Chapiter \Chap"i*ter\, n. [OF. chapitel, F. chapiteau, from L.
   capitellum, dim. of caput head. Cf. Capital, Chapter.]
   1. (Arch.) A capital [Obs.] See Chapital. --Ex. xxxvi. 38.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Old Eng. Law) A summary in writing of such matters as are
      to be inquired of or presented before justices in eyre, or
      justices of assize, or of the peace, in their sessions; --
      also called articles. --Jacob.
      [1913 Webster]

ARTICLES. A division in some books. In agreements and other writings, for
the sake of perspicuity, the subjects are divided into parts, paragraphs, or
articles.

ARTICLES, chan. practice. An instrument in writing, filed by a party to a
proceeding in chancery, containing reasons why a witness in the cause should
be discredited.
     2. As to the matter which ought to be contained in these articles, Lord
Eldon gave some general directions in the case of Carlos v. Brook, 10 Ves.
49. "The court," says he, "attending with great caution to an application to
permit any witness to be examined after publication, has held where the
proposition was to examine a witness to credit, that the examination is
either to be confined to general credit; that is, by producing witnesses to
swear, that the person is not to be believed upon his oath; or, if you find
him swearing to a matter, not to issue in the cause, (and therefore not
thought material to the merits,) in that case, as the witness is not
produced to vary the case in evidence by, testimony that relates to matters
in issue, but is to speak only to the truth or want of veracity, with which
a witness had spoken to a fact not, in issue, there is no danger in
permitting him to state that such fact, not put in issue, is false and, for
the purpose of discrediting a witness, the court has not considered itself
at liberty to sanction such a proceeding as an examination to destroy the
credit of another witness, who had deposed only to points put in issue. In
Purcell v. M'Namara, it was agreed that after publication it was competent
to examine any witness to the point, whether he would believe that man upon
his oath. It is not competent, even at law, to ask the ground of that
opinion; but the general question only is permitted. In Purcell v. M'Namara,
the witness went into the history of his whole life and as to his solvency,
& c. It was not at all put at issue whether he had been insolvent, or had
compounded with his creditors; but, having sworn the contrary, they proved
by witnesses, that he, who had sworn to a, matter not in issue, had sworn
falsely to that fact; and that he had been insolvent, and had compounded
with his creditors; and it would be lamentable, if the court could not find
means of getting at it; for he could not be indicted for perjury, though
swearing falsely, the fact not being material. The rule is, in general cases
the cause is heard upon evidence given before publication; but that you may
examine after publication, provided you examine to credit only, and do not
go to matters in issue in the cause, or in contradiction of them, under
pretence of examining to credit only. Those depositions," he continued,
"appear to me material to what is in issue in the cause; and therefore must
be suppressed," See a form of articles in Gresl. Eq. Ev. 140, 141; and also
8 Ves. 327; 9 Ves. 145; 1 S. & S. 469.

ARTICLES, eccl. law. A complaint in the form of a libel, exhibited to an
ecclesiastical court.