A letter from Henry III, king of England (c.1260)

Translated letter:

Henry, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, to his dearest sister Marguerite, by that same grace illustrious queen of France, greetings and ever increase of sincere love. Since your dearest son, the illustrious king of Navarre, is known to have assigned certain lands in Champagne to the noble man our beloved John, count of Brittany, and his wife Blanche, which lands said count and Blanche granted to their firstborn son John and his wife Beatrice, our daughter, as your love well knows, and the business of the conjugal bond contracted between the foresaid, the firstborn of said count and our daughter, was begun laudably by your wisdom, we approach your serenity affectionately asking that you advance said business efficaciously, if it please you, diligently imposing your counsel on said king, that the assignment of said lands be done swiftly lest, by delay in said assignment to said John and our daughter, his consort, there be undeserved harm or damage, and so that said business brought by you to this point, may be happily completed.

Original letter:

Henricus, Dei gratia rex Anglie, dominus Hibernie et dux Aquitanie, karissime sorori sue Margarete, eadem gratia regine Francie illustri, salutem et sincere dilectionis semper augmentum. Cum karissimus filius vester, rex Navarre illustris, dilecto nobis nobili viro Johanni, comiti Britannie, et Blanche uxori ejus, assignationem quarundam terrarum in Campania facere teneatur, quas quidem terras prefatus comes et Blancha Johanni filio suo primogenito, et Beatrici filie nostre, sponse sue, concessit, sicut vestra dilectio bene novit; et negotium federis conjugalis inter prefatos, primogenitum dicti comitis et filiam nostram, contracti, per vestram fuerit providentiam vestri gratia laudabiliter inchoatum: serenitatem vestram duximus affectuose rogandam quatinus prefatum negocium efficatius, si placet, promoventes, erga prefatum regem partes vestras diligenter imponere velitis, quod predictarum terrarum assignatio cito fiat, ne, ex prorogatione assignationis predicte, prefatis Johanni et filie nostre, consorti sue, dampnum immerito debeat aut jactura, ita quod predictum negotium per vos huc usque continuatum feliciter compleatur.

Historical context:

Thibaud, V count of Champagne and II king of Navarre, was Marguerite's son-in-law, married to Isabel, who had been forced to make peace with John of Brittany before his marriage. The marriage spoken of here, between the son of the count of Brittany and Henry's daughter, Marguerite's niece, was promoted by Marguerite.

Printed source:

Lettres de Rois, Reines et Autres Personnages des Cours de France et D'Angleterre, ed. M. Champollion-Figeac (Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1839), 1.134, ep.106. Also in Royal and Other Historical Letters illustrative of the Reign of Henry III, ed.WW Shirley (London: Longmans et al, 1866), 2.155 ep.536.

Date:

c.1260