Forms: 3–6 chartre, cartre), 5 chartour, -yr, (-yre), -ere, (7 carter), 5– charter. [ME. chartre, a. OF. chartre, ONF. cartre (for *cartle):—L. cartula charter, lit. small paper or writing, dim. of carta, charta paper. Cf. CHAPTER, F. chapitre:—L. capitulum.]
lit. A leaf of paper in OE. called bóc, BOOK); a legal document or ‘deed’ written (usually) upon a single sheet of paper, parchment, or other material, by which grants, cessions, contracts, and other transactions are confirmed and ratified.
1292. Britton, II. viii. De chartres. Quant al garnement de escrit, qe home apele chartre, fet a saver qe en moutz des maneres sount chartres.
1. A written document delivered by the sovereign or legislature:
a. granting privileges to, or recognizing rights of, the people, or of certain classes or individuals.
Great Charter, that signed by King John guaranteeing the fundamental liberties of the English people: see MAGNA CHARTA Charter of the Forest (Charta Forestæ), a charter conceded by Henry III. in 1217, and revised 1224, restraining the severity of the forest laws of previous reigns.
a. 1250[?]. [Forged] Charter Æðelstan (dated 939), in Cod. Dipl., v. 235. Ich Æðelstan … grantye and confirmye by ðisse minre chartre.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 77. Þe emperour with god cartre, & mid ys owne cel, Hym ȝef of þe se … þe warde … Þis false mon wende þo mid his cartre a-boute. Ibid., 498. Alle hor chartren ywis, That adde of is fader … Of franchise & of other thing, al clene were vndo.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., VII. (1520), 88 b/1. The Kynge made to them two charters … the great chartrye of fraunchyses, and … the charter of forest.
1570. Levins, Manip., 71. A charter, diploma.
1591. Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 65. The great Charter of England … for which the Englishmen had no lesse striven, than the Trojans for their Helena.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. ii. 48. Our Substitutes at home shall haue Blanke-charters: Whereto, when they shall know what men are rich, They shall subscribe them for large summes of Gold.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath. (1839), 276. Charters are donations of the sovereign; and not laws, but exemptions from law.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., I. 135. The language of the great charter is, that no freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, but by the lawful judgment of his equals, or by the law of the land.
1818. Cruise, Digest, III. 163. When King Edward I. created the Black Prince Duke of Cornwall, he gave him a charter, by which he granted to him the name and honour of Duke of Cornwall, [etc.].
1835. Lytton, Rienzi, X. i. There is but one nobility, and Nature signs its charter.
1846. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. x. 179. The Second great charter of Roman liberties.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xiv. 28. This charter [of the Forest] was a great measure of relief: the inhabitants of the counties not living within the forests are released from the duty of attending the courts except on special summons; the forests made in the last two reigns are disafforested; much of the vexatious legislation of Henry II is annulled, [etc.].
† b. granting pardon. Hence To have one’s charter = to receive pardon. Obs.
c. 1300. Havelok, 676. And with þi chartre make [me] fre.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, I. xxxiv. (1859), 38. Oure lordes graunt and chartre of pardon.
1468. Fabyan, in Plumpton Corr., 18. Whan they shulde have been hanged, there chartours were shewyd, & so preservyd.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cclii. 323. Maister John hume had his chartre and was pardoned by the kyng.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 241 b. Why almyghty god sholde gyue his … charter of pardon to man.
a. 1626. Bacon, Maxims Com. Law, xi. 49. If a man be attainted and have a charter of pardon.
c. creating or incorporating a borough, university, company, or other corporation.
1474. Act 12 & 13 Edw. IV., in Oxf. & Camb. Enactm. (1869), 8. Among certeyn liberties and privileges by charters … graunted unto the Chaunceller and Scolers of the said universite.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 39. If you denie it, let the danger light Vpon your Charter, and your Cities freedome.
1680. Prideaux, Lett. (1875), 78. The University will be at large to act according to the utmost extent of their charter. Ibid. (1684), 136. Ye University concern is about ye town carter … to induce them to surrender it, ye Earle of Abington promised them ye addition of several new grants.
1725. Berkeley, Proposal, etc. Wks. III. 218. If his Majesty would graciously please to grant a Charter for a College.
1765–9. Blackstone, Comm. (1793), 204. The king’s charter either creating new or reviving old boroughs.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius, II. 888. The Royal Exchange Assurance and the London Assurance Companies were established by charters, bearing date the 22d day of June, 1720.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 497. The main question … was the renewal of the Company’s charter.
1861. Buckle, Civiliz., II. viii. 575. The earliest charter was granted to an English town in the twelfth century.
d. People’s Charter: the name given to the famous document (published 8 May 1838) embodying the principles and demands of the Chartists.
1838. W. Lovett, Address (issued in Mch. or Apl.). In the course of a few weeks this Bill will be prepared and printed for circulation, under the title of ‘The People’s Charter.’
1838. Northern Star (Leeds), 6 Aug., 7/2. That this meeting cordially approves of the People’s Charter as the outline of an Act to provide for the general representation of the people … in Parliament.
1845. Penny Cycl., 1st Supp. I. 331/2. The ‘People’s Charter.’ The principal points of this proposed charter are, universal suffrage, vote by ballot, annual parliaments, the division of the country into equal electoral districts, the abolition of property qualification in members, and paying them for their services.
1877. C. Mackay, Forly Years’ Recoll., II. 50. The Charter—a document exceedingly well drawn up—derived its name from the French Charter of 1830.
