Through the Edict of Nantes, Henry IV established Catholicism as the national religion of France, which was the majority consent of France, as well as giving Huguenots the freedom to worship. The freedom provided by this edict is quite radical when considering the recent history of Protestantism in France. When thinking anachronistically of both religious tolerance as well as the acceptance of Protestantism. The Edict of Nantes gives Protestantism many rights, yet Henry IV "expressly forbids...its exercise...other than the places permitted". Also "books...called Reformed may not be printed and publicly sold...except in places where permitted". These restrictions may seem quite deliberating, however, the Huguenots in France would've seen this document as salvation rather than restriction.
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