HENRI IV (1553-1610), King of Navarre (from 1572) and of France (from 1589). Document signed ('Henry'), safe-conduct for Merry David, merchant of Estampes, dated Estampes 1592.
Ink on vellum, oblong folio size 275 x 400 mm. Folds and some creases, some staining, lacking seal. Small stamp from the seller "Rawlins Collection, Historical Docs and A.L.S.".
Henry IV was born December 13, 1553, in Pau, France. Raised a Protestant, he became heir to the French throne through his marriage to Margaret of Valois, but was challenged during a time of religious strife. Despite converting to Catholicism after becoming king of France in 1589, Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes in1598 to foster religious tolerance. It guaranteed religious liberties to protestants and ended the wars of religion. He was killed by the catholic fanatic Ravaillac on May 14, 1610, in Paris.
Henry IV is famous for his sentence "Paris is well worth a mass".
