 Since the 15th century, much of the seigneur's legal purview had been given to the "bailliages" or "sénéchaussées" and the "présidiaux" (see below), leaving only affairs concerning seigneurial dues and duties, and small affairs of local justice.Only certain seigneurs—those with the power of "haute justice" (seigneurial justice was divided into "high" "middle" and "low" justice) – could enact the death penalty, and only with the consent of the "présidiaux".Crimes of desertion, highway robbery, and mendicants (so-called "cas prévôtaux") were under the supervision of the prévôt des maréchaux, who exacted quick and impartial justice.