(French history) Lettre de cachet: the king could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal; SYN. cachet.
“sealed letter”; monarch’s written edict; order for imprisonment.
French term for an order signed by the king and closed with his seal (cachet); especially an order under which persons might be imprisoned or banished without trial. Lettres de cachet were used as a means of disposing of political opponents or criminals of high birth. The system was abolished during the French Revolution.