a decree issued by Henry IV of France, April 13, 1598, ending the religious wars of the country. It put the Huguenots on an equality with the Catholics in political rights and conceded them greater freedom of worship than they had formerly enjoyed. They were allowed to establish new churches, except in Paris and the surrounding districts and in royal residences, and to maintian their four theological colleges; but they must celebrate the Catholic festivals and pay tithes to the Catholic priesthood. In 1685, by a decree of Louis XIV, the edict was revoked. As a consequence of this act, about 500,000 of the Huguenots emigrated to other countries.