cessary, and a distinction arose
in the case of royal acts, those having the address being styled
letters, and those omitting it, charters. The general form of address
ran in phrase as _Omnibus_ (or _Universis_) _Christi fidelibus
presentes litteras inspecturis_. 4. The SALUTATION was expressed in
such words as _Salutem_; _Salutem et dilectionem_; _Salutem et
apostolicam benedictionem_, but it was not essential.

The Preamble.

The Notification.

The Exposition.

The Disposition.

The Final Clauses.

Then follows the text in five sections: the Preamble, the
Notification, the Exposition, the Disposition and the Final Clauses.
5. The PREAMBLE (_prologus_, _arenga_): an ornamental introduction
generally composed of pious or moral sentiments, a _prefatio ad
captandam benevolentiam_ which _facit ad ornamentum_, degenerating
into tiresome platitudes. It became stereotyped at an early age: in
the 10th and 11th centuries it was a most ornate performance; in the
12th century it was cut short; in the 13th century it died out. 6. The
NOTIFICATION (_notificatio_, _promulgatio_) was the publication of the
purport of the deed introduced by such a phrase as _notum sit_, &c. 7.
The EXPOSITION set out the motives influencing the issue of the deed.
8. The DISPOSITION described the object of the deed and the will and
intention of the grantor. 9. The FINAL CLAUSES ensured the fulfilment
of the terms of the deed; guarded against infringement, by comminatory
anathemas and imprecations, not infrequently of a vehement
description, or by penalties; guaranteed the validity of the deed;
enumerated the formalities of subscription and execution; reserved
rights, &c.

The Date.

The Appreciation.

The Authentication.

Next comes the final protocol or eschatocol comprising: the Date, the
Appreciation, the Authentication. It was particularly in this portion
of the deed that the varying practices of the several chanceries led
to minute and intricate distinctions at different periods. 10. The
DATE. By the Roman law every act must be dated by the day and the year
of execution. Yet in the middle ages, from the 9th to the 12th
century, a large proportion of deeds bears no date. In the most
ancient charters the date clause was frequently separated from the
body of the deed and placed in an isolated position at the foot of the
sheet. From th