CONDÉ (Louis de Bourbon, Duc d'Enghien, future Prince de). A - Lot 172

CONDÉ (Louis de Bourbon, Duc d'Enghien, future Prince de). Autograph letter signed "Louis de Bourbon" to Cardinal de Richelieu. "Au camp devant Aire" [in today's Pas-de-Calais département], July 12, 1641. One p. in-4, address on spine with red wax armorial seals and pink silk closing ribbons preserved; trace of tab on spine. Le Grand Condé (1621-1686) had just joined the king's armies. He had been ordered to go to the North, where the French were fighting the Spanish in the Thirty Years' War, and in particular to Aire-sur-la-Lys, where Marshal de LaMeilleraye had been laying siege to the Spanish garrison since May 1641 - the town was due to surrender on July 27. "I am sending you this gentleman to learn assured news of your sanctuary, which is as dear to me as my own life, and at the same time to testify to you the extreme displeasure I feel at the wounding of Monsieur le Marquis de Coalin [the Marquis de Coislin, César DuCambout, Master of Camp, had just died of his wounds on July 10]. This blow has touched me deeply, not only because of his merit and because he loved me so much, but particularly because he is a person you care about and who is very devoted to you. I can assure you that all your friends will always be mine, and that whoever does not love you will always be my enemy, since I wish to remain your most humble and obedient servant all my life, Monsieur, Louis de Bourbon". In February 1641, Le Grand Condé had just married Clémence de Maillé, daughter of Marshal de Brézé, but above all niece of Cardinal de Richelieu.