LOUIS XI: (1423-1483) Louis the Prudent. King of France 1461-83. A rare L.S.

LOUIS XI: (1423-1483) Louis the Prudent. King of France 1461-83. A rare L.S., Loys, one page, oblong 8vo, Montils-lez-Tours, on the 5th day of January [n.y.], to `Dear and Beloved Cousin, Count of Comminges, Marshal of France´, in old French. Written in the hand of the clerk, the King offers his help, troops and military weapons to his correspondent, stating `Monsr le mareschal pour ce que aurez besoing d'artillerie et que Jay entendu quil en y a a lyon, Jescriz a ceulx de la ville, quilz facent ce que leur ordonnerez, et me semble que devez faire fondre celle quilz ont faite et en faire faire des pieces quil vous semblera qui vous seront necessaires pour mener avecques vous´ ("Monsieur the Marshal, for what you will need of artillery and having been told that there is artillery available in Lyon, I write to those of the city in order that they do what you will order them. And it seems to me that you must melt down the ones they have made and make them in pieces as you think you will need them to carry with you") Countersigned at the base by Tillhard. A very slightly light signature although perfectly legible and visible by the King. Addressed to the verso. Overall age wear, small staining and slightly trimmed right and bottom edges, with a very small repair to the left edge, otherwise G The castle at Plessis-lez-Tours, near Tours, also known before as Montils-les-Tours, was the Royal residence of three Kings of France, Louis XI, Charles VIII and Louis XII. It was the first building in bricks and stone in the Loire and was initiated by Charles VII and Louis XI, the last bought the estate of Montils in 1463 and finished the building of the castle, making it the Royal residence of the King of France. A small cottage next to the castle gave shelter to Francis of Paula (1416-1507), an Italian mendicant friar and founder of the Roman Catholic Order of Minims. Francis of Paula was never ordained a priest. He died and is buried at Montils-lez-Tours Jean de Lescun d´Armagnac (? - 1473) Count of Comminges, known as the Bastard of Armagnac. Appointed marshal of France in 1461, the year Louis XI ascended to throne. The historically important ordinance of Montils-lès-Tours, well-remembered for the reformation of custom, was promulgated by Charles VII (1403-1461), the father and predecessor of Louis XI, in April 1453. It was an ordinance which defined the jurisdictional competences of the Parliament of Paris, the extent of the Royal domain, the rights relating to Royalty, to Peers of France, to prelates, etc.. It is especially important in the history of law because the King requests the writing down of customs, which till then were almost an exclusive matter of private law.