 In this way arose a true art of drafting public documents or private acta, which became the monopoly of chanceries and notaries, which the mere layman could only imperfectly imitate, and which in time developed to such a point that the mere "style" of a supposititious deed has often been sufficient to enable a skilful critic to detect the forgery.The earlier Roman notaries ("tabelliones") had their own traditional formulæ, and the drafting of their acta was subject to an infinity of detail; the imperial chanceries of Rome and Byzantium were more remarkable still for their formulæ.The chanceries of the barbarian kingdoms and that of the papacy followed in their footsteps.