De libellis dimissoriis, qui apostoli dicuntur
(Concerning notices of appeal called dispatches.)
1 Marcianus libro secundo de appellationibus. Post appellationem interpositam litterae dandae sunt ab eo, a quo appellatum est, ad eum, qui de appellatione cogniturus est, sive principem sive quem alium, quas litteras dimissorias sive apostolos appellant. 1Sensus autem litterarum talis est: appellasse puta Lucium Titium a sententia illius, quae inter illos dicta est. 2Sufficit autem petisse intra tempus dimissorias instanter et saepius, ut et si non accipiat, id ipsum contestetur: nam instantiam petentis dimissorias constitutiones desiderant. aequum est igitur, si per eum steterit, qui debebat dare litteras, quo minus det, ne hoc accipienti noceat.
1 Marcianus, On Appeals, Book II. After an appeal has been filed, letters should be sent by the official from whom the appeal is taken, to him who is to hear it, whether this be the Emperor, or someone else; which letters are called notices, or dispatches. 1The form of these letters is as follows, for instance: “Lucius Titius has appealed from the decision of So-and-So, rendered between him and So-and-So.” 2It is sufficient to have demanded these notices earnestly and frequently within the prescribed time, and if the judge does not accede to the demand, this can be proved by witnesses; for the Imperial Constitutions require that the party who applies for such a notice should do so with vehemence. Therefore, it is but just that, if he who should grant the notice is to blame for not doing so, this shall not prejudice the person who made the demand.