The early Roman will differed from the modern will in important respects. It was effectual during the lifetime of the person who made it; it was made in public ""; all knew of the legator's intentions, the testator declaring his will in the presence of seven witnesses; and it could not be changedthese they called nuncupative wills; but the danger of trusting the will of the deceased to the memory of the living soon abolished these; and all wills were ordered to be in writing.