MARGUERITE DE NAVARRE: (1492-1549) Also known as Marguerite of Angoulême. Princess of France and Queen of Navarre by her second marriage to King Henry II of Navarre. Marguerite was the sister of French King Francis I. Marguerite is the ancestress of the Bourbon Kings of France. A patron of humanists and culture, she is regarded as "The First Modern Woman". Rare L.S., `Votre bonne cousine et amie, Marguerite´, one page, 4to, Jarnac, (Charente, Southwestern of France), 12<sup>th</sup> March 1543, to Monsieur de Jarnac, in old French. Marguerite will intervene and write to the King so that the Sire de Jarnac is compensated for the expenses incurred for the trips made for the service of the King, stating `Mon cousin, j'ai vu la lettre que vous m'avez écrite et suis bien aise que vous n'êtes encore parti pour aller à La Rochelle. Je vous assure que je ne manquerai d'écrire au roi la dépense que vous avez faite aux voyages et autres choses pour son service car il est raisonnable que vous en soyez récompensé, et aussi le roi ne voudrait pas que l'on se fit pauvre à son service et principalement vous qu'il a en si bonne estime. Quant à l'affaire de monsieur de Caumont, j'en ai écrit… J'écris présentement aux deux qu'ils me viennent trouver à Béziers et que je tiens prêt qu'ils me fassent compagnie jusqu'à Bordeaux. J'avais délibéré de vous mander là avec madame de Jarnac et votre fille mais j'ai avisé qu'il sera meilleur savoir avant quelle volonté à monsieur de Caumont…´ ( Translation: "My Cousin, I have seen the letter you wrote to me and am very glad that you have not yet left to go to La Rochelle. I assure you that I will not fail to write to the King about the expense you have made for travel and other things under his service because it is reasonable that you should be rewarded for it, and also the King would not want people to become poor at his service and especially you whom he holds in such good esteem. As for Monsieur de Caumont's affair, I have written about it... I am currently writing to the two who are coming to find me in Béziers and I am ready for them to accompany me to Bordeaux. I had deliberated to summon you there with Madame de Jarnac and your daughter, but I advised that it would be better to know beforehand what will Monsieur de Caumont…") Also annotated to the heading `De la mesme reyne pour les mesmes affaires des mesmes moys et an. Mars 1543´ (Translation: "From the Queen for the affairs of the same month and year, March 1543") Neatly inlaid, otherwise VG