The last Catholic monarch (1633 - 1701) to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, crowned in 1685. Handwritten letter, unsigned, one page both sides, 6.75 x 9, March 22, [1682]. Letter to his niece, the Countess of Lichfield. In part: "If you will pardon me for being so long before I answered your letter…the Scots affairs, and so much company is come to me, I have not any tyme to myself, but now that I have it, I would not faile to let you know how much I am obliged to you for what you have sayd to me in your letter." Intersecting folds and light toning from a mounting strip to the second integral page, otherwise fine condition. James was set to succeed his brother, Charles II, as king of Scotland, which caused political strife in Scotland because a Catholic would be replacing a Protestant. Although he came to rule Scotland in 1685, this distrust of his religion led to his overthrow in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.Format: Handwritten Letter