The edict, which came with a period of leniency[2] or what some refer to as a turn toward appeasement,[3] followed the Nicolas Cop's speech on November 1, 1533 calling for reform in the Catholic Church.
[5] Backed by the king, some dissenters were jailed, twenty-four were executed, and over seventy fled, including Cop and his friend John Calvin.
The edict was introduced as part of Francis I's effort to forge an alliance with the Schmalkaldic League, particularly since figures such as Philip of Hesse did not approve of the religious persecution.
[5] It was also partly aimed at addressing the threat of the depopulation of France by raising the issue of the "fugitive religionaries".
Francis sought by the edict to assuage the anger of some German Protestant princes with whom he was attempting to form an alliance, which ultimately failed.