In the civil law. A royal charter; letters patent granted by a prince orsovereign. Calvin.An instrument given by colleges and societies on the conferring of any degrees.State v. Gregory, 83 Mo. 130, 53 Am. Rep. 565; Halliday v. Butt. 40 Ala. 183.A license granted to a physician, etc., to practice his art or profession. See Brooks v.State, 88 Ala. 122, 6 South. 902.