JAMES VI & I (1566-1625), King of Scotland, England and Ireland. Letter signed ('Vostre tres affectionné frere & cousin Jaques R') to Louis XIII of France, Newmarket, 22 March 1622/3, in French, proferring excuses for the fact that the journey through France of the Prince of Wales (the future Charles I) had taken place so suddenly that there had not been time to give Louis due warning, though the Earl of Carlisle had immediately been sent to make due excuses and explanations; James confesses himself touched by Louis's indulgence in this matter, 'la bienveillance que vous avez demonstrée en ceste occurrence extraordinare', and duly offers extravagant thanks, one page, 335 x 453mm, integral address panel, endorsements, papered seal (seal slits, general browning, some punctures from ink acidification).

JAMES VI & I (1566-1625), King of Scotland, England and Ireland. Letter signed ('Vostre tres affectionné frere & cousin Jaques R') to Louis XIII of France, Newmarket, 22 March 1622/3, in French, proferring excuses for the fact that the journey through France of the Prince of Wales (the future Charles I) had taken place so suddenly that there had not been time to give Louis due warning, though the Earl of Carlisle had immediately been sent to make due excuses and explanations; James confesses himself touched by Louis's indulgence in this matter, 'la bienveillance que vous avez demonstrée en ceste occurrence extraordinare', and duly offers extravagant thanks, one page, 335 x 453mm, integral address panel, endorsements, papered seal (seal slits, general browning, some punctures from ink acidification).

Charles and his father's favourite, the Duke of Buckingham, had travelled incognito to Spain in order to negotiate the marriage of the former with the Infanta, Maria Anna: although the negotiations ended disastrously, the French leg of the journey was at least the occasion for a first meeting between Charles and his future wife, Louis's daughter Henrietta Maria.