Legal Definitions - letter missive

A letter missive is a type of letter that serves a specific purpose in different contexts. Here are some examples:

1. Historical: A letter from a king or queen to the dean and chapter of a cathedral, containing the name of the person whom the king wants elected as bishop.
2. Historical: A request sent to a peer, peeress, or lord of Parliament to appear and answer a lawsuit filed against them.
3. Civil law: The appellate record sent by a lower court to a superior court.

For example, in the first historical context, a letter missive would be sent by a monarch to a cathedral to influence the selection of a bishop. In the second historical context, a letter missive would be sent to a peer or lord of Parliament to request their appearance in court. In the third context, a letter missive would be sent by a lower court to a higher court to appeal a decision.