The characteristic feature of Henry II's regime in Brittany is that the king never purported to govern Brittany in person. Royal authority was delegated to certain trusted ministers who governed the province in the king's absence. There is, for instance, no evidence of Henry II personally judging any legal dispute concerning Brittany. The king himself only acted when petitioned in a particular matter. In response to such petitions, he would give his consent or confirmation to a transaction, or order an inquest or trial to be conducted by a royal agent in Brittany.

The extent to which the administration was left to the discretion of royal ministers is demonstrated by the fact that there are only three known writs concerning Brittany issued in the king's own name for the whole period from 1158 to 1189. These are known only from mentions and all seem to have been addressed to the king's resident officers ordering them to initiate legal processes in Brittany. The first, c.1167, to John de Subligny ordered him to do justice to the abbey of La Vieuville in a particular dispute. In his return to Henry II, John states, ‘mandaveratis per breve vestram quatinus abbatiam Veteris villa omnesque possessiones illius manuteneram et defenderam’. The second writ was issued to Rolland de Dinan in the case of the relics of St Petroc in 1177.