DECREE, legislation. In some countries as in France, some acts of the legislature, or of the sovereign, which have the force of law, are called decrees; as, the Berlin and Milan decrees.
DECREE ARBITRAL, Scotch1 law. A decree made by arbitrators chosen by the parties; an award. 1 Bell's Com. 643.
DECREE OF REGISTRATION2, Scotch law. A proceeding3 by which the creditor4 has immediate5 execution; it is somewhat like a warrant of attorney to confess judgment6. 1 Bell's Com. B. 1, c. 1, p. 4.
DECRETAL ORDER. Chancery practice. An order made by the court of chancery, upon a motion or petition, in the nature of a decree. 2 Dan. Ch. Pr. 637.
DECRETALS. eccles. law. The decretals are canononical epistles, written by the pope alone, or by the pope and cardinals7, at the instance or suit of some one or more persons, for the ordering and determining some matter in. controversy8, and have the authority of a law in themselves.
2. The decretals were published in three volumes. The first volume was collected by Raymundus Barcinius, chaplain to Gregory IX., about the year 1231, and published by him to be read in schools, and used in the ecclesiastical courts. The second volume is the work of Boniface VIII compiled about the year 1298, with additions to and alterations9 of the ordinances10 of his predecessors11. The third volume is called the Clementines, because made by Clement12 V., and was published by him in the council of Vienna, about the year 1308. To these may be added the Extravagantes of John XXII. and other bishops13 of Rome, which, relatively14 to the others, are called Novelle Constitutiones. Ridley's View, &c. 99, 100,; 1 Fournel, Hist. des Avocats, 194-5.
3. The false decretals were forged. in the names of the early bishops of Rome, and first appeared about A. D. 845-850. The author of them is not known. They are mentioned in a letter written in the name of the council of Quiercy, by Charles the Bald, to the bishops and lords. of France. See Van Espen Fleury, Droit de Canon, by Andre.
DEDI, conveyancing. I have given. This word amounts to a warranty15 in law, when it is in a deed; for example, if in a deed it be said, I have given, &c., to A B, this is a warranty to him and his heirs. Brooke, Abr. Guaranties, pl. 85. Yet the warranty wrought16 by this word is a special warranty, and extendeth to the heirs of the feoffee during the life of the donor17 only. Co. Litt. 884, b. Vide Concessi.