Editing Francis II of France (section)

====Romorantin and the Estates General====
[[File:Catherine de Medicis.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Portrait of [[Catherine de' Medici]], mother of Francis II]]

This distinction between heresy and sedition, represented a new religious policy for the monarchy of France. While there was to be no allowance for heretical worship, it was hoped this would avoid needless bloodshed, and reunify the kingdom around the crown.<ref name="Sutherland 1980 105"/> This changing of the political winds was furthered when in April the former Guise client [[Michel de l'Hôpital]] became [[Lord Chancellor of France]] replacing the ailing [[François Olivier]]. Hôpital was a humanist Catholic, little interested in the persecution that had defined the administration in the 1550s. In conjunction with Charles Cardinal of Lorraine, Catherine de Medici and Admiral Coligny, he began pushing this new religious policy further.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Baird|first=Henry|title=History of the Rise of the Huguenots in Two Volumes: Vol 1 of 2|publisher=Hodder & Stoughton|year=1880|pages=412}}</ref>

In May 1560 a further edict was passed, the [[Edict of Romorantin]]. This edict denounced the spread of heresy in the kingdom, but also noted the failure of the policies on the 1550s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Potter|first=David|title=The French Wars of Religion: Selected Documents|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=1997|isbn=0333647998|pages=24–25}}</ref> The edict proposed that going forth trial for heresy would be handled by the ecclesiastical courts instead of the [[Parlements|Parlement]]. This was significant as the ecclesiastical courts lacked the ability to provide death sentences, and while they could technically still refer cases to the Parlements for sentencing, this acted as a de facto abolition of the death penalty for heresy. For more 'seditious' offences, such as heretical preaching, pamphlet producing and services, the ''Présidaux'' courts would have jurisdiction.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Salmon|first=J.H.M|title=Society in Crisis: France during the Sixteenth Century|publisher=Metheun & Co.|year=1975|isbn=0416730507|pages=126}}</ref>

Conscious that the financial and religious problems of the crown had not yet gone away, and desiring to create a more definitive solution, the Guise oversaw the calling of an [[1560 Assembly of Notables|Assembly of Notables]]. Conscious that they were liable to be arrested, Condé and Navarre were not among the leading nobility who attended. Lorraine intended to guide the assembly towards his proposed idea of a national religious council, to reunify the two faiths peacefully, this was however taken off course by Coligny, who presented a petition from the [[Normandy|Norman]] church seeking the right to establish temples. The duke of Guise was infuriated by this proposal, suggesting if two religions were tolerated 'his sword would not remain sheathed for long.' The assembly drew up a reform package of tax ideas, and closed by convening the [[Estates General of 1560-1|Estates General]] to whom this package would be presented.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780199596799|pages=124}}</ref>  It was initially intended to host this at [[Meaux]] before a location change to [[Orléans]] due to religious troubles at the former city.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Knecht|first=Robert|title=The French Wars of Religion, 1559–1598|publisher=Routledge|year=2010|isbn=9781408228197|pages=27}}</ref>

Afraid the proposed council might be highly [[Gallicanism|Gallican]], the Pope decided to reopen the general [[council of Trent]], but rejected the attendance of any Protestant, the demands of the French crown to scrap their proposed national council.<ref>{{harvp|Romier|1923|pp=256–261}}</ref>

The calling of the Estates General presented an opportunity to bring Condé into line, and in October he was summoned to present himself at the Estates General. Upon arrival he and several associates were promptly arrested and put on trial.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sutherland|first=Nicola|title=Princes, Politics and Religion 1547–1589|publisher=Hambledon Press|year=1984|pages=63–64}}</ref> After filibustering the proceedings Condé would eventually be found guilty, and given an indeterminate sentence, likely imprisonment at Loches.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=James|title=The Wars of Religion in France, 1559–1576: The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Philip II|publisher=Chicago University Press|year=1909|page=70}}</ref>