PHILIP V: (1683-1746)

PHILIP V: (1683-1746) King of Spain 1700-24 & 1724-46. Grandson of Louis XIV. A very fine L.S., Yo el Rey, with flourish, three pages, folio, Vienna, 17th November 1731, to the Count of Harrach, partially in Spain and mostly in Italian. The King refers to a dispute between members of the University of Morcano and the Prince Francesco Carafa of Colobrano, stating in part `Deputati e querelanti della predetta Universita, che si procedesse con tutti atenzione alla cognizione delle cause civili, e con equal cura delle criminali, che del statto dell´une et altre se ne fusse fatta relazione, senza impedire il corso delle cause, e l´essecuzione dell´ordinato, e che risultando dall´informazione causa di carcerazione, che il detto Principe fusse fatto chiudere in un castello, con esigere conto d´essersi esequito il tutto...´ (Translation: "Deputies and plaintiffs of the aforementioned University, that the knowledge of civil cases be proceeded with all attention, and with equal care for criminal ones, that the status of both be reported, without impeding the course of the cases, and the execution of the order, and that if the information resulted in a cause for imprisonment, that the said Prince be locked up in a castle, with an account being demanded of having carried out everything...") Further saying `...non ostante li medesimi la detta afflittissima universita e sue cittadini sonno stati di continuo oppressi dalla prepotenza del Principe di Colobrano, e corre gia il quarto anno, che non ha potuto compitamente godere di quella giustizia gemella della pieta, che sono doti ereditarie dell´augustissima Casa d´Austria, per non essersi data la totale essecuzione alli comandi... per il che ridotti Universita ad un passo d´extrema miseria su l´orlo d´un irreparabile precipizio..´ (Translation: "...notwithstanding the same, the said most afflicted university and its citizens have been continually oppressed by the arrogance of the Prince of Colobrano, and it is now the fourth year that it has not been able to fully enjoy that twin justice of piety, which are hereditary gifts of the most august House of Austria, due to the failure to fully execute the commands... for which the University has been reduced to a step of extreme misery on the edge of an irreparable precipice....") Countersigned by the King´s secretary Bermudez de la Torre. Bearing alongside a paper seal affixed. With multiple additional annotations. G

Aloys Thomas Raimund von Harrach (1669-1742) Austrian noble, politician and diplomat. Viceroy of Naples 1728-33.