Letter Missive

Letter-missive. When a peer was made a defendant in the Court of Chancery, the Lord Chancellor sent a letter-missive to him, to request his appearance, together with a copy of the bill, petition, and order; if he neglected to appear to this, he was then served with a copy of the bill and a citation to appear and answer; if he continued still in contempt, a sequestration nisi, which was made absolute in the usual way, issued immediately against his lands and goods, without any of the arresting processes of attachment, etc., which cannot affect a Lord of Parliament. See 1 Dan. Ch. Pr.

Also, for electing a bishop, a letter-missive from the sovereign is sent to the dean and chapter, containing the name of the person whom he would have them elect. See CONGE D'ELIRE.