In the marshy districts of Brittany, one right enjoyed by the great nobles was "the silence of the frogs,[14]" which, whenever the lady was confined, bound the peasants to spend their days and nights in beating the swamps with long poles to save her from being disturbed by their inharmonious croaking.

And if this or any other feudal right was dispensed with, it was only commuted for a money payment, which was little less burdensome.
The powers exercised by the crown were more intolerable still.

The sovereign was absolute master of the liberties of his subjects.

Without alleging the commission of any crime, he could issue warrants--letters under seal, as they were called--which consigned the person named in them to imprisonment, which was often perpetual.

The unhappy prisoner had no power of appeal.