GREGORY XV: (1554-1623) Lot n° 552

GREGORY XV: (1554-1623) Pope of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States 1621-23. Born Alessandro Ludovisi. During his short pontificate he canonized Teresa of Avila and Ignatius of Loyola. An excellent and extremely rare L.S., `Il Cardinal Ludovisio´, with an holograph line `per servirla di cuore´, in his hand, one page, 4to, Alessandria, 26th September 1617, to Silvio Albergati, in Italian. Ludovisi, in his capacity as Cardinal, expresses his satisfaction to his correspondent ànd thanks him for his help, stating in part `.. Io resto ringratiato a bastanza, quando son certo di aver portata soddisfatt(io)ne a V.S., alla quale ... io debbo tanto, ché (lei) resta libera di passare meco uffici di ringratiam(en)to per qualsivoglia cosa che mi riesca di fare a suo gusto. Benché lei ringratio senza fine dell'offerta amorevole ch'ella si ritiene di farmi di sè med(esim)o e dell'opera sua, accettandola io per restarle obbligato dell'una ....'' Count Albergati, Knight of the order of Malta under Clement VIII, was later appointed ambassador to Paul V and strongly recommended the appointment of Gregory XV as Archbishop pf Bolonia. With blank address leaf, bearing an attractive paper seal affixed, with an attractive blind embossed coat of arms seal. VG £2000-3000 Two weeks after the present letter was signed, on 9th October 1617, the Kingdom of Spain and the Duchy of Savoy signed a peace treaty thanks to the intermediation of Nuntio Ludovisi.