Epistola

A letter or epistle. Calv. Lex. An instrument in writing for the conveyance of lands, or the assurance of contracts. Spelman. EPISTOLAE (Lat.)

In civil law. Rescripts; opinions given by the emperors in cases submitted to them for decision. Answers of the emperors to petitions. The answers of counsellors (juris oonsulta), as Ulpian and others-, to questions of law proposed to them, were also called epistolae. Opinions written out. The term orig^inally signified the same as literae. Vicat.

A letter; a charter; an instrument in writing for conveyance of lands or assurance of contracts. Calvin; Spelman.

I.

In the civil law. An opinion of the emperor upon a case submitted to him, or a decision in answer to a petition; a rescript

Lat.

In old European law. A letter or epistle. Calv. Lex. Jurid. A charter; any instrument in writing for the conveyance of lands or the assurance of contracts; {instrum.entum quo pradia conceduntur, pojctionesque Jtrm^ntur. ) SpeU man. Spelman refers to Cassiodorus and Marculfus to show that all deeds or charters were, during, and after the lower empire, {ab inclinato imperio,) called epistolos; commencing as a letter, with an address and salutation. Hence the origin of the ancient form of charters or deeds in England, which commenced with — Omnibus Chrisli fidelibus ad quos hoc prcesens scriptum pervenerit, N. de D. salutem. Sciatis, &c, ** To all the faithful in Christ to whom this present writing shall come, N. of D. sends greeting: Know ye, &c." The same form of commencement is still preserved, with some modification, in our modern deeds poll.