2. A written evidence, instrument, or contract executed between man and man: a. gen.
c. 1270. Saints’ Lives (Laud MS.) (1887), 290. Þe chartre he wrouȝte sone And a-selede hire with is ryng.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 122. For may no cherle chartre make ne his catel selle, With-outen leue of his lorde.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 78/1. And toke a chartre and wrote the conscrypcion of the wedlok.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 545. Many blanke chartours were deuysyd and brought into the cytie, whiche many of the moost substancyall men of the same were fayne to seale to theyr payne and charge.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 26. Ye shall gyue to Perron your wyfe this nyght ye charter of her endowry.
1786. Burns, A Dream, xiii. But first hang out, that she ’ll discern Your hymeneal charter.
1847. C. G. Addison, Law Contracts, I. i. 19. The Normans … caused the ancient Saxon contracts and writings to be sealed … and gave then the name of charters or Deeds.
b. applied esp. to the documents or deeds relating to conveyance of landed property.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 929. Min heritage, toun and tour, I give it yow, makith chartres as yow leste.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 55. Charters of lands are writings, deeds, evidences, and instruments, made from one man to an other, upon some estate conveyed or passed between them of lands or tenements.
1656. H. Phillips, Purch. Pattern (1676), 2. Make thy Charter run To thee, thine Heirs.
1818. Cruise, Digest, I. 259. In Madox’s collection of ancient charters there are some leases … which considerably exceed that period.
1885. L. Goodeve, Real Prop., 286. A record of the gift or alienation [of land], called the Charter of Feoffment.
c. spec. A document embodying the contract between owners and merchants for the hire of a ship and safe delivery of the cargo; more fully CHARTER-PARTY. Also, the contract thus made.
1794. in Nicolas’ Disp. Nelson (1845), I. 428. He was under no Charter. Customary clause in Charter-parties, The Brokerage on this Charter is at the rate of Five per cent.
3. Privilege; immunity; publicly conceded right.
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 263. Ye haue a Charter to speake what ye list.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 48. I must haue liberty Wiithall, as large a Charter as the winde. Ibid., Sonn., lviii. The Charter of thy worth giues thee releasing.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., xii. 67. To impose names is part of the Peoples Charter.
1805. Wordsworth, Prelude, VI. (1850), 149. And mighty forms seizing a youthful fancy Had given charter to irregular hopes.
1839. De Quincey, Lakes, Wks. II. 167. Every man … must grant a charter of large enthusiasm to such an occasion.
† 4. As a rendering of L. charta taken: Paper; a paper, writing, letter, document, etc. Obs. rare.
1382. Wyclif, Prov., Prol. Ioyne the epistil whom joyneth presthood; Ȝhe, the chartre twynne not [Vulg. ne dividat charta], whom the looue of Crist knytteth. Ibid., Job vii. 16. And the chartre taken [accepta charta], thei maden the conscripcioun of the wedloc.
5. Comb., as charter-beer, -box, -chest, -room; charter-bond = CHARTER-PARTY; charter-boy, a boy on the Charter-house foundation; charter-brother, an inmate and pensioner of the Charter-house; charter-colony, a colony founded by Royal Charter; charter-day, a day appointed by charter for some special purpose; charter-exemption, exemption from taxes, etc., by Royal Charter; charter-government, a government founded by Royal Charter; charter-hold (see CHARTER-LAND); † charter-horn, a horn used as a charter or instrument of conveyance; † charter-man, ? licentiate, ? licenser; charter-park, a park held by charter; † charter-patent, a letter-patent; charter-system, the system of working a mine by a CHARTERMASTER; † charter-tailzie, charter of entail: see TAILZIE. See also CHARTERHOUSE, -LAND, -MASTER, -PARTY, -SCHOOL.
1634. Brereton, Trav. (1844), 156. A kind of beer called *Charter beer.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, 172. He would forfeit his *charter-bond.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Ability, Wks. (Bohn), II. 36. If all remedy fails, right of revolution is at the bottom of his *charter-box.
1866. Carlyle, Inaug. Address, 181. Compiled out of all kinds of parchments, *charter-chests.
1881. J. Russell, Haigs, 11. Those in the charter-chest of the family date from 1425 onwards.
1766. Hist. Europe, in Ann. Reg., 41/1. There are several sorts of colonies in British America: the *charter-colonies, the proprietary governments, and the King’s colonies.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius, II. 1007. Upon an omission to elect at the *charter-day, or to do such acts as were by the charter required to be done at certain times … a forfeiture of the charter might be incurred, and the corporation dissolved.
1775. Wesley, Wks., 1872, XI. 85. The plea of *charter-exemption drops.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 293. The *charter governments were empowered to enact laws, and no ratification by the king was necessary.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, iv. 203. His *Charter-hold Lands.
1774. C. Lyttelton, in Archæol., III. 22. Account of certain *Charter-Horns in the Cathedral of Carlisle.
1683. Dryden, Vind. Dk. of Guise, Wks. 1725, V. 333. The *Charter-man in the very Title-page.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3900/4. A *Charter-Park walled about.
1599. Greene, Alphons. (1861), 291. I seal your *charter-patent.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxiv. There’s a parchment book in the *charter-room at Knockwinnock Castle.
1864. Daily Tel., 26 Oct., 3/2. ‘Doggies’ and ‘butties,’ as they are called by the pitmen, work the mines for the owners, under terms of arrangement known as the *‘charter system.’
1634. S. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 111. I cannot but think, seeing the ends of the earth are given to Christ (and Scotland is the end of the earth, and so we are in Christ’s *charter-talizie) but our Lord will keep His possession.
