JAMES II (1633-1701). King of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Letter Signed and subscribed ('Mon frere / Votre affectionne Frere / Jacques R') in French to (Charles V, duke of Lorraine (1643-1690). 1 page 4to, Whitehall, 3 May 1688. In fine condition, with integral address-leaf bearing wax seals attached by silk thread (small seal-tear where opened). Contemporary endorsement.

Commended his young nephew, the duke of St Albans, who was about to embark on his first military campaign, against the Turks.
Charles Beauclerk, first duke of St Albans (1670-1726) was the illegitimate son of Charles II and Nell Gwynn. On his mother's death in November 1687 he received a considerable estate, and shortly afterwards served in the imperial army against the Turks. It was rumoured that he would go to Hungary to return a Catholic, but in fact he was to be a supporter of William and Mary and the protestant succession.

1688, the last year of James II's reign, was an eventful one; he was to flee to France on 23 December and would be thus deemed to have abdicated. He was at this time making more forceful attempts to establish Catholicism in England, and his first son was born in June, a sign he took as divine providence to pursue his plans. The acquittal in May of six bishops whom he had prosecuted for seditious libel was a great blow to him.

'La generosité avec la quelle vous avez accueilli ceux de mes Sujets qui ont esté portéz par l'amour des Armes de faire les dernieres Campagnes en Hongrie au Service de l'Empereur, me fait esperer que vous la continuerez à l'egard de mon Cousin le Duc de St Albans fils naturel du feu Roy mon frere de glorieuse memoire; ce m'est une satisfaction particuliere que son genie l'amena d'en faire sa premiere dans une Cause si juste, et soûs vostre conduitte, par la quelle les Armes Chrêtiennes ont jusques icy si glorieusement reüssi. ...'

'The generosity with which you have received those of my subjects who were induced through love of warfare to take part in the latest Campaigns in Hungary in the Emperor's service, leads me to hope that you will so continue with regard to my Cousin the Duke of St Albans, natural son of my brother, the late King of glorious memory; it gives me particular satisfaction that his inclination has brought him to make his first [campaign] in so just a cause, and under your leadership, by which Christian Arms have up till now so gloriously succeeded. ...'

It was a convention for the heads of royal houses to refer to each other as 'brother' or 'sister' and to refer to other relatives as 'cousin'.


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