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Sale 61
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Lot 397
Henry VIII (1491-1547) King of England (1509-47); in 1534, he broke with Rome over Pope Clement VII's refusal to grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon and, by the Act of Supremacy, became Supreme Head of the Church of England. Superb early Letter Signed "Henry R" as King, 2 pages, 12¼ x 8½ in., Calais, July 7 [1513]. To George Talbot, fourth Earl of Shrewsbury, Steward of the Household and Lieutenant of the Vanguard of the expeditionary army in France, encouraging him to proceed with the capture of Thérouanne.
In part: "…We be also well content w[i]t[h] yo[u]r certificate made unto us of the state of o[u]r enemyes wherof ye be ascertained….Willing and desiring you not only substancially to loke thereunto for the suertie of yo[u]rself and of o[u]r armyes being then w[i]t[h] you. but also to slake no tyme/but w[i]t[h] all diligence to employe yo[u]rself by battery and other exploit of warre for the getting of that towne/And nowe ye knowe by espiell and taking of prison[er]s the state of that towne and of what power it is to resiste you we doubt not but ye wol endevo[u]r yo[u]rself therafter accordingly…."
Henry discusses a strategy by which the French King's army could be reduced and discouraged, namely by obtaining a letter from the Emperor withdrawing his German mercenaries from the service of Francis I ("…"thynking right expedient to w[i]t[h]drawe the sayd almayns from o[u]r enemye…if they mought be gotten…"), which, despite the Emperor's far-off position would be attempted, and in the meantime sending a copy of the Emperor's proclamation ("…considering also the censures of the churche executed by vertue and auctoritie of the popes bulles…") forbidding his German subjects to fight with the French King against the Englsh, together with "an article conteigned in the treatise latley concluded ratified sworne and confermed betwixt The Emperor and Us…" which might of themselves persuade the Germans to leave the French King's army "and come to Us." Henry also sends to Talbot "sixe lastes of gounepowder" but not any shot ("…because we knowe not the compasses ne moldes of yo[u]r orden[a]unces…"), together with a copy of the confession of a prisoner giving information about the "towne of Terwyn." Written in a fine secretarial hand, with integral address leaf. Minor archival repairs and dispatch slits, else fine.
In June 1513, Henry sailed for Calais and besieged the French fortress of Thérouanne. The French force sent to relieve the town was routed at the Battle of the Spurs on August 16, and on August 22, Henry captured Thérouanne.
Estimated Value $45,000 - 65,000.
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