Letters of the Cardinal Duke du Richelieu great minister of state to Lewis XIII of France / faithfully translated from the original by T.B.

LETTER CIII. To the Duke of Halwin.

SIR,

'TIS so long ago since you were inform'd of the E∣nemy's Design, that I am persuaded you are not surprized at their Descent upon Languedoc, and that you have long since put your self in a posture to oppose their Progress. The King does not question but that you will upon this occasion discover your Merits and Bravery, and, in short, do all that he has reason to expect from your Affection to his Service. His Majesty has sent the Sieur de Bellefonds, to serve in Quality of Mareschal de Camp about you; as also a Commission to Monsieur d' Argencourt, for the same Employ. He is content you shou'd make use of all the Forces that are in the Province; and Monsieur de Noyers has writ more particularly to you about it.

The Bishop of Nismes has sent me word, that the Dio∣cess and City of Nismes have rais'd a Regiment, consisting of twelve hundred Men, that will be ready to march by the 15th. of this Month, and sends me word, that every one behaves himself so well in this common Danger, that the Spaniards will find it a much more difficult matter to get home again, than they found it easie to come there. I am consident you will omit nothing of your Care and Diligence to bring this about, and we shall in a short time hear the World speak of your great Exploits. In the mean time, I beg of you to believe that I will always set a just value upon your Services, as being,

My Lord,

Your, &c.

Conflans, Sept. 13, 1637.