ELIZABETH I (1533-1603), Queen of England . Autograph letter signed ('Vostres tres affection[n]e bo[nne] Soeur Elizabeth R') to the King of France (Henry IV), n.p., n.d. in French, the text in her loosely formed cursive hand, the signature in her upright italic script, 2 pages, folio , integral address leaf ('a mon bon frere le Roy tres chrestien'), with a 4-line inscription in an elegant 17th-century italic hand at top and bottom of first page describing the letter and a signature ('d[enis] Godefroy') in the top left hand corner; two signet seals, remains of silk cords (lightly browned, splitting in lower part of central vertical fold, tiny stitch holes, small tape repair).
ELIZABETH I (1533-1603), Queen of England . Autograph letter signed ('Vostres tres affection[n]e bo[nne] Soeur Elizabeth R') to the King of France (Henry IV), n.p., n.d. in French, the text in her loosely formed cursive hand, the signature in her upright italic script, 2 pages, folio , integral address leaf ('a mon bon frere le Roy tres chrestien'), with a 4-line inscription in an elegant 17th-century italic hand at top and bottom of first page describing the letter and a signature ('d[enis] Godefroy') in the top left hand corner; two signet seals, remains of silk cords (lightly browned, splitting in lower part of central vertical fold, tiny stitch holes, small tape repair). ELIZABETH THE DIPLOMATIST: an elaborate expression of friendship and goodwill towards the recipient. Elizabeth has agreed to the King's request to allow his ambassador a passport to remain for two months. She is charging the ambassador with conveying her thanks to the King for having shown to all those present in her court the warmth of his friendship, reminding him also of his promises to her. She continues with oblique references to her advice, begging him to see clear-sightedly, without being overshadowed by bad counsel, rather than that which is given without bias or other purpose than true sincerity, and to take upon himself the blame for having her being so concerned in his affairs. 'Monnsieur n[ot]re bo[n] frere La Conjuratio[n] sur quoy m'invitastes a Laisser passer vostre Embassadeur pour deux mois me fust de tel viguer par dire co[m]bien que Dieu marcy no[n] p[ar] experie[n]ce que ne voulu resister telle requeste sortant de la main de tel a qui oultre de L'envie que j'ay a Co[m]plaire se fortifie par tesmoignages asses evident. Je n'ose dire quelque chose de plus que Les effectz de ce qui me[n]tionnes d'amour ne se cachent de Jour a Jour Mais la je mettray un point p[ar]faict ne m'esgarent oultre mes bournes Il reste a vous dire que je charge vostre Emba[ssadeur] en Vostre no[m] de Vous Co[m]muniquer et mes infinies graces que Vous re[n]de pour avoir represente a tous Les assistans L'ardeur de Vostre amitie en mo[n] endroict avec Un Souhait Le plus Vehement qui se peult desirer ... m'assurant que n'aures jamais Voist de ma part de nous en fair penitance quel aultre particularites qui en ma Co[n]ference Je m'assure estre le plus necessaires pour vostre seurte et estat. Je ly ay declare Vous supleant pour Vous mesme de Y avoir les yeulx clair voyantes sans l'ombragir par les Vuees de pire advis qui ne tendront Si droict au blank de Vostre salut que ce que se don[n]e sans farde ou aultre mene que La Vraye Sincerite et mettes sur Vous La Colpe de m'inquerir tant en Vos affaires ... '. A fine example of Elizabeth I's writing in French. An appreciable proportion of her letters were written in French or Latin, in both of which she had become fluent in her youth. Although the absence of either a date for the letter, or the name of the ambassador, prevents the identification of the context with any certainty, it is likely that it was written during the war of England, France and the Dutch Republic with Spain when Elizabeth and Henri IV exchanged pledges of mutual support in 1596. The language of the letter is less picturesque than that of some of Elizabeth's letters to Henry IV, both as King of Navarre and after his accession as King of France, particularly in her expressions of shock and dismay on learning in 1592 that he had declared the Catholic religion to be the true faith; but the reference to the need for 'les yeulx clairs' is characteristic of her phraseology in writing to him. Both Henry III and Henry IV sent many envoys to England. Denis Godefroy (1615-1681), whose name appears on the first page, was, like his father, Theodore, the royal historiographer, and a grandson of the great protestant jurist, Denis Godefroy (1549-1622). He was charged by Colbert with looking after the records of the Low Countries preserved at Lille and was librarian
ELIZABETH I (1533-1603), Queen of England . Autograph letter signed ('Vostres tres affection[n]e bo[nne] Soeur Elizabeth R') to the King of France (Henry IV), n.p., n.d. in French, the text in her loosely formed cursive hand, the signature in her upright italic script, 2 pages, folio , integral address leaf ('a mon bon frere le Roy tres chrestien'), with a 4-line inscription in an elegant 17th-century italic hand at top and bottom of first page describing the letter and a signature ('d[enis] Godefroy') in the top left hand corner; two signet seals, remains of silk cords (lightly browned, splitting in lower part of central vertical fold, tiny stitch holes, small tape repair).
