Or whatever year that was.
He was going to solve "the French problem" (equally large in his mind) by giving them a hunk of North America ~ with some pretty definite dimensions all the way West of Hudson's Bay (in territory no one had realized had already been explored and marked by Spanish surveyors).
Details on a settlement with Russia (and the Orthodox, another Protestant like problem, but with dimensions similar to the French problem) would come later, but the border was set at 54'40. No one had done much inland study of Alaska so they had no idea who wanted what to do with which to whom.
That was the genius solution to the intractible problems of Europe ~ and by 1604 when Philippe crammed down the deal in the Treaty of London, he had bought Europe 20 years of peace.
Think of that ~ AMERICA, as we know it, was founded in the name of 20 years of peace ~ not more ~ because they discovered they were all working towards THE THIRTY YEARS WAR.
That, too, had its religious elements, but mostly it was about politics and Sweden.
New France was created by Philippe without a single thought towards religious liberty for Catholics ~ THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CHURCH ALLOWED.
I do believe that Quebec law violates the very foundation of their existence.
Now we have people in America who don't like the idea that folks of diverse religious beliefs have the liberty to exercise them, but that's what we were created for ~ and for no other reason. Philippe's father, Philippe I wished to destroy Protestantism, but II didn't think that was all that wise, besides there were all those strange folks throughout the Hapsburg Empire to be dealt with. He preferred to party so he carved out the ghetto and let it fester!
Frankly, I think we've done much better than New France!