[234] The Prévôts des Maréchaux were magistrates whose duties consisted in trying vagrants and persons who could not prove their identity, culprits previously sentenced to corporal punishment, banishment, or fine, soldiers, highway robbers, and the members of illicit societies. The Prévôts des Maréchaux took the title of Equerry-Councillors of the King, and their place on the bench of the criminal court was immediately after that of the presiding judge. [235] L'Etoile, vol. iii. pp. 185-193. Matthieu, _Hist, des Derniers Troubles,_ book ii. pp. 435-437. Sully, _Mém._ vol. v. pp. 109-121. Mézeray, vol. x. pp. 254-257. [236] Sully, _Mém_. vol. v. p. 137. [237] Sully, _Mém_. vol. v. pp. 139-142. [238] The French term which I have ventured thus freely to translate is _pot-de-vin_, and literally signifies a sum of money given to a third party who is able to ensure the success of a bargain or negotiation of whatever nature. Thus, for example, in the granting and acceptance of a lease which has been effected by such means, the contracting parties jointly pay down the stipulated amount, irrespective of the value of the lease, for the benefit of the person through whose agency it has been concluded; while so general is the system throughout the country, even to this day, that domestic servants give a _pot-de-vin_ to the individual, to whom they are indebted for their situation, in which instance, however, the bribe or recompense is also called a _denier à Dieu_. [239] Florent d'Argouges, Treasurer of the Queen's Household. His son was first president of the Parliament of Brittany, and subsequently councillor of state and member of the Privy Council. [240] Sully, _Mém_. vol. v. pp. 144-146. [241] Sully, _Mém_. vol. v. pp. 147-149. [242] Sully, _Mém_. vol. v. p. 155. [243] Saint-Edmé, vol. ii. p. 223. [244] In order to convey some idea of the effect produced by the ostensible devotion of Madame de Verneuil upon those who gave her credit for sincerity, we need only quote a passage in the dedication of D'Hemery d'Amboise to his translation of the works of Grégoire de Tours, in which, addressing himself to the Marquise, he gravely says "that she had deduced from the inspired writings of the fathers their salutary doctrine; and that she practised it so faithfully, that her firmness had triumphed over her adversities, and her merit exceeded her happiness." "Your life," he adds, with the same unblushing sycophancy, "serves as a mirror for the most pious, and compels the admiration of all who see so holy and resolute a determination exerted at an age that has scarcely attained its prime; and at which, despising mere personal beauty, and the other precious advantages with which you have been richly endowed by Heaven, you have devoted the course of your best years to the contemplation of the marvels of God, joining spiritual meditation to good works."--Dreux du Radier, vol. vi. pp. 94, 95.