‘Don Philippe por la gracia de Dios Rey de Espana ..’  Phi...

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‘Don Philippe por la gracia de Dios Rey de Espana ..’ 

Philip II of Spain:  A signed manuscript letter from King Philip II of Spain [1527-1598], also signed by his personal secretary Gonzalo Perez and bearing the State Seal, possibly to Cardinal Monte, mentioning ‘sancto padre Pio Quinto’, also the Marquis de Aguilar, dated xx de Marzo MDLXVI [1566]. 
Translation
Don Phelipe, by the grace of God King of Spain, the Two Sicilies, Jerusalem, etc., Very Reverend Father Cardinal in Christ, our very dear and very beloved friend,
The benefit and mercy that our Lord has done for all Christendom in giving her as head and vicar our very holy father Pius the Fifth, has been so great that with very just cause we must all render Him infinite thanks for it, since on account of the holiness of his life and zeal we can have firm hope that from his firm rule must follow many great benefits and the remedy for the ills that are in this.
And for this cause I have had and have very particular contentment from his election, because of which I send to him to represent to his holiness with the Marquis of Aguilar my cousin, that in my name he goes to visit him and kiss his feet, and I have commanded him to tell you of this, and of the thanks for that which on your part has procured such a brief and holy election.
Affectionately I ask you to give him entire faith and belief in all that he shall say to you of this, and of the account that I have made of your person, and of the desire I have for you, which is that which you deserve and know in all that concerns you.
Very Reverend Cardinal, our dear friend, may our Lord have you continually in his protection.
From Madrid, 20 March 1566.
I the King.
G. Perez.
[endorsed]
To the Very Reverend Father in Christ Cardinal Monte Pulciano, our very dear and very beloved friend.

Summary
Philip II writes to Cardinal Montepulciano as a dear friend, expressing his pleasure at the election of Pope Pius V, and tells him that he is sending the Marquis de Aguilar to the new pope, and also to Montepulciano to congratulate him for his part in securing Pius’s prompt election.

Background:
Following the death of Pope Pius IV on 9 December 1565, a conclave was held to elect his successor. After several weeks of manoeuvring, ending in a two-hour debate on 7 January 1566, Cardinal Borromeo succeeded in enabling the election of Pius V, who was favoured by Philip II of Spain.
Philip was, of course, the king who sent the “Invincible Armada” in 1588. He signs the letter as “Yo el Rey” (“I the King” – Perez is just the name of the clerk who wrote to his dictation) but I can’t identify the recipient of the letter. It can hardly be Borromeo (canonised in 1610), Archbishop of Milan, for he was a native of Lombardy whereas Montepulciano is in Tuscany. Nor can it be Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (canonised in 1930), who was a native of Montepulciano but was still a mere novice in 1566.
1pp quarto, very frail, minor damages, parting at fold. One of the great names in European history, the King who sent the Spanish Armada to try and conquer England a few years later. (1)