A LETTER FROM THE POPE TO THE French KING.  
To our dear Son in Christ Jesus, LEWIS, the Most Christian King. Most dear Son in Christ, health and our Apostolic Benediction,  
THE high Exploits of your Royal Valour have drawn upon them the Eyes of all Christendom, being a great deal of comfort to our Fatherly care, as well in regard of the glory of the Army, as the hope of your Triumph. For considering, as we do, with much grief the impiety of the Heretics, living in some places without fear or danger, and exercising on others the Laws of cruel Government, We now thank the Lord of Hosts, that hath in so fit an opportunity made your Majesty take up Arms to maintain the Divinity of the Catholic Religion (a fair Apprenticeship of a Royal Warfare) and worthy of a most Christian King. What an admirable thing it is, that the age which others out of softness and idleness use to pass away in Sports and Delights, your Majesty should employ so generally, so fortunately, in appeasing Differences, in conducting Armies, and besieging places of Heretics, and all not without the special Counsel of God by whom King's Reign. It is almost incredible that the very first steps of your Youth should ●arry you to so troublesome and high an Enterprise, and the Dangers and difficulties which stop others in their Counses, should only serve as a Spur to the greatness of your Courage. Dear Son, keep the Renown your Name hath got, follow the God that fighteth for you to the end: As you are now held the Thunderbolt of War, and Buckler of Peace, so you may hereafter be held the praise of Israel, and the Glory of the World. From the Seat of our Apostolic Dignity, whither it hath pleased God to raise us, unworthy of so great a Grace, we assist your Armies with our hearts and affections, and to our Prayers prepare the Divine Remedies, and though we doubt not but your own Virtue will make you constant in the Work you have begun.  
Nevertheless we have thought good to add our Exhortations, that the World may see the care we have of the advancement of the true Religion, and how willing we are to give way to your Glory, you being hitherto infinitely bound to God for his bounty towards you, having your mind endued with Celestial Doctrine, and not with the bare Precepts of Humane Reasons, do well know that Kingdoms have their Foundations upon the truth of the Orthodox Faith, and indeed unless God keep the City what Principality can subsist with any assurance?  
It may be easily judged with what fidelity they are likely to defend the Royal, Throne, that have cast the very Saints themselves out of the Temple, and done as much as in them lay to put them out of the number of the blessed, yea out of Paradise itself, that with impious temerity condemn Institutions of our Forefathers, the Customs of Kings, the Decrees of Popes, and the Ceremonies of the Church; these are disturbers of our Church and the Common-weal, and the Reproaches of France, whom the great God hath determined to be extermined in your Reign: Know then that all Europe (which the event of the Reign: holds now in suspense) hope shortly to hoist sail upon the Ocean under your conduct, to the end that place which now serves for sanctuary and protection to the Heretics and Rebels may one day serve for a mark of your Victory.  
We are confidently persuaded▪ that neither fear nor inconstancy shall ever be able to divert you from the pursuit of your Enterprise, only we would have you remember, that the Saints in Heaven assists him that takes upon him the defence of Religion, and fights on his side like Fellow-soldiers. The same God that heretofore hardened the Waters like dry Land, and turned the Waters of the Sea into a Wall to give safe passage to his children's Army, will certainly be as favourable to you; and then we shall have good cause to hope, that after you have established your own Kingdom, and crushed the impiety that is there, you may one day win the Orient and the Occident, imitating the Glory of Your Ancestors, who have born ever as much respect to the Exhortations of Popes, as to the Commandments of Saint Lewis, whose Name You bear, and whose steps You follow, invites You to it; so did the first of Your Race, who in defending the Apostolic Authority, and propagating Christian Religion, laid the surest and best Foundation of Your Royal House. Fellow dear Son (which are the Ornaments of the World) the Commandments of Heaven, pour forth your Wrath and indignation upon those people that have not known God, to the end the divine Treasure of Heaven may belong to you by just acquisition; in the mean time we send you our Apostolic Benediction.  
Given at Rome in Great Saint mary, under the Seal of the Fisher.  
FINIS.