Editing Michel de l'Hôpital (section)

===Moulins===
In February 1566 the court arrived at [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] where an Assembly of Notables was convened with most of the kingdoms grandees in attendance. L'Hôpital presented to them his thesis that the root of evil in the kingdom was the poor administration of justice. He denounced the 'excesses' of those in positions of authority to exercise it engaging in 'tyrannical legislation, venality, avarice, superfluous office' and other ills. He then targeted his attacks towards the organs of law, the ''Parlements'', decrying them for the presumptuousness they showed in interpreting the king's laws and their sedentary nature.{{sfn|Thompson|1909|p=290}} He spoke nostalgically of the reign of [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]] when the laws were few and simple and such a model that foreign nations presented their disputes in it.{{sfn|Salmon|1975|p=156}}
 
Later that month L'Hôpital presented the [[Ordinance of Moulins]], a judicial reform package composed of 86 articles. The ordinance severely curtailed the ''Parlements'' powers, allowing the king to put laws into effect even if the ''Parlement'' was remonstrating him, or refused to register the edict. The power of the governor was also attacked, with the office no longer to afford the possibility of providing pardons, raising taxes and establishing fairs. Communal judges had much of their authority stripped, reduced to overseeing petty crimes and 1500 offices were abolished or suppressed. Confraternities and leagues were banned. The edict of Amboise was upheld.{{sfn|Thompson|1909|pp=291-292}} This edict posed a serious threat to many of the kingdoms grandees, who utilised their positions as governors for the purpose of graft.{{sfn|Thompson|1909|p=296}} Though the edict had demanded immediate registration in its second clause, the ''Parlement'' ignored this, and L'Hôpital was forced to accept many modifications to the Ordinace in July.{{sfn|Salmon|1975|p=160}} During 1566, L'Hôpital created a new fiscal office of ''Surintendant des Finances'', appointing the religiously moderate [[Artus de Cossé-Brissac|Marshal Cossé]] as its first incumbent.{{sfn|Chevallier|1985|p=504}}

While the court was still residing in Moulins, Lorraine arrived with a petition from the ''Parlement'' of [[Dijon]]. The ''Parlement'' was frustrated that a new interpretative declaration had been made concerning the edict of Amboise, by which Protestant ministers would be allowed to visit the dying and instruct the young. Lorraine argued in front of the assembled grandees that this was a method of proselytizing. This bombshell petition aroused the interest of the council, as it became clear L'Hôpital had not consulted any member of the council before issuing it. L'Hôpital acidly remarked to Lorraine that he had 'returned to court to trouble them', causing Lorraine to fire back that L'Hôpital, who owed his position as chancellor to him, dare say that he arrived as a trouble. From here the council descended into chaos, only salvaged when Catherine intervened. She ordered the interpretative declaration burned and that going forth, L'Hôpital be forbidden from sealing edicts without the councils consent. Lorraine, arrogant in victory declared L'Hôpital always sought to be 'cock of the dunghill' and opined that he would refuse to attend council meetings in the man's presence going forward.{{sfn|Carroll|2011|p=175}}

L'Hôpital offered his support in July 1567 to several interpretative declarations concerning the edict of Amboise. The area in which Protestantism was prohibited from being practiced was expanded from the city of Paris, to the wider region of the [[Île de France]]. Concurrently Protestants were to be barred from public office in the governorship. While these policies appear out of step with his wider program, L'Hôpital was keen to quiet the disorder in Paris, which had been growing more severe and threatening in the previous years.{{sfn|Thompson|1909|p=318}}