with orders to demand payment of the salaries of the court.  In October, 1430, the government owed the magistrates two years of arrears.  After useless appeals to the Regent, and to the Bishop of Therouanne, the then Chancellor of France, the Parliament sent two of its members to the King at Rouen, who obtained, after much difficulty, “one month’s pay, on the understanding that the Parliament should hold its sittings in the month of April.”  In the month of July, 1431, there was another deputation to the King, “in order to lay before him the necessities of the court, and that it had for some time been prorogued, and was still prorogued, on account of the non-payment of salaries.”  After two months of repeated remonstrance, the deputies only bringing back promises, the court assumed a menacing aspect; and on the 11th of January, 1437, it pointed out to the chancellor the evil which would arise if Parliament ceased to hold its sittings; and this time the chancellor announced that the salaries would be paid, though six months passed without any resuit or any practical step being taken in the matter.  This state of affairs grew worse until the year 1443, when the King was obliged to plead with the Parliament in the character of an insolvent debtor, and, in order to obtain remission of part of his debt to the members, to guarantee to them a part of the salt duties.

Charles VII, after having reconquered his states, hastened to restore order.  He first occupied himself with the System of justice, the Parliament, the Chatelet, and the bailiwicks; and in April, 1453, in concert with the princes, the prelates, the council of State, the judges, and others in authority, he framed a general law, in one hundred and twenty-five articles, which was considered as the great charter of Parliament (Fig. 308).  According to the terms of these articles, “the councillors are to sit after dinner, to get through the minor causes.  Prisoners are to be examined without delay, and to hold no communication with any one, unless by special permission.  The cases are to be carefully gone through in their proper order; for courts are instructed to do justice as promptly for the poor as for the rich, as it is a greater hardship for the poor to be kept waiting than the rich.”  The fees of attorneys were taxed and reduced in amount.  Those of advocates were reduced “to such moderation and fairness, that there should be no cause for complaint.”  The judgments by commissary were forbidden.  The bailiffs and seneschals were directed to reside within their districts.  The councillors were ordered to abstain from all communication with the parties in private, and consultations between themselves were to be held in secret.  The judgments given in lawsuits were inscribed in a register, and submitted every two months to the presidents, who, if necessary, called the reporters to account for any neglect of duty.  The reporter was ordered to draw attention to any point of difficulty arising in a suit, and the execution of sentences or judgments was entrusted to the ushers of the court.