Most of these Provinces had their separate Chambre des Comptes, and Cour des Aides.
2. The Baillis or Sénéschals (with Prévôts under them).
(a) Collected the dues from the royal domains (while the Élus collected the regular direct taxes).
(b) Tried petty cases.
(c) Administered affairs, civil and military, of their Bailliage or Sénéchaussée.
Their jurisdiction was subordinated to that of the Parlements, and their financial accounts were under the Cours des Comptes, while that of the Élus were audited by the Cours des Aides.
Francis I., however, appointed new officers—the Lieutenants, Civil and Criminel—to whom, by the ordinance of 1560, the judicial functions of the Baillis and Sénéschals were transferred. After that date the importance of the Baillis and Sénéschals rapidly declined, especially after the final institution of the Intendants by Richelieu.
Francis I. also appointed twelve Lieutenants-Général over the frontier Provinces. During the Civil War these were extended to most of the Provinces; and the Governors, as they now were called, made themselves so powerful as to be ‘very kings.’ Henry IV. did his best to buy off these Governors; but their power was not finally overthrown till the time of Richelieu.
3. In 1551 Henry II. instituted Tribunaux Présidiaux as intermediate Courts between the Parlements and those of the Baillis or Sénéschals.
4. The nobles still retained their Seignorial Courts; but these, jealously watched by the Baillis and Sénéschals, were confined to questions between the Seigneur and his dependants.