All bonds or recognizances taken by any officer in the discharge of his duty shall be valid and binding on the obligors therein, whether taken in the form prescribed or not, so that the substantial matters required be contained therein; and such bonds shall only be void so far as they may be conditioned for the performance of acts in violation of the law or policy of the state. It shall be lawful to show by parol that any bond or recognizance was taken by an officer in the discharge of his duty, although such fact ought to appear upon the bond or recognizance, or in writing or of record, and do not so appear; and if an officer take a recognizance in a case where he should have taken a bond, it shall bind the parties in the same manner as if it had been authorized.