The royal seal

This is the royal seal (grand sceau de France) used by King Henry IV. The use of the seal demonstrates that this was an official document and a direct command of the King. The seal has been worn by time and only a partial amount of the original detail is visible. As this engraving from the National Portrait Gallery (UK) shows, the original seal design was highly intricate and represented the King through use of his initial and other decorative symbols associated with the French monarchy, such as the fleur-de-lis. The description of the seal notes that it was made in “yellow wax on red and green silk laces” Archives nationales: https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/siv/IR/FRAN_IR_057573