Diplomatic Missions for the new King Henry II
Letter, signed (“Henry”)‚ to his ambassador extarordinary in Switzerland, the Abbé de Bassefontaine, countersigned by him (“Delaubespine”).
Annet: 19 June 1547.
Price: $3,750.00
About the item
1 p. pen and ink on paper. 1 vols. 4to. Diplomatic Missions for the new King Henry II. Top corner cut away (no loss of text). Light soiling, very good. Wheat cloth folder, with typescript transliteration and English translation.
Item #309506
Letter from the Valois King of France Henry II (1519-1559), soon after he was proclaimed king in May 1547. The letter is addressed to, and countersigned by, the ambassador extraordinary, Sebastien de L’Aubespine (1518-1582), abbé de Bassefontaine, who was instructed on 11 June 1547 and charged with seeking the help of the Swiss against the Emperor Charles V, and in renewing the Franco-Swiss alliance. The abbé de Bassefontaine was sent again on missions to Switzerland in 1548 and 1549.
The letter instructs the recipient to confer with the other French envoy, the Sieur de Lyancourt, and to learn the truth about rumors of the Emperor’s whereabouts and preparations following the battle of Muehlberg and the Wittenberg capitulation. Henry’s reign saw the continued repression of Protestants in France, inconclusive wars with the Emperor, and continued military campaigns in Italy. After his untimely death, France was convulsed by religious strife.
