Hi Guys and Peter Never fear Peter, the Huguenot marriages were legitimate because until, the Revocation, the Calvinist faith, which as we all know was what Huguenots were really all about, was recognised under the Edict of Nantes. That is why the Huguenots (Calvinists) were given their own rights of worship although outside city walls in Catholic areas like Paris, were given their own towns to run and even their own fortresses like La Rochelle or Nimes. The role of the Pastor was recognised and the Calvinist Church was part of the fabric of the state. If not, would so many high ranking Calvinists have been close to the royal household? It was not until the Revocation that the religion and its practices were forbidden although some of the Churches/Pastors/members of the various Consistory were still around, working underground, but with no legal authority as they were the people responsible for issuing the temoignages to the refugees. Hope this helps Tony Fuller