JAMES II & VII: (1633-1701) King of England & Ireland and King of Scotland (as James VII) 1685-88. A good A.L.S. ...

JAMES II & VII: (1633-1701) King of England & Ireland and King of Scotland (as James VII) 1685-88. A good A.L.S., with his initials J R, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to the Duke of Lauzun, in French. The exiled King writes, in full, 'The Queen and I have forgotten to ask if we could see the flags and banners when we were in Marle, even though we intended to do so. I don't know if the King would like to send them to us, for us to see them before they are sent to Paris'. With integral address leaf (small area of paper loss and a couple of neat tears, the latter professionally repaired, evidently caused by the breaking of the seal). A letter of good association. VG £1000-1500 Antoine Nompar de Caumont (1632-1723) Duc de Lauzun. French Courtier and Soldier noted for his command of a French Expeditionary Brigade which served alongside the Jacobite Irish Army during the Williamite War and at the Battle of the Boyne. In 1685 the Duc de Lauzun travelled to England to seek his fortune under King James II, whom he had served as Duke of York in Flanders. Lauzun rapidly gained great influence at the English court and in 1688 he arranged the journey into exile of Mary of Modena, whom he accompanied to Calais under strict instructions from King Louis XIV. After the defeat at the Battle of Boyne in July 1690, King James II had returned to France where he spent the rest of his life in exile at Saint-Germain, protected by King Louis XIV.