Scacaria summoned in Normandy at Easter and at Michaelmas.”  Thus far Budaeus; to whom agrees what we find in an ancient Book concerning the Institution of Parliaments, wherein this Article is quoted out of the Constitution of Philip the 4th, Sirnamed the Fair [ex Anno 1302.]—­“Moreover, for the Conveniency of our Subjects, and the expeditious determining of Causes, we propose to have it enacted, that two Parliaments shall be held every Year at Paris, and two Scacaria at Rouen:  That the Dies Trecenses shall be held twice a Year:  and that a Parliament shall be held at Tholouse, as it used to be held in past Times, if the People of the Land consent to it:  Also, because many Causes of great Importance are debated in our Parliament, between great and notable Personages; We ordain and appoint, that two Prelates, and two other sufficient Persons, being Laymen of our Council; or at least one Prelate and one Laick, shall be continually present in our Parliaments, to hear and deliberate concerning the above-mentioned Causes."—­From which Words we may learn, First, how seldom the Courts of Judicature heard Causes in those Days.  Next, how few judges sat in those Parliaments.  For as to the other Provinces and Governments of the Kingdom, we have (in the same Book) the Constitution of Philip the Fair, in these Words, [Anno 1302.]—­“Moreover, We ordain that our Seneschals and Bayliffs shall hold their Assizes in Circuit throughout their Counties and Bayliwicks once every two Months at least."

Furthermore, Budaeus in the same Place, [Anno 1293.] writes, that Philip the Fair appointed, that three Sorts of People shou’d sit in Parliament, viz. Prelates, Barons, and Clerks mixed with Laymen: “Since the Laicks (says he) are chosen promiscuously out of the Knights, and out of other Sorts of People.  Also, that the Prelates and Barons shou’d select fit Persons out of that third Estate, to exercise every Sort of Judicature; and at the same Time shou’d chuse three Judges, who shou’d be sent abroad into those Countries where the written Laws of the Land had their Course, that they might there judge and determine according to Law.  And if any Question of great Importance were to be argued, they should take to their Assistance the most Learned Men they could get.—­” In which Place, Budaeus lamenting the Evil Customs of our Times; that is, this Kingdom of Lawyers now in Vogue, breaks out with Juvenal into this Exclamation:  “Quondam hoc indigenae vivebant more!  So (says he) may I exclaim, that in Old Times, when this Kingdom flourished, (as many appear by our Money coined of pure fine Gold) there was a plain and easy Way of doing Justice; there were few Law-suits, and those not of long Continuance, or indeed Eternal, as now they are; for then this Rabble-Rout of pretended