of the Government in her Hands, &c.”—­But when the Affairs of the Commonwealth were reduced to that desperate Future, that all Things went to Rack and Ruin, She was by the Publick Council banished to Tours, and committed to the Charge of Four Tutors, who had Orders to keep her lock’d up at Home, and to watch her so narrowly, that She shou’d be able to do nothing; not so much as to write a Letter without their Knowledge.  A large Account of all this Transaction we have in Monstrellet’s; History. [cap. 161 & cap. 168.]

* * * * *

CHAP.  XXI.

    Of the Juridical Parliaments in France.

Under the Capevingian Family there sprung up in Francogallia a Kind of Judicial Reign, [Regnum Judiciale] of which (by Reason of the incredible Industry of the Builders up and Promoters of it, and their unconceivable Subtilty in all subsequent Ages), we think it necessary to say something.  A Sort of Men now rule every-where in France, which are called Lawyers by some, and Pleaders or Pettyfoggers by others:  These Men, about 300 Years ago, managed their Business with so great Craft and Diligence, that they not only subjected to their Domination the Authority of the General Council, (which we spoke of before) but also all the Princes and Nobles, and even the Regal Majesty it self:  So that in whatever Towns the Seats of this same Judicial Kingdom have been fix’d, very near the third Part of the Citizens and Inhabitants have applied themselves to the Study and Discipline of this wrangling Trade, induced thereunto by the vast Profits and Rewards which attend it.  Which every one may take Notice of, even in the City of Paris, the Capital of the Kingdom:  For who can be three Days in that City without observing, that the third Part of the Citizens are taken up with the Practice of that litigious and Pettyfogging Trade?  Insomuch, that the General Assembly of Lawyers in that City (which is called the Robed Parliament) is grown to so great a Heighth of Wealth and Dignity, that now it seems to be (what Jugurtha said of old of the Roman Senate) no longer an Assembly of Counsellors, but of Kings, and Governors of Provinces.  Since whoever has the Fortune to be a Member of it, how meanly born soever, in a few Years Time acquires immense and almost Regal Riches:  For this Reason many other Cities strove with Might and Main to have the like Privilege of Juridical Assemblies:  So that now there are several of these famous Parliaments, to wit, those of Paris, Tholouse, Rouen, Grenoble, Bourdeaux, Aix, and Dijon:  All which are fix’d and sedentary; besides an Eighth, which is ambulatory and moveable, and is called the Grand Council.