PHILIP IV: (1605-1665) King of Spain 1621-65 and King Philip III of Portugal 1621-40. A very interesting L.S., `Yo el Rey´, one page, folio, Madrid, 29th June 1621, addressed to Antonio de la Cueva, in Spanish. The King refers to the truce time expired and to the attacks his navy is suffering, and states in part `Don Antonio de la Cueva, in charge of the galleys of Spain, you know how many days have past since the truce agreed with the rebel islands of Holland ended, and that they have started with hostile acts, leaving the whole in the same situation it was before the truce was established. We inform you that we have learned, after receiving a letter dated 7th, that the ships of the islands which were remaining at the port of Venice will, twenty-five of them leave Venice in the next few days…with the intention of making the maximum harm to my ships..´ The King further reports on the tactics used by the enemy, orders received and how they try to remain unnoticed. The present letter was written only three months after Philip III passed away and Philip IV ascended to throne Countersigned by Martin de Arostegui. Overall age wear and creasing with left edge trimmed. F