Lettres

Lettres de Cachet, or Lettres Closes, letters making known the royal will to individuals or corporations which were used by the kings of France prior to the Revolution. They were so called because they were folded up, and had the king's little seal (cachet) impressed upon them. They were often used so as to interfere with the proper administration of justice, and by their means many innocent persons who happened to be obnoxious to the king or his favourites were consigned to the Bastille.