The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and his descendants

THE HUGUENOT WARS. 63
of Protestant Europe was the assassination of i^trod.
the King, which was finally accomplished.
His abjuration, therefore, was simply an act
of shrewd policy, many Roman Catholics not
believing in its sincerity. It had the desired
effect slowly but surely. The longing for
peace was strong, and it took the heart out of
the opposition and seemed to remove the last
obstacle. The Huguenots little as they liked
it could not oppose the step, and hoped to
profit by their champion's improved position.
On the 12th of December, 1594, Henry held
an Assembly of the Reformed at Monte, and
assured them that there would be no change
of policy towards the Protestants, and promised
toleration.
Then followed a war with Spain which continued
until 1597. As soon as Henry had a ^597.
breathing spell from that war, he remembered
his Huguenot subjects, to whom more than
any he owed his crown, and for whom he ever
cherished great affection. On April 15, 1598,
he granted to Protestants the celebrated Edict Edict of
of Naiiies, which was declared to be "perpet- ^j^^i^'
ual and irrevocable," and which secured to
t^iQYn full loleration in religion. ''It consisted
of ninety-one articles, by which the Huguenots
were allowed to worship in their own way
throughout the kingdom, with the exception
of a few towns; their ministers were to be
supported by the state; inability to hold
offices was removed; their poor and sick
were to be admitted to the hospitals; and,
finally, the towns given them as security were
to remain in their hands eight years longer."
These towns were about 150, the chief groups
being in the generalities of Bordeaux (southwest),
of Montpellier (south), and of Poitou