Procedure relative to the interrogation of the accused.

TITLE XIV.
Interrogation of the Accused.

ARTICLE I.

PRISONERS under criminal charges will be interrogated without delay, & interrogations will begin no later than in the twenty-four hours following their imprisonment, under threat of incurred expenses, damages & dues against the Judge who must conduct the interrogation; & failing that he fulfill this requirement, it will be presided over by another Officer, following the order on the Chart.

ARTICLE II.

THE Judge will attend in person the interrogation, which will not in any instance be conducted by the Clerk, under threat of it being nullified, & of a suspension against the Judge & the Clerk, &

of a five hundred livres fine paid to Us by both, from which they can not be exempted.

ARTICLE III.

OUR Prosecutors, those of the Seigneurs, & the accusing parties will be permitted to submit accounts to the Judge for the interrogation of the Accused, both regarding facts provided in the information, as well as others, to be used by the Judge, as he will determine.

ARTICLE IV.

THE interrogation will be conducted where the Court meets, in the counsel or gaol Chambers. We forbid the Judges from doing so in their houses.
[...]

ARTICLE VIII.

THE Accused, whatever their status may be, will be required to respond in their own words, without the advice of counsel, which will not be given to them, not even following the confrontation, notwithstanding all contrary methods that we abrogate [...]

ARTICLE XVII.

THE interrogations will be communicated without delay to our Prosecutors, or [to] those of the Seigneurs, for their approval, or to request what they advise.[...]

Source: Louis XIV, "Procedure relative to the interrogation of the accused, in l'Ordonnance ... pour les matières criminelles" (: Chez les Associés, 1670).

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