valois, future king). Letter signed “Henry” with three handwritten words, addressed to the captain of his bodyguards, Jean de Losse. Angers, January 12, 1570. 1/2 folio page, address on the back; cuts from the fastening mechanism, a few tears from opening the letter that do not affect the text, fine marginal trimming, trace of a wax seal on the reverse.

HENRY III (Henry of Valois, future king). Letter signed “Henry” with three handwritten words, addressed to the captain of his bodyguards, Jean de Losse. Angers, January 12, 1570. 1/2 folio page, address on the back; cuts from the fastening mechanism, a few tears from opening the letter that do not affect the text, fine marginal trimming, trace of a wax seal on the reverse. “In accordance with what the King, my lord and brother, has written to you, I beg you to MAKE YOUR WAY TO MY COUSIN THE PRINCE DAUPHIN WITH AS MANY TROOPS AS YOU CAN, and to do so with the greatest possible haste, to assist him and to render him the service in which the King, mybrother has always been assured of from you. And on this assurance, I pray to God... that He may keep you in His holy care...” The person referred to as the “Dauphin” is François de Bourbon (1542–1592), Dauphin of Auvergne and future Duke of Montpensier: he served as a military leader with bravery and loyalty under Kings Henry III and Henry IV.