Upon the Debtor’s appearing on the day appointed in Court, if the Creditor has neither Pledge, nor Sureties, nor any other proof, unless the mere faith of the other, this will not be received as any proof in the King’s Court.[384] Yet, he may proceed for the breach or violation of faith in the Court Christian. But, though the Ecclesiastical Judge can hold cognizance of such crime, and either impose penance on the convicted party, or enjoin him to make satisfaction, yet, with respect to Pleas concerning the Debts of the Laity, or affecting Tenements, the Court Christian cannot by a Law of the Realm hold or decide them, under the pretence of the party having pledged his promise.[385] The Creditor ought, therefore, to adduce other proof, if the Debtor deny the Debt in question. [Footnote 384: Vide LL. Gul. Norman. c. 28. (Al. MS.) The Law here alluded to, the Reader has already been put in possession of. See p. 170. note 1.] [Footnote 385: Vide Constitutions of Clarendon. (Anglo-Sax. LL. Ed. Wilkins. 324.)] For if he admit it, then, he is bound to discharge it, in manner similar to that we have already explained, in speaking of Pledges, confessing their suretyship.[386] Should he, however, deny it, the Creditor may prove his demand, either by a proper Witness, or by the Duel, or by a Charter. When, therefore, any one offer in Court, as proof of the Debt, the Charter of his Adversary, or his Ancestor, the Defendant will either admit such Charter, or deny it. In the latter case, he may deny or controvert it in two ways: thus, he may acknowledge in Court the seal to be his own, but deny that the Charter was made either by him, or with his consent, or that of his Ancestor; or he may absolutely deny, both the Seal and the Charter. In the first case, when he has publicly in court acknowledged the Seal to be his own, he is bound to warrant the terms of the Charter, and, in all respects, to observe the compact expressed in the Charter as contained in it, without question, and to impute it to his own indiscretion, if he incur any loss by negligently preserving his own Seal. But in the latter case, the Charter may be proved in Court by the Duel by any proper Witness, especially if his name be inserted in the Charter itself. There is another mode by which the Credit of a Charter is accustomed to be established in Court, namely, by some certain and unquestionable signs. As, for Example, by other Charters, impressed with the same Seal, and concerning which it is clear, that they are the Charters of the party, who denies the present Charter, because he has openly warranted them in Court. If in such case the impressions coincide in every respect with one another, so that there is no suspicion of any difference between the Seals, it is usual to consider the fact as proved; and, whether by this, or by any other legal mode, the party should be overcome, he shall lose his suit on the occasion, whether it be a Plea of Debt, or concerning Land, or any other thing