[IDEM libro secundo definitionum. ] §46.3.97.prCum ex pluribus causis debitor pecuniam soluit, utriusque demonstratione cessante potior habebitur causa eius pecuniae, quae sub infamia debetur: mox eius, quae poenam continet: tertio quae sub hypotheca uel pignore contracta est: post hunc ordinem potior habebitur propria quam aliena causa, ueluti fideiussoris.
[THE SAME, in the second book of Definitions.] When a debtor pays money upon several grounds, if there is no designation by either party, preference will be given to the ground of that money which is owed under pain of infamy; next, to that which involves a penalty; thirdly, to that which was contracted under a hypothec or pledge. After this order, one's own ground will be preferred to that of another, such as that of a surety.
quod ueteres ideo definierunt, quod uerisimile uideretur diligentem debitorem admonitum ita negotium suum gesturum fuisse.
The ancient jurists defined this so because it seemed probable that a diligent debtor, if advised, would have managed his business in this manner.
si nihil eorum interueniat, uetustior contractus ante soluetur.
If none of these factors intervene, the older contract will be discharged first.
si maior pecunia numerata sit, quam ratio singulorum exposcit, nihilo minus primo contractu soluto, qui potior erit, superfluum ordini secundo uel in totum uel pro parte minuendo uidebitur datum.
If a larger amount of money is paid than the account of each individual debt requires, nevertheless, the first contract, which is preferred, being discharged, the surplus will be deemed to have been given for the purpose of reducing, either in whole or in part, the debt of the second order.