Si ingenuus esse dicetur
(Where Anyone is Decided to be Freeborn.)
2Saturninus, On the Duties of Proconsul, Book I. The Divine Hadrian decided that anyone who was of age, and permitted himself to be sold in order that he might receive a portion of the price, should be forbidden to bring an action to obtain his freedom; but that he could do so under certain circumstances, if he returned his share of the price which had been paid. 1Those who are freedmen, and assert their claim to freedom by birth, shall not be heard after the lapse of five years from the date of their manumission. 2Those who, after the lapse of five years, allege that they have discovered documents establishing their rights to be considered freeborn, must have recourse to the Emperor, who will examine their claims.
3Pomponius, Decrees of the Senate, Book V. By the following words: “Their birth having been acknowledged,” the Decree of the Senate must be understood only to refer to those who would have been considered freeborn. 1By the clause, “Would have left,” it must be understood that whatever such persons have obtained from the property of him by whom they were manumitted must be restored. Let us see in what manner this must be interpreted, whether they must return whatever has been acquired by them by means of the property of their masters, or what they have abstracted from them without their knowledge, or whether this includes the property which has been granted and donated by the persons who manumitted them. The latter is the better opinion.
4Papinianus, Questions, Book XXII. The Rescript which forbids freedom of birth to be demanded before the Consuls or Governors of provinces, after the lapse of five years from the date of manumission, excepts no cases or persons.
6Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXVIII. Whenever a dispute arises as to whether anyone is a freedman or services are demanded of him, or obedience from him is required, or where an action implying infamy is to be brought, or he who alleges that he is the patron is summoned to court, or proceedings are instituted without good cause, a prejudicial action will lie. The same prejudicial action will also be granted where a person confesses that he is a freedman, but denies that he has been liberated by Gaius Seius. It will also be granted where one or the other party requests it, but he who represents himself to be the patron shall always take the part of the plaintiff, for he must prove that the person in question is his freedman, and if he does not do so he will lose his case.