MARLBOROUGH DUKE OF: (1650-1722) John Churchill. English soldier and statesman, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces 1690-91, 1702-08. L.S., Le Pr. et duc de Marlborough, three pages, 4to, Vienna, 22^nd November 1705, to Johann Wilhelm II, in French. The Duke informs his correspondent that he has not failed to obey his orders 'en representant a l'Empereur et a ses minstres, tout ce qu'elle m'a fait l'honeur de me charger' (Translation: 'by representing to the Emperor and his ministers all that he has done me the honour to entrust to me') and continues 'Je dois aussi lui informer que l'Empereur fait beaucoup de fonds sure les six battaillons qu'elle espene que votre Altesse Electorale voudra bien lui  fournir pour augmenter son armee en Italie, et pour les quelles elle offre mille recrues a vingt ecus par homme……J'ose aussi me flatter que le zele que Votre Altesse Electorale fait paraitre dans toutes les occasions pour le brien de la cause commune le pousseva a nous accorder ce secours' (Translation: 'I must also inform you that the Emperor is making a great deal of money from the six battalions which he hopes your Electoral Highness will be good enough to provide to increase his army in Italy, and for which you are offering a thousand recruits at twenty crowns per man……I also dare to flatter myself that the zeal that Your Electoral Highness shows on all occasions for the sake of the common cause prompted him to grant us this help'). With some very light, extremely minor age wear and one small, light circular stain, only very slightly affecting the text, VG

Johann Wilhelm II (1658-1716) Elector Palatine 1690-1716.

The present letter was written during the Spanish War of Succession (1701-15) which saw Marlborough participate in a number of important battles including the Battle of Blenheim (1704), the Battle of Elixheim (1705) and the Battle of Oudenarde (1708).