De manumissis vindicta
(Concerning manumissions before a magistrate.)
1 Pomponius libro primo ad Sabinum. Apud praetorem eundemque tutorem posse pupillum ipso auctore manumittere constat.
1 Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book I. It is settled that a ward can, with the authority of his guardian in the presence of the Prætor, manumit his slave as well as before the said guardian acting as Prætor.
2 Ulpianus libro octavo decimo ad Sabinum. Si minor sit annis viginti fructuarius, an consentire libertati possit? et puto consentiendo posse ad libertatem perducere.
2 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XVIII. Where a minor of twenty years of age is the usufructuary of a slave, can he consent to his obtaining his freedom? I think that the slave can obtain it, if he gives his consent.
3 Idem libro quarto disputationum. Si heres servum legatum manumittat, mox repudiet legatarius, retro competit libertas. idemque est et si duobus pure servus legetur et post alterius manumissionem alter repudiaverit: nam et hic retro libertas competit.
3 The Same, Disputations, Book IV. If the heir manumits a slave who has been bequeathed, and the legatee afterwards rejects the legacy, the grant of freedom has a retroactive effect. The same rule applies where a slave is absolutely bequeathed to two persons, and one of them afterwards repudiates the manumission made by the other; for, in this instance also, the grant of freedom has a retroactive effect.
4 Iulianus libro quadragensimo secundo digestorum. Si pater filio permiserit servum manumittere et interim decesserit intestato, deinde filius ignorans patrem suum mortuum libertatem imposuerit, libertas servo favore libertatis contingit, cum non appareat mutata esse domini voluntas. sin autem ignorante filio vetuisset pater per nuntium et antequam filius certior fieret, servum manumississet, liber non fit. nam ut filio manumittente servus ad libertatem perveniat, durare oportet patris voluntatem: nam si mutata fuerit, non erit verum volente patre filium manumississe. 1Quotiens dominus servum manumittat, quamvis existimet alienum esse eum, nihilo minus verum est voluntate domini servum manumissum et ideo liber erit. et ex contrario si se Stichus non putaret manumittentis esse, nihilo minus libertatem contingere. plus enim in re est, quam in existimatione et utroque casu verum est Stichum voluntate domini manumissum esse. idemque iuris est et si dominus et servus in eo errore essent, ut neque ille se dominum nec hic se servum eius putaret. 2Minor viginti annis dominus nec communem quidem servum sine consilio recte manumittit. Paulus notat: sed si pignori obligatum sibi minor viginti annis manumitti patiatur, recte manumittitur, quia non tam manumittere is quam non impedire manumittentem intellegitur.
4 Julianus, Digest, Book XLII. If a father should permit his son to manumit his slave, and, in the meantime, should die intestate, and his son, not being aware that his father was dead, should grant the slave his freedom, the slave will become free through the favor conceded to liberty, as it does not appear that the master changed his mind. If, however, the father had, by means of a messenger, forbidden his son to liberate the slave, and the son did not know this, and, before ascertaining it, he should manumit the slave, the latter will not become free; for in order that a slave may obtain his freedom through the manumission of a son, the intention of the father must continue to exist; since, if he should change his mind, it would not be true that the son had manumitted the slave with his father’s consent. 1Whenever a master manumits his slave, even though he may think he belongs to another, it is, nevertheless, true that the slave is manumitted with the consent of his master, and therefore he will become free. And, on the other hand, if Stichus does not think that he belongs to the person who manumits him, he will, nevertheless, obtain his freedom, for there is more in the fact itself than in opinion; and, in both cases, it is true that Stichus was manumitted with the consent of his master. The same rule of law will apply where both the master and the slave are mistaken, and one of them thinks that he is not the master, and the other believes that he is not his slave. 2A minor of twenty years of age, who is a master, cannot legally manumit without appearing before the proper authority. Paulus says that if a minor of twenty years of age permits a slave over whom he has the right of pledge to be manumitted, the manumission is legal; because he is not understood to have actually liberated him, but only not to have interfered with his manumission.
5 Iulianus eodem libro. An apud se manumittere possit is qui consilium praebeat, saepe quaesitum est. ego, qui meminissem Iavolenum praeceptorem meum et in Africa et in Syria servos suos manumississe, cum consilium praeberet, exemplum eius secutus et in praetura et consulatu meo quosdam ex servis meis vindicta liberavi et quibusdam praetoribus consulentibus me idem suasi.
5 Julianus, In the Same Book. The question has often been asked whether a magistrate appointed for the purpose of examining manumissions can, himself, manumit a slave. I remember that Javolenus, my preceptor, manumitted his slaves in Africa and in Syria, when he was a member of the board of magistrates; and I followed his example, and liberated some of my slaves in my tribunal, both while I was Prætor and Consul; and I advised certain other Prætors and Consuls to do the same.
