A chirograph is a medieval document, which has been written in duplicate, triplicate or very occasionally quadruplicate (four copies) on a single piece of parchment, with the Latin word chirographum (occasionally replaced by some other term) written across the middle, and then cut through to separate the parts. The term also refers to a papal decree whose circulation is limited to the Roman curia.
An English property conveyance (a final concord) in triplicate chirograph form, dating from 1303. The word cirographum can be seen written twice, vertically and horizontally, along both cuts. The two copies of the agreement at the top were intended for retention by the two parties to the transaction; while the third copy (the "foot of fine") was for retention by the court that oversaw the process.
The Latin word chirographum, often spelled cirographum or cyrographum in the medieval period, is derived from the Greek χειρόγραφον, and simply means "handwritten".[1]
Descriptionedit
The intention of the chirograph was to produce two (or more) identical written copies of a legal agreement, that could be retained by each party to the transaction, and if necessary verified at a later date through comparison with one another. Whereas Charters were typically used for titles of property and did not give each party a copy, chirographs could be used for almost any legal agreement – for example, matters of state, land transfers, repayments of loans, marriage settlements, etc.[2] The cut itself would generally be made with a wavy or serrated edge, running through the word chirographum, to allow the copies to be matched physically as a safeguard against forgery. The earliest surviving portion of a chirograph in England dates from the middle of the ninth century.[3]
The practice of separating the copies with an irregular cut also gave rise to the description of the documents as "indentures", since the edges would be said to be "indented".[4] In the post-medieval period, as legal documents grew in length and complexity, it became impractical to fit two duplicate texts onto a single sheet of parchment. It therefore became more usual to make the two copies on two or more separate sheets, the top edges of which were still cut with a symbolic or matching wavy line.[5]
Pope Francis on 26 June 2013 used a chirograph to set up a Commission to investigate the decisions and underlying investments of the Institute for the Works of Religion (the so-called "Vatican Bank"). The document was "an instrument under canon law giving the commission legal force, and expressing its broad aim to help ensure that 'the principles of the Gospel also permeate activities of an economic and financial nature.'"[7]
See alsoedit
Indenture, a similar document recording an important agreement, formerly including slavery and apprenticeships, latterly in relation to certain major land dealings or certain debts of money, retained in a few and dwindling number of jurisdictions
Fine of lands, or final concord, a type of property conveyance in chirograph form common in medieval and post-medieval England
Tally stick, or split tally, a comparable system of creating matching copies of simple accounting records on a split stick
Referencesedit
Bedos-Rezak, Brigitte (2010). "Cutting Edge: The Economy of Mediality in Twelfth-Century Chirographic Writing.” In Das Mittelalter 15: 134-161.
Lowe, Kathryn A. (1997). "Lay Literacy in Anglo-Saxon England: the Development of the Chirograph". In Pulsiano, P.; Treharne, E. (eds.). Anglo Saxon Manuscripts and their Heritage. Aldershot: Ashgate. pp. 161–204.
Pollard, John F. (2005). Money and the Rise of the Modern Papacy: Financing the Vatican, 1850–1950. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521812046.
Notesedit
^Harper, Douglas. "Chirography". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
^Clanchy, Michael T. (2013). From Memory to Written Record : England 1066-1307. Chichester, West Sussex, UK Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons. p. 89. ISBN1405157917.
^Lowe, Kathryn A. (1997). "Lay Literacy in Anglo-Saxon England: the Development of the Chirograph". In Pulsiano, P.; Treharne, E. (eds.). Anglo Saxon Manuscripts and their Heritage. Aldershot: Ashgate. pp. 161–204.
^Brown, M. P. (1990). A Guide To Western Historical Scripts From Antiquity to 1600. London: British Library. pp. 78–9. ISBN0712301771.
^Alcock, N. W. (1986). Old Title Deeds: a guide for local and family historians. Chichester: Phillimore. pp. 35–6, 58. ISBN0-85033-593-0.
^Glatz, Carol; Wooden, Cindy (26 June 2013). "Pope creates commission to study activities, mission of Vatican bank". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
External linksedit
Medieval Writing. Retrieved on August 7, 2008.
