Theses de testamentis

But the more common and truer opinion is that this decision does not hold in secular court.

XXI.
Yet it is certain that even by Civil Law, in certain cases, a smaller number of witnesses suffices: as in a will between children, for pious causes, for rustic people, and that which is made in time of plague or war, and which is offered to a Prince or Magistrate, and entered into the records.

XXII.
It must be understood as done "among the records" not only if it is done in court, but also if done at home by an invalid, having called for this purpose a Magistrate and a public actuary, and having asked them to ensure that such a will is referred to the public records.

XXIII.
On which occasion it is asked: Whether, to prove the sentence of a Prince or judge, at least two witnesses must be present and subscribe to said registration? And as daily usage teaches, it is truer that the records alone suffice.

XXIV.
These things having been established, it must not be passed over that a will once made by law and duly perfected can be changed by a contrary will (since the testator's will is ambulatory until the final end of life): so much so that he cannot take away from himself this freedom of changing his will by any pact, even if confirmed by an oath.

XXV.
But it is necessary that the change be made with the same formality with which the disposition itself was made: for nothing is so natural as that each thing be dissolved in the same way it was bound.

And if