A number of clerks (Maîtres de Requêtes) under the Conseil du Roi, worked various Departmental Councils, such as those of War and Finance.

II. Central Courts of Justice.

A. The Parlement of Paris.—The Central Judicial Court of the Realm, sharing with the Grand Conseil the right of hearing appeals from all subordinate Courts.

It also

(1) issued Arrêts, or Injunctions.

(2) Registered all royal ordinances, treaties ofpeace, and other public documents; and,from the reign of Louis XI., claimed theright of refusing to register—a rightwhich gradually ripened into a right ofveto. The King, however, could alwaysoverride its veto by holding a ‘Lit deJustice’—i.e. by summoning the Parlement,in solemn assembly, before thePeers of France and the officers of State,and ordering it to register.

Its members held office for life, and were, since thereign of Louis XI., irremovable, unless convicted ofsome penal offence. As membership was generallypurchased from the King, they became saleable,and, after the reign of Henry IV., practicallyhereditary.

The Parlement was divided into five Courts:—

1. The Grand Chambre.—This heard all appeals of great importance, and cases of first instance which concerned the Peers; cases of treason; and criminal charges against royal officials and members of the Parlement.

2. Chambre des Requêtes.—Decided smaller cases of first instance.

3. Chambre des Enquêtes.—Heard smaller cases of appeal, and prepared the more important appeals for the Grand Chambre.

4. Chambre de la Tournelle.—Tried less important criminal cases.

5. Chambre de l’Édit.—Established after the Edict of Nantes, 1598, to try cases between Catholics and Huguenots. One or two of the judges were to be Protestants.