6 Idem libro secundo ad Urseium Ferocem. Servus communis quin a minoribus viginti annis dominis possit apud consilium manumitti, quamvis unus ex sociis causam adprobaverit, dubium non est.
6 The Same, On Urseius Ferox, Book II. There is no doubt that a slave held in common by minors of twenty years of age can be manumitted before the proper tribunal; even though one of the owners may not assent to the proceedings.
7 Gaius libro primo rerum cottidianarum sive aureorum. Non est omnino necesse pro tribunali manumittere: itaque plerumque in transitu servi manumitti solent, cum aut lavandi aut gestandi aut ludorum gratia prodierit praetor aut proconsul legatusve Caesaris.
7 Gaius, Diurnal or Golden Matters, Book I. It is not absolutely necessary for the manumission to take place in the tribunal, and therefore slaves are frequently manumitted while in transit, when the Prætor, the Proconsul, the Deputy, or the Emperor confers this benefit upon them while on the way to the bath, to the tribunal, or to the public games.
8 Ulpianus libro quinto ad edictum. Ego cum in villa cum praetore fuissem, passus sum apud eum manumitti, etsi lictoris praesentia non esset.
8 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book V. When I was in the country with a Prætor, I permitted a slave to be manumitted before him, although no lictor was present.
9 Marcianus libro tertio decimo institutionum. Iusta causa manumissionis est, si periculo vitae infamiaeve dominum servus liberaverit. 1Sciendum est, qualiscumque causa probata sit et recepta, libertatem tribuere oportere: nam divus Pius rescripsit causas probatas revocari non oportere, dum ne alienum servum possit quis manumittere: nam causae probationi contradicendum, non etiam causa iam probata retractanda est.
9 Marcianus, Institutes, Book XIII. Just cause for manumission exists, where a slave has saved his master from the danger of losing his life, or from disgrace. 1It should be remembered that freedom must be granted after it has once been received, no matter what reason may be alleged against it afterwards. For the Divine Pius stated in a Rescript that where a case has once been proved it cannot be revived, provided the person is not permitted to manumit a slave belonging to another; for anything that is alleged can be contradicted by evidence, but where it has once been proved, it cannot be reconsidered.
10 Idem libro tertio regularum. Surdi vel muti patris filius iussu eius manumittere potest: furiosi vero filius non potest manumittere.
10 The Same, Rules, Book III. The son of a deaf or dumb father can manumit a slave by his order. The son of an insane person, however, cannot do so.
11 Ulpianus libro sexto de officio proconsulis. Si minor annis viginti manumittit, huiusmodi solent causae manumissionis recipi: si filius filiave frater sororve naturalis sit.
11 Ulpianus, On the Duties of Proconsul, Book VI. When a minor under the age of twenty years manumits a slave, the manumission is ordinarily accepted, where the person who manumits is the natural son or daughter, brother or sister of the slave;
12 Idem libro secundo ad legem Aeliam Sentiam. Vel si sanguine eum contingit (habetur enim ratio cognationis):
12 The Same, On the Lex Ælia Sentia, Book II. Or if they are related to him by blood (for such relationship is taken into consideration).
13 Idem libro ... de officio proconsulis. si collactaneus, si educator, si paedagogus ipsius, si nutrix, vel filius filiave cuius eorum, vel alumnus, vel capsarius (id est qui portat libros), vel si in hoc manumittatur, ut procurator sit, dummodo non minor annis decem et octo sit, praeterea et illud exigitur, ut non utique unum servum habeat, qui manumittit. item si matrimonii causa virgo vel mulier manumittatur, exacto prius iureiurando, ut intra sex menses uxorem eam duci oporteat: ita enim senatus censuit.
13 The Same, On the Duties of Proconsul. Or if he or she is the foster-brother, instructor, teacher, or nurse of the minor, or the son or daughter of the person above mentioned, or his pupil, or the attendant who carries his books, or if a slave is manumitted in order to become an agent; provided, in this instance, that he is at least eighteen years of age; and it is also required that the minor who manumits him shall have more than one slave. Likewise, if a virgin or a woman is manumitted for the purpose of marriage, if an oath is exacted from the master in the first place that she will be married within six months, as this was decreed by the Senate.
14 Marcianus libro quarto regularum. Alumnos magis mulieribus conveniens est manumittere: sed et in viris receptum est satisque est permitti eum manumitti, in quo nutriendo propensiorem animum fecerint. 1Sunt qui putant etiam feminas posse matrimonii causa manumittere, sed ita, si forte conservus suus in hoc ei legatus est. et si spado velit matrimonii causa manumittere, potest: non idem est in castrato.
