The last Catholic monarch (1633–1701) to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, crowned in 1685. ALS, signed “James R” and "JR," one page, 7 x 8.75, December 9, 1688. Handwritten letter "for Cap. Randal Mackdonnel, Commander of our Ship the Assurance," amidst the Glorious Revolution, carrying instructions to receive on board "our dearest consort the Queene, and, that wind and weather permitting, you make the best of your way to land her at such place on the French coast as she shall direct you." The king's red wax armorial seal affixed at the upper left remains intact. In fine condition.
In accordance with this letter, on the same night that it was written, Queen Mary of Modena left London in disguise with the infant Prince of Wales, and in the company of Victoria Davia-Montecuculi and Antonin Nompar de Caumont crossed over to France. After a stormy voyage, they arrived safely in Calais on December 11th—the day that James was formally deposed in England. They would be joined in France by James a few weeks later, beginning their exile under the auspices of his first cousin, King Louis XIV.
Mary quickly became a popular fixture at Louis XIV's court at Versailles, where diarist Madame de Sévigné acclaimed her 'distinguished bearing and her quick wit.' James, on the other hand, was largely excluded from French court life, as his contemporaries found him boring; French courtiers frequently joked that 'when one talks to him, one understands why he is here.'
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