King Edward VI

urging them to look closely to local law and order, “by reason of the repayre unto our presence of the Mareshall St Andrewe commyng unto us with the order of Fraunce, and accompaned of a grete trayne of noble and gentilmen from our derest brother the Frenche king”, which has led the King to summon to court “dyvers of our nobles and other gentillmen, out of all the parties of our Realme”, and therefore ordering him that “whilest the said Mareshall shall remayne in our Corte and our said nobles be absent out of their counteys, there happen under your governement no noveltie noe disorder through your defaulte”, countersigned at the foot by six Privy Councillors including Edward, Duke of Somerset, the Earls of Bedford and Shrewsbury, Sir John Thynne, and Sir Anthony Wingfield, one page, oblong folio (215 x 315mm), integral address panel, papered seal, docketed, Greenwich, 30 June 1551, splitting at folds, small holes not affecting text

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

PREPARATIONS FOR A KEY DIPLOMATIC VISIT. The French Maréchal St. André visited England in July 1551 in order to present King Edward VI with the Order of St Michael, but also to negotiate a settlement for the proposed marriage between the thirteen-year-old King and the six-year-old French princess, Elisabeth de Valois, eldest daughter of King Henri II.

This letter was written at a very dangerous moment in Paget's career. Paget had been richly rewarded for his role in easing the Duke of Somerset to power as Lord Protector, but he was left in a precarious position when Somerset fell from power in 1549 (Somerset had been partially rehabilitated in 1550 and restored to the Council, which is why his signature is found here, but he was soon to face re-arrest). This letter may call on Paget to protect the realm from its enemies, but it also makes clear that Paget, an experienced diplomat who had negotiated the peace with France that had enabled this glittering occasion, was not welcome at court during the French visit. By November 1551 he was in the Tower and the following year was stripped of his offices and forced to pay a massive fine. This was, at least, a better fate than Somerset's: the former Protector ended his life on the scaffold at Tower Hill in January 1552.