PRELIM.] ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. continued the Cordelier, "let the king, who I perceive is going to France, take care that he administer strict and legal justice to his people, in order that our Lord may suffer him to enjoy his kingdom, and that it may remain in peace and tranquillity all the days of his life." It is said that this discreet Cordelier, who thus lessoned the king, is buried at Marseilles, where our Lord, through him, does many fair miracles. This Cordelier would not remain longer with the king than one day, in spite of all the entreaties that were made him. The good king was not forgetful of what the friar had told him, to govern his realm loyally according to the laws of God, but was anxious that justice should be done to all, according to the manner you shall hear. It was customary after the lord de Neeles,* the good lord de Soissons,t myself, and others that were about the king's person, had heard mass, for us to go and bear the pleadings at the gateway, which is now called the Court of Requests, in the palace at Paris. When the good king was in the morning returned from the church, he sent for us, and inquired how things had passed, and if there were any matters that required his decision. And when we told him that there were some, he sent for the parties, and asked them why they would not be contented with the sentence of his officers, and then instantly made their differences up to their satisfaction, according to the custom of this godly king. Many times have I seen this holy saint, after having heard mass in the summer, go and amuse himself in the wood of Vincennee ; when, seating himself at the foot of an oak, he would make us seat ourselves round about him, and every one who wished to speak with him came thither without ceremony, and without hindrance from any usher or others. He . then demanded aloud if there were any who had complaints to make ; and when there were some, he said, " My friends, be * Simon, son of Kaoni de Clermont, lord of A illy, and of Gertrude, lady and heiress of Neelle. He was regent of the kingdom of France daring the second expedition of Saint Louis to the Holy Land. f John, the second of the name, snrnamed le Begne, son to Raoul de Neelle count of Soissons, by Jolande de Joinville, his second wife, and consequently oousin.german to our lord de Joinville, as he thus styles him some pages hence.