Provost Royal, a sort of inferior judge established throughout France, to take cognizance of all civil, personal, real, and mixed causes, among the people only.

Grand Provost of France, or of the Household, has jurisdiction in the king's house, and over the officers therein; looks to the policy thereof, the regulation of provisions, &c.

Grand Provost of the Constable, a judge who manages processes against the soldiers in the army who have committed any crime.

He has four lieutenants distributed throughout the army, called provosts of the army, and particularly provosts in the several regiments.

Provost Marshal of an Army, is an officer appointed to seize and secure deserters, and all other criminals. PRU

He is to hinder soldiers from pillaging, to indict offenders, and see the sentence passed on them executed. He also regulates the weights and measures, and the price of provisions, &c. in the army. For the discharge of his office, he has a lieutenant, a clerk, and a troop of marshal-men on horseback, as also an executioner.

There is also a provost-marshal in the navy, who hath charge over prisoners, &c.

The French have a provost-general of the marines, who is to prosecute the marines when guilty of any crime, and make report thereof to the council of war; besides a marine provost in every vessel, who is a kind of gaoler, and takes the prisoners into his care, and keeps the vessel clean.

Provosts of the Marshals, are a kind of lieutenants of the marshals of France; of these there are 180 seats in France; their chief jurisdiction regards highwaymen, footpads, house-breakers, &c.

Provost of the Mint, a particular judge instituted for the apprehending and prosecuting of false coiners.

Privat, in the king's stables; his office is to attend at court, and hold the king's stirrup when he mounts his horse. There are four provosts of this kind, each of whom attends in his turn, monthly.