Philip III, King of Spain, letter to the Duke of Medina Sidonia, 1609 June 11

Philip III, King of Spain, letter to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, Duke of Medina Sidonia, dated June 11, 1609. The King writes that he has received the Duke's letter concerning the attack on Spanish vessels by pirates and requests more information. He also wishes to know more about English plans to populate Virginia. The Duke, as Captain General of the Ocean Sea was expected to obtain this information from his subordinates in the treasure fleets.

The letter was accomplished in manuscript by Antonio de Arostequi , and signed by the King. A hole in the paper shows where the King's seal was attached.

[Translation]

[Recto]

The King

Duke of Medina Sidonia, cousin, of my Council
of State, my Captain General of the Ocean Sea and of the
Coast of Andalucia:

Having seen your letter of the 18th of last month and
the information that you sent with it obtained from the
sailors arriving who had been robbed by
the pirates, but you now offer nothing more than that you
are looking into the matter. You will do me great service
in continuing intelligence about the designs of
the corsairs and any that shows the English
having interest in continuing to populate the land called
Virginia in the Indies.

Done at San Lorenzo, 11 June 1609

I the King

By order of the King, my Lord
Antonio de Arostequi