HENRI II DE BOURBON

Autograph letter dated and signed by Henri II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and father of the Grand Condé, 2 pages on one sheet, 27 lines in black ink.
Minor restorations and dampstain to left margin of the sheet. Discreet annotation by a former owner at head of verso of the letter.
Although he acknowledges the full atrocity of the crime perpetrated by sieur Cardinet against the person of the son of one of the most important magistrates of the city of Bourges, Henri II undertakes to intervene in favor of the assassin: "... l'action qui sest passee a Bourges est très méchante estant un assassinat très inhumain fait en plein jour contre le fils dun des principaus magistras de la ville. Japorteray pour vostre respect tout mon pouvoir pour ledit Cardinet et espère pour lamour de vous et pour lobeissance que je vous veus rendre le tirer daffaire..." ["... the action that took place at Bourges is very wicked being a very inhuman assassination done in broad daylight against the son of one of the principal magistrates of the city. I will bring for your respect all my power for the said Cardinet and hope for love of you and for the obedience that I wish to render you to get him out of trouble..."] but in no case for his accomplices: "Je dis lui seul car pour les autres complices je tiens la chose impossible sans une abolition du Roy principalement estants tous prisonniers presentement je despescheray à Bourges a cet effet est en ceste petite occasion que je voudrois estre plus grande..." ["I say him alone for as for the other accomplices I hold the thing impossible without an abolition from the King principally being all prisoners presently I will dispatch to Bourges to this effect and in this small occasion that I would wish to be greater..."]