De fide instrumentorum et amissione eorum
(Concerning the Authenticity of Instruments and Their Loss.)
2The Same, Opinions, Book V. Where anyone is sued by the Treasury, this must be done, not by means of an extract or the copy of any written document, but on the original itself, so that the truth of the contract may be established. It is not proper that a forged document should have any force or effect in court.
3The Same, Opinions, Book III. Paulus stated that: “An obligation should not be antedated, but the parties who have agreed to this are not considered to be guilty of forgery, since the act was performed in the presence and with the consent of the parties, and the debtor is guilty of a greater offence than the creditor.”
4Gaius, On the Hypothecary Formula. Where property is hypothecated, it does not matter in what terms this may be effected, as in the case in those obligations which are contracted by consent. Therefore, if it is agreed that property shall be hypothecated without this being done in writing, and this can be proved, the property with reference to which the agreement was made will be encumbered; for written instruments are drawn up in these matters in order that what has been agreed upon may be more easily established. The transaction will be valid, however, without them, if the evidence is forthcoming; just as marriage is valid where testimony exists without any written instruments having been executed.
5Callistratus, Questions, Book II. Where a transaction shows that it has actually been concluded without any documentary evidence, it will be none the less valid because no written instrument with reference to it exists.
6Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book L. Where a question arises with reference to the deposit of a will, and there is some doubt with whom this should be done, we prefer that it should always be left with an old, rather than with a young person, with one of high rather than with one of inferior rank, with a man rather than with a woman, and with a freeborn person rather than with a freedman.