Important letter from FRANCIS I concerning the siege of Fuenterrabía. 1522.

FRANCIS I (1494-1547 )

Letter signed to Monseigneur de Jarnac.

One folio page on laid paper. Address on the back.

A tab of laid paper at the periphery, annotated at the top: "From Francis I concerning the war of July 18, 1522."

Document countersigned by Florimond Robertet (1458-1527).

La Coste Saint André. July 18 [1522].

"I will come to their aid with all my strength and power, both by sea and by land."

An important and fascinating letter on the siege of Fontarabie, in the part of Navarre annexed by Ferdinand the Catholic and which the ally and future brother-in-law of Francis I, Henry II d'Albret, King of Navarre, sought to retake.

__________________________________________________________________

“Monsieur de Jarnac, I have received the letters you wrote to me […]. The free archers have only been paid one hundred sols per month and the lieutenants will receive forty francs per month. “[…] nevertheless, knowing the great deprivation that is in Fontarrabye and the good will they have to serve me, I have been and am pleased that they shall henceforth be paid at the rate of six francs per month, provided that they promise to serve well and loyally within the place if the siege comes there without any mutiny, and that they will await their payment as long as they are besieged, which cannot be long, for in that case I will aid them with all my strength and power, both by sea and by land […]”.

__________________________________________________________________

Monseigneur de Jarnac: Charles Chabot (1487-1559), baron of Jarnac, lord of Brion, Saint-Aulaye and Montlieu, governor of Aunis and captain of La Rochelle.