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Handwritten letter addressed to the people of the kingdom of Spain in support of Henry IV of France. The item explains a law requiring more taxes from the people for supplies.

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Handwritten letter addressed to the captain of the Royal Army of Spain. The item contains orders for the defense of the borders from a possible invasion by the French.

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Handwritten letter on velum. Philip II states that Henry IV of France is Catholic again because of Henry's intervention in the religious wars in France. Philip II stresses the importance of a Catholic France and Europe that can grow under the protective wing of the Church. The item is unclearly dated and addressed.

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Handwritten letter on velum written in Latin and addressed to the captain of the royal army. The item gives orders to tighten the security of Philip's palace at El Escorial.

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Handwritten letter on velum written in Latin and addressed to members of Philip's family. The item is an announcement that Philip and his third wife, Elisabeth, have had their first child. The child is a girl named Isabel Clara Eugenia. The couple announce their plans to have a large family in order to bless Spain with their descendents who will continue to lead the country in righteousness under the power of God.

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Handwritten letter on parchment addressed to Philip's court, family, and others which announces the death of his wife Mary I of England. Philip II expresses his grief and explains that Mary would have desired England to be Catholic. He also states that he is the most qualified person to lead England back to Catholicism.

Scope and Contents 36 letters and documents, all in Spanish. They are mainly in clerical italic scripts, and all have the King's signature (29 are autographed and 7 have the stamped royal signature) with countersignatures by the royal secretaries. All items were sent to Alonso de Vargas (d. 1595), one of the most trusted and able of Philip's commanders. These documents relate to the offensive against the Netherlands revolt during 1574-76, Philip's meticulous preparations to assume the crown of...

Scope and Contents Contains 176 handwritten letters (379 leaves and in Spanish) relating to Spain's struggle with her English, French, and Dutch enemies on the seas of western Europe. They especially deal with how to conduct the naval war against Spain's enemies after the defeat of the Armada. The items cover the period of Philip's reign from 1591 to the King's death in September of 1598. Most of the material is addressed to Diego de Orellana de Chaves, the royal governor of Spain's northern coast....