508 MARGARET OF VALOIS: (1553-1615) Queen of France 1589-1599 and Queen of Navarre 1572-1599. Also known as Margaret of France, or Queen Margot. Daughter of King Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici'and sister of Kings of France Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. Her husband would became Henry IV, the first Bourbon King of France. Very rare L.S., Marguerite, one page, vellum, oblong folio, Usson, 21st August 1602, to Theodore Quinol, in old French. The document entitles in larger letters 'Queen Marguerite, Duchess of Valois, Countess of Senlis Agennois, Condomoi, Touergue, Lauraguais, Lady of Quatre Ingeries de Rieux…' and is the appointment of Theodore Quinol as master of the "Waters and Forests", stating in part '..By the following, we appoint and bestow you the state and office of Master of the Waters and Forests..'. With some light overall creasing, a series of small tears to the left edge and two original neat slits above and below the signature, although not affecting it, G £500-800

At Usson, Puy-de-Dome, was the Usson Castle, demolished by order of Richelieu, where Marguerite de Valois had her residence. The castle's moto was "Garde le traître et la dent" (Keep the traitor and the tooth). Meaning that such impregnable fortress could only fear the threats of traitors and starvation.