Louis, the ridings of the revising-masters (_chevauehees des maitres des requetes_), the departmental commissioners (_commissaires departis_) of Charles IX., were so many temporary and travelling inspectors, whose duty it was to inform the king of the state of affairs throughout the kingdom.

Richelieu substituted for these shifting commissions a fixed and regular institution, and in 1637 he established in all the provinces overseers of justice, police, and finance, who were chosen for the most part from amongst the burgesses, and who before long concentrated in their hands the whole administration, and maintained the struggle of the kingly power against the governors, the sovereign courts, and the states-provincial.
At the time when the overseers of provinces were instituted, the battle of pure monarchy was gained; Richelieu had no further need of allies, he wanted mere subjects; but at the beginning of his ministry he had felt the need of throwing himself sometimes for support on the nation, and this great foe of the states-general had twice convoked the Assembly of Notables.

The first took place at Fontainebleau, in 1625-6.

The cardinal was at that time at loggerheads with the court of Rome: "If the Most Christian King," said he, "is bound to watch over the interests of the Catholic church, he has first of all to maintain his own reputation in the world.

What use would it be for a state to have power, riches, and popular government, if it had not character enough to bring other people to form alliance with it ?" These few words summed up the great minister's foreign policy, to protect the Catholic church whilst keeping up Protestant alliances.