Literal contract

In Roman law. A species of written contract, in which the formal act by which an obligation was superinduced on the convention was an entry of the sum due, where it should be specifically ascertained, on the debit side of a ledger.

Maine, Anc. Law, 320.

A contract, the whole of the evidence or which is reduced to writing, and binds the party who subscribed it, although he has received no consideration.

Lee. El. Dr. Rom. § 887.