The term "Statute of Frauds" is the name generally applied to those statutes, existing in England and the different states, requiring contracts on certain subjects to be in writing. The original statute of frauds was entitled "An Act for Prevention of Frauds -and Perjuries," and was enacted in 1676. The text of this act can be found in Appendix 0 to Volume I. The purpose of this act was thus set out in its opening sentences: "For prevention of many fraudulent practices, which are commonly endeavored to be upheld by perjury* and subornation of perjury." From this arose its name, the reason for which is not always perceived by the beginner in the law.

The provisions of the original statute were very numerous, but only two sections, the fourth and the seventeenth, have been at all generally re-adopted in the states of this country.