CHIROGRAPH, was anciently a deed which, requiring a counterpart, was engrossed twice on the same piece of parchment, counterwise; leaving a space between, wherein was written CHIROGRAPH; through the middle whereof the parchment was cut, sometimes straight, sometimes indentedly; and a moiety given to each of the parties. This was afterwards called dividenda, and charta divisa; and was the same with what we now call charter-party. See CHARTER-PARTY. The first use of these chirographs, with us, was in the time of Henry III.
CHIROGRAPH
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