Title — Liber Sextus
Title IV: On the Oath of Calumny
Chapter I
It is not of the substance of the proceeding that the oath of calumny be taken immediately after joinder of issue. John Andrew. — § 1. The proceeding is not annulled although the oath of calumny is tacitly omitted. This is what it says. — § 2. He commands that in spiritual causes an oath be taken concerning both calumny and the truth at the same time. John Andrew.
Boniface VIII. If an oath concerning calumny or stating the truth is not taken at the first beginning of the litigation as it ought to be, it can afterward be taken at any part of the litigation, since that oaths of this kind be furnished at the beginning is not of the substance of the judicial order.
§ 1. Nor, because the oath of calumny has been tacitly omitted throughout the whole cause, is a judicial proceeding otherwise lawfully conducted null or to be annulled.
§ 2. Although in spiritual causes, in which an oath concerning stating the truth ought to be taken, the canons do not enjoin the oath of calumny upon anyone, nevertheless, because we see that calumny is frequently committed in them, we judge it useful that in those causes, as many observe, an oath ought to be taken at the same time both concerning stating the truth and concerning calumny, so that the way may be closed to calumnies.
DE IURAMENTO CALUMNIAE.
Non est de substantia, quod statim post litem contestatam iuretur de calumnia. Ioann. Andr. — §. 1. Non annullatur processus, licet tacite omittatur calumniae iuramentum. H. d. — §. 2. Praecipit, quod in spiritualibus simul de calumnia et de veritate iuretur. Ioann. Andr.
Bonifacius VIII.
Si de calumnia seu de veritate dicenda in primo litis exordio non iuretur, ut debet: poterit postmodum in qualibet parte litis iurari, quum huiusmodi iuramenta praestari ab initio de substantia ordinis iudiciarii non exsistat. §. i. Propter omissum quoque tacite in tota causa calumniae iuramentum iudicialis processus, alias factus legitime, non est nullus nec etiam annullandus. §. 2. Quamvis in causis spiritualibus, in quibus debet de veritate dicenda iurari, canones non indicant alicui calumniae iuramentum: nos tamen, quia frequenter calumniari videmus in ipsis, utile reputamus, quod simul, sicut plerique observant, tam de veritate dicenda quam de calumnia, ut via praecludatur calumniis, iurari debeat in eisdem.
Chapter II
In an appeal cause an oath ought to be taken concerning calumny and stating the truth. — § 1. A procurator deputed after the oath of calumny will take the oath of calumny. This is what it says. — § 2. Whenever it seems good to him, the judge requires an oath of malice even if an oath concerning calumny or the truth has been taken. John Andrew.
The same. In an appeal cause, although an oath was taken in the principal cause, we command that the oath of calumny be furnished; and we will that the same be observed concerning the oath of stating the truth.
§ 1. We will that procurators who are deputed after the oath of calumny are also bound to undergo an oath of this kind, so that calumny may be avoided by them, even if they have been instructed by their principals concerning what they ought to plead, answer, or do.
§ 2. In all causes, not only before but also after issue has been joined, whether an oath concerning the truth or concerning calumny has been taken in them, the judge can require from the parties an oath of malice whenever he sees that it is expedient.
In causa appellationis iurari debet de calumnia et veritate dicenda. — §. 1. Procurator, deputatus post iuramentum calumniae, iurabit de calumnia. H. d. — §.2. Iudex, quoties sibi videtur, exigit iuramentum malitiae, etiamsi de calumnia vel veritate iuratum sit. Ioann. Andr.
Idem.
In appellationis causa, quanquam in principali iuratum fuerit, praestari iubemus calumniae iuramentum, et idem in iuramento de veritate dicenda volumus observari. §. 1. Procuratores quoque, qui post iuramentum calumniae deputantur, teneri volumus, ut calumnia vitetur ab ipsis, ad subeundum huiusmodi iuramentum, etiamsi a suis dominis, quid ponere aut respondere seu agere debeant, sint instructi. §. 2. In omnibus autem causis, nedum ante, sed etiam postquam lis fuerit contestata, sive de veritate sive de calumnia sit iuratum in ipsis, potest iudex a partibus exigere iuramentum malitiae, quoties viderit expedire.
Chapter III
A procurator having a special mandate takes the oath of calumny. John Andrew.
The same. The judge who admitted your adversary’s procurator, appointed for the cause and having a special mandate concerning this, to furnish the oath of calumny in it is judged to have done you no injury.
Procurator, habens speciale mandatum, iurat de calumnia. Ioann. Andr.
Idem.
Nullam tibi iudex iniuriam fecisse censetur, qui procuratorem tui adversarii constitutum ad causam, habentem super hoc speciale mandatum, admisit ad praestandum in ea calumniae iuramentum.