Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I to Edict of Nantes - James Aitken Wylie

Protestant and Romanist at once. He concluded an
arrangement with the Roman Catholics, the main
stipulation in which was that he would submit to a
six months' instruction in the two creeds -- just as if
he were or could be in doubt--and at the end of that
period he would make his choice, and his subjects
would then know whether they had a Protestant or
a Roman Catholic for their sovereign. Henry,
doubtless, deemed his policy a masterly one; but
his mother would not have adopted it. She had
risked her kingdom for her religion, and God gave
her back her kingdom after it was as good as lost.
What the son risked was his religion, that he might
secure his throne. The throne he did secure in the
first instance, but at the cost of losing in the end all
that made it worth having. "There is a way that
seemeth right in a man's own eyes, but the end
thereof is death."
Henry had tided over the initial difficulty, but
at what a cost! -- a virtual betrayal of his great
cause. Was his way now smooth? The Roman
Catholics he had not really conciliated, and the
Protestants stood in doubt of him. He had two
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