Richard III's humour

To return to the subject of Richard's dry humour discussed a couple of
months back, I see from Harley 433 that as well as the reply to Louis
XI's letter published in Kendall (in translation from French), he also
sent the following (20 August 1483):

"Monsieur mon cousin. . . J'ai recrit a mon serviteur Blanc Sanglier, a
present etant pars devers vous, afin de faire provision d'aucuns vins du
cru de Bourgogne et de la Haute France pour moi et ma reine ma compagne.
Si vous prie pour ce, Monsieur mon cousin, que veuilles donner
commandement a vos officiers et sujets qu'ls le souffrent faire la
provision des dits vins & franchement conduire ou faire conduire &
passer en celui mon royaume d'Angleterre sans aucun detourbier ou
contredit, et vous me ferez en ce un bien singulier plaisir. Et s'il est
aucune chose que je puisse faire pour vous, en me faisant savoire je
l'accomplirai tres volontiers, a l'aide de Dieu, qui, Monsieur mon
cousin, vous ait en sa sainte garde. . ."

Basically, regarding Louis' offer that if there's anything he can do for
him he will do it with singular pleasure for he wants to have his
friendship: basically, okay, yes, there is one thing - (nothing more
political than) I've written back to Blanc Sanglier herald to bring back
some wine for me the Queen, so if you could make sure we get it back
safe. . . . And if there's anything I can. . .

Marie

PS this wrtten 20th August 1483, at time when Richard supposed to have
either just ordered murder of Princes or be brooding over same. He seems
in a surprisingly perky mood. . . .