Praeside Deo Optimo Maximo: Ex decreto et authoritate amplissimi Iurisconsultorum Collegii in inclyta Basiliensium Academia, pro solenni Docturae gradu in utroque Iure consequendo, subsequentes de litis contestatione Theses

Whether a general denial contains those things that, if denied, could harm the defendant. In this case, a general denial does not refer to those things that could prejudice the defendant if denied.

LV.
Or whether the defendant is seen to deny only certain things by a general denial, while tacitly admitting others.

LVI.
In this case, everything and every individual point that belongs to the substance of the action is seen to be denied, to such an extent that the plaintiff is bound to the proof of all and every one.

LVII.
A suit is also contested by this response of the defendant, if he responds to the instituted action: "It is not true what you say."

LVIII.
But if the defendant says, "You lie," the suit is not truly seen to be contested, since he ought to use more modest words before a judge.

LIX.
Likewise, if the defendant responds with a word of belief, for instance, "I do not believe that the instituted action is true," omitting various opinions, a distinction between a criminal and a civil cause seems to be applied:

LX.
In a criminal cause, a response of belief is not sufficient, but one of truth is required.

LXI.
But in a civil cause, the defendant either responds concerning the act of another, and then the suit is seen to be contested by the word, "I do not believe," because he can hardly respond otherwise.

LXII.
Or he responds concerning his own act, and in this case, the suit is not contested by the word of belief, because thus he responds concerning opinion, not concerning knowledge.