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_. Within the Limits of these great _Juridical Kingdoms_ there are others lesser, which we may call _Provincial Governments_, who do all they can to imitate the Grandeur and Magnificence of their Superiors; and these are called _Presidial Courts_: And so strong is the Force and Contagion of this Disease, that a very great Part of the _French_ Nation spends its Time and Pains in Strife and Law-Suits, in promoting Contentions and Processes; just as of old, a great Number of the _Egyptians_ were employ'd by their Tyrants in Building _Pyramids_, and other such useless Structures.