Legal Definitions - brevia amicabilia

Definition: Brevia amicabilia is a legal term that refers to short writs, unlike charters. These writs were used in historical times. The word "brevis" means "short," and "brevia" were short writs.

Examples:

• Album breve: A blank writ; a writ with a blank or omission in it.
• Apertum breve: An open, unsealed writ.
• Breve de bono et malo: A writ that deals with good and evil.
• Breve de conventione: A writ that deals with agreements.

These examples illustrate how brevia amicabilia were used in historical times. They were used to create short writs that dealt with specific legal issues. For example, the album breve was a blank writ that could be filled in later, while the apertum breve was an open, unsealed writ. The breve de bono et malo dealt with good and evil, while the breve de conventione dealt with agreements.