without previously holding a meeting of the vassals and their tenants.  The tolls on roads, bridges (Fig. 271), fairs, and markets, and the harbour dues were kept up, notwithstanding their obstruction to commerce, with the exception that free passage was given to corn passing from one province to another.  The exemptions from taxes which had been dearly bought were removed; and the nobles were bound not to divert the revenue received from tolls for any purposes other than those for which they were legitimately intended.  The nobles were also required to guard the roads “from sunrise to sunset,” and they were made responsible for robberies committed upon travellers within their domains.

Louis IX., by refunding the value of goods which had been stolen through the carelessness of his officers, himself showed an example of the respect due to the law.  Those charged with collecting the King’s dues, as well as the mayors whose duty it was to take custody of the money contributed, and to receive the taxes on various articles of consumption, worked under the eye of officials appointed by the King, who exercised a financial jurisdiction which developed later into the department or office called the Chamber of Accounts.  A tax, somewhat similar to the tithe on funds, was imposed for the benefit of the nobles on property held by corporations or under charter, in order to compensate the treasury for the loss of the succession duties.  This tax represented about the fifth part of the value of the estate.  To cover the enormous expenses of the two crusades, Louis IX., however, was obliged to levy two new taxes, called decimes, from his already overburdened people.  It does not, however, appear that this excessive taxation alienated the affection of his subjects.  Their minds were entirely taken up with the pilgrimages to the East, and the pious monarch, notwithstanding his fruitless sacrifices and his disastrous expeditions, earned for himself the title of Prince of Peace and of Justice.

[Illustration:  Fig. 271.—­Paying Toll on passing a Bridge.—­From a Painted Window in the Cathedral of Tournay (Fifteenth Century).]

From the time of Louis IX. down to that of Philippe le Bel, who was the most extravagant of kings, and at the same time the most ingenious in raising funds for the State treasury, the financial movement of Europe took root, and eventually became centralised in Italy.  In Florence was presented an example of the concentration of the most complete municipal privileges which a great flourishing city could desire.  Pisa, Genoa, and Venice attracted a part of the European commerce towards the Adriatic and the Mediterranean.  Everywhere the Jews and Lombards—­already well initiated into the mysterious System of credit, and accustomed to lend money—­started banks and pawn establishments, where jewels, diamonds, glittering arms, and paraphernalia of all kinds were deposited by princes and nobles as security for loans (Fig. 272).