fubfidies, by tbe coinage and other vexations. • Not-withftanding the country had been much hafaffed and diftrefled-by levying them, the'army had been badly paid, and the kingdom ill guarded and de-fended : but there was no one that could give any account of them. - The clergy, therefore, refolved to felefit twelve of the wifeft from among themfelves, to confider and determine what would be moft advifable to be done. ' * • ' The barons and knights chofe twelve alfo, to attend to this bufinefs. The citifcens likewife did the fame, according to their unanimous agreement. Thefe thirty-fix per-fonages were to remain at Paris, in order to con-fer together upon the better government of the kingdom ; and all affairs were tobe laid before thefe three eftates : all prelates, noblemen, and all cities, towns and commonalties were to obey them and execute their orders. In the beginning, however, there were many • in this feleétion that were not agreeable to the duke of Normandy, or to his council. The firft a& of the three eftates was to forbid the coining any money in the manner in which it was then done, and to feize the dies. They next required of the duke of Normandy, that he would order the chancellor of the king his father to be arretted, the Lord Robert Lorris, the lord Simon de Buci*, as well as many other matters of ac- '* He was firft prefident of the parliament.—H AI N AU LT. A a 4 counts 359