Henry of Bourbon , was king of Navarre as Henry III between 1572 and 1610, and king of France as Henry IV between 1589 and 1610, the first French monarch of the house of Bourbon, and, by the name given to him by his compatriots, le Bon Roi (the Good King), he is considered one of the best kings in his history. In addition to putting an end to the terrible religious conflicts that devastated France during the 16th century, after decreeing religious tolerance (Edict of Nantes of 1598) and implementing a policy of reconciliation based on the renunciation of any revenge or purge, he was also concerned about the welfare of his subjects. It is said that one of the mottos of his reign was…
A chicken in the pots of all the peasants, every Sunday.
Reconstruction of the head of Henry IV
But since it doesn't always rain to everyone's liking, I guess the two wives he had (Marguerite de Valois and Marie de' Medici ) they would have to reproach him for the number of bedrooms he frequented other than the one he should have. His confessor, fed up with so many infidelities, told him concerned that, apart from redeeming his sins after confession, the purpose of amendment was also necessary and threatened him with not giving him absolution again if he did not change his attitude . Henry IV, applying the saying that the devil knows more because he is old than because he is a devil, wanted to teach his confessor a lesson.
From that very day, and as a sign of repentance, he asked the clergyman to accompany him to the table every day to serve as a guide with his advice to keep the little bird inside the cage. Likewise, he ordered the kitchens that, regardless of the food that was served each day, the clergyman would always be served partridge. For many days they shared a table, but not food, and debated at length on multiple issues until one day, fed up with always eating the same thing, the clergyman complained to the monarch:
You honor me every day by inviting me to your table, but every day partridge…
The king, with a smile on his face, replied:
Well, that's how I feel with the queen.