January 01, 1970
chirograph, chirograph, medieval, document, which, been, written, duplicate, triplicate, very, occasionally, quadruplicate, four, copies, single, piece, parchment, with, latin, word, chirographum, occasionally, replaced, some, other, term, written, across, mid. A chirograph is a medieval document which has been written in duplicate triplicate or very occasionally quadruplicate four copies on a single piece of parchment with the Latin word chirographum occasionally replaced by some other term written across the middle and then cut through to separate the parts The term also refers to a papal decree whose circulation is limited to the Roman curia An English property conveyance a final concord in triplicate chirograph form dating from 1303 The word cirographum can be seen written twice vertically and horizontally along both cuts The two copies of the agreement at the top were intended for retention by the two parties to the transaction while the third copy the foot of fine was for retention by the court that oversaw the process Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Ecclesiastical use 4 See also 5 References 6 Notes 7 External linksEtymology editThe Latin word chirographum often spelled cirographum or cyrographum in the medieval period is derived from the Greek xeirografon and simply means handwritten 1 Description editThe intention of the chirograph was to produce two or more identical written copies of a legal agreement that could be retained by each party to the transaction and if necessary verified at a later date through comparison with one another Whereas Charters were typically used for titles of property and did not give each party a copy chirographs could be used for almost any legal agreement for example matters of state land transfers repayments of loans marriage settlements etc 2 The cut itself would generally be made with a wavy or serrated edge running through the word chirographum to allow the copies to be matched physically as a safeguard against forgery The earliest surviving portion of a chirograph in England dates from the middle of the ninth century 3 The practice of separating the copies with an irregular cut also gave rise to the description of the documents as indentures since the edges would be said to be indented 4 In the post medieval period as legal documents grew in length and complexity it became impractical to fit two duplicate texts onto a single sheet of parchment It therefore became more usual to make the two copies on two or more separate sheets the top edges of which were still cut with a symbolic or matching wavy line 5 Ecclesiastical use editSee also Canon law of the Catholic Church and Decree canon law A more restricted use of the term is to describe a papal decree whose circulation unlike an encyclical is limited to the Roman curia 6 Pope Francis on 26 June 2013 used a chirograph to set up a Commission to investigate the decisions and underlying investments of the Institute for the Works of Religion the so called Vatican Bank The document was an instrument under canon law giving the commission legal force and expressing its broad aim to help ensure that the principles of the Gospel also permeate activities of an economic and financial nature 7 See also editIndenture a similar document recording an important agreement formerly including slavery and apprenticeships latterly in relation to certain major land dealings or certain debts of money retained in a few and dwindling number of jurisdictions Fine of lands or final concord a type of property conveyance in chirograph form common in medieval and post medieval England Tally stick or split tally a comparable system of creating matching copies of simple accounting records on a split stickReferences editBedos Rezak Brigitte 2010 Cutting Edge The Economy of Mediality in Twelfth Century Chirographic Writing In Das Mittelalter 15 134 161 Lowe Kathryn A 1997 Lay Literacy in Anglo Saxon England the Development of the Chirograph In Pulsiano P Treharne E eds Anglo Saxon Manuscripts and their Heritage Aldershot Ashgate pp 161 204 Pollard John F 2005 Money and the Rise of the Modern Papacy Financing the Vatican 1850 1950 Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521812046 Notes edit Harper Douglas Chirography Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 27 November 2023 Clanchy Michael T 2013 From Memory to Written Record England 1066 1307 Chichester West Sussex UK Malden MA John Wiley amp Sons p 89 ISBN 1405157917 Lowe Kathryn A 1997 Lay Literacy in Anglo Saxon England the Development of the Chirograph In Pulsiano P Treharne E eds Anglo Saxon Manuscripts and their Heritage Aldershot Ashgate pp 161 204 Brown M P 1990 A Guide To Western Historical Scripts From Antiquity to 1600 London British Library pp 78 9 ISBN 0712301771 Alcock N W 1986 Old Title Deeds a guide for local and family historians Chichester Phillimore pp 35 6 58 ISBN 0 85033 593 0 Pollard p xvi Glatz Carol Wooden Cindy 26 June 2013 Pope creates commission to study activities mission of Vatican bank National Catholic Reporter Retrieved 22 July 2016 External links editChirographs Indentures and Final Concords Medieval Writing Retrieved on August 7 2008 Vatican page on Chirographs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chirograph amp oldid 1187149151, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