ELIZABETH I (1533-1603), Queen of England . Autograph letter signed ('Vostres tres affection[n]e bo[nne] Soeur Elizabeth R') to the King of France (Henry IV), n.p., n.d. in French, the text in her loosely formed cursive hand, the signature in her upright italic script, 2 pages, folio , integral address leaf ('a mon bon frere le Roy tres chrestien'), with a 4-line inscription in an elegant 17th-century italic hand at top and bottom of first page describing the letter and a signature ('d[enis] Godefroy') in the top left hand corner; two signet seals, remains of silk cords (lightly browned, splitting in lower part of central vertical fold, tiny stitch holes, small tape repair). ELIZABETH THE DIPLOMATIST: an elaborate expression of friendship and goodwill towards the recipient. Elizabeth has agreed to the King's request to allow his ambassador a passport to remain for two months. She is charging the ambassador with conveying her thanks to the King for having shown to all those present in her court the warmth of his friendship, reminding him also of his promises to her. She continues with oblique references to her advice, begging him to see clear-sightedly, without being overshadowed by bad counsel, rather than that which is given without bias or other purpose than true sincerity, and to take upon himself the blame for having her being so concerned in his affairs. 'Monnsieur n[ot]re bo[n] frere La Conjuratio[n] sur quoy m'invitastes a Laisser passer vostre Embassadeur pour deux mois me fust de tel viguer par dire co[m]bien que Dieu marcy no[n] p[ar] experie[n]ce que ne voulu resister telle requeste sortant de la main de tel a qui oultre de L'envie que j'ay a Co[m]plaire se fortifie par tesmoignages asses evident. Je n'ose dire quelque chose de plus que Les effectz de ce qui me[n]tionnes d'amour ne se cachent de Jour a Jour Mais la je mettray un point p[ar]faict ne m'esgarent oultre mes bournes Il reste a vous dire que je charge vostre Emba[ssadeur] en Vostre no[m] de Vous Co[m]muniquer et mes infinies graces que Vous re[n]de pour avoir represente a tous Les assistans L'ardeur de Vostre amitie en mo[n] endroict avec Un Souhait Le plus Vehement qui se peult desirer ... m'assurant que n'aures jamais Voist de ma part de nous en fair penitance quel aultre particularites qui en ma Co[n]ference Je m'assure estre le plus necessaires pour vostre seurte et estat. Je ly ay declare Vous supleant pour Vous mesme de Y avoir les yeulx clair voyantes sans l'ombragir par les Vuees de pire advis qui ne tendront Si droict au blank de Vostre salut que ce que se don[n]e sans farde ou aultre mene que La Vraye Sincerite et mettes sur Vous La Colpe de m'inquerir tant en Vos affaires ... '. A fine example of Elizabeth I's writing in French. An appreciable proportion of her letters were written in French or Latin, in both of which she had become fluent in her youth. Although the absence of either a date for the letter, or the name of the ambassador, prevents the identification of the context with any certainty, it is likely that it was written during the war of England, France and the Dutch Republic with Spain when Elizabeth and Henri IV exchanged pledges of mutual support in 1596. The language of the letter is less picturesque than that of some of Elizabeth's letters to Henry IV, both as King of Navarre and after his accession as King of France, particularly in her expressions of shock and dismay on learning in 1592 that he had declared the Catholic religion to be the true faith; but the reference to the need for 'les yeulx clairs' is characteristic of her phraseology in writing to him. Both Henry III and Henry IV sent many envoys to England. Denis Godefroy (1615-1681), whose name appears on the first page, was, like his father, Theodore, the royal historiographer, and a grandson of the great protestant jurist, Denis Godefroy (1549-1622). He was charged by Colbert with looking after the records of the Low Countries preserved at Lille and was librarian
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