14 Marcianus, Rules, Book IV. It is more usual for women to manumit their foster-children, but this is also permitted in the case of men; and it is sufficient for one to be allowed to manumit a slave in whose support he has a more than ordinary interest. 1There are some authorities who think that women can manumit a slave for the purpose of marrying him, but this should be limited to a case where he was bequeathed to the woman who has been his fellow-slave. If a man, who is impotent, wishes to manumit a female slave for the purpose of marrying her, he can do so. This rule, howevery does not apply to one who has been castrated.
15 Paulus libro primo ad legem Aeliam Sentiam. Etiam condicionis implendae causa minori viginti annis manumittere permittendum est, veluti si quis ita heres institutus sit, si servum ad libertatem perduxerit. 1Ex praeterito tempore plures causae esse possunt, veluti quod dominum in proelio adiuvaverit, contra latrones tuitus sit, quod aegrum sanaverit, quod insidias detexerit. et longum est, si exequi voluerimus, quia multa merita incidere possunt, quibus honestum sit libertatem cum decreto praestare: quas aestimare debebit is, apud quem de ea re agatur. 2Plures vindicta pariter manumitti possunt et sufficit praesentia servorum, ut vel plures manumitti possint. 3Absens quoque causam probare per procuratorem poterit. 4Si duo matrimonii causa manumittent, recipi causa non debet. 5Hi qui in Italia vel alia provincia domicilium habent, apud alterius provinciae praesidem consilio adhibito manumittere possunt.
15 Paulus, On the Lex Ælia Sentia, Book I. A minor of twenty years of age should also be permitted to manumit a slave for the purpose of complying with a condition; for instance, where anyone lias been appointed an heir under the condition of liberating a slave. 1Many just causes for manumission may exist with reference to time past; for example, where the slave has assisted his master in battle, has protected him against robbers, has cured him when he was ill, or has revealed treachery with which he was threatened, and in other instances which it would take too long to enumerate; as there are a great many other reasons for which it would be honorable for freedom to be granted by a decree, and which should be taken into a consideration by the magistrate before whom the matter is brought. 2Several slaves can be manumitted at the same time in the presence of a magistrate, and the presence of the slaves is sufficient to enable several to be manumitted. 3A master who is absent can state the reason for manumissions by his attorney. 4If two masters manumit the same female slave for the purpose of marrying her, the reason should not be accepted. 5Those persons who have their domicile in Italy, or in some other province, can manumit their slaves before the Governor of another province, after having made application to the proper tribunal.
16 Ulpianus libro secundo ad legem Aeliam Sentiam. Illud in causis probandis meminisse iudices oportet, ut non ex luxuria, sed ex affectu descendentes causas probent: neque enim deliciis, sed iustis affectionibus dedisse iustam libertatem legem Aeliam Sentiam credendum. 1Si quis minori viginti annis hac lege servum dederit aut pretio accepto vel donationis causa, ut eum liberum faciat, potest ille causam manumissionis istius probare, hoc ipsum allegans legem datam, et perducere ad libertatem: ergo hic debet ostendere hoc inter ipsos actum, ut proinde vel ex lege donationis vel ex affectione eius qui dedit res aestimetur.
16 Ulpianus, On the Lex Ælia Sentia, Book II. The judges, when hearing the reasons for manumissions, must remember that these must be based, not on dissoluteness, but on affection; for the Lex Ælia Sentia is understood to grant lawful freedom, not for the purpose of pleasure, but on account of sincere attachment. 1If anyone should transfer a slave to a minor of twenty-one years of age, either in consideration of a price paid, or as a donation, under the condition that he shall liberate him, he can offer this as a just reason for manumission, stating the condition which had been imposed, and can then grant the slave his freedom. He, however, will be required to show that this was the agreement between the parties, so that the matter may be decided in accordance with the condition of the donation, or with the affection of the person who gave the slave to be manumitted.
17 Paulus libro quinquagensimo ad edictum. Apud proconsulem, postquam urbem egressus est, vindicta manumittere possumus: sed et apud legatum eius manumittere possumus.
17 Paulus, On the Edict, Book L. We can manumit a slave in the presence of the Proconsul after he has left the City. We can also manumit a slave in the presence of his Deputy.
18 Idem libro sexto decimo ad Plautium. Apud filium familias magistratum manumitti potest, etiamsi ipse filius familias manumittere non potest. 1Apud collegam suum praetor manumittere non potest. 2Filius quoque voluntate patris apud patrem manumittere poterit.
18 The Same, On Plautius, Book XVI. A slave can be manumitted before a son under paternal control, who is acting as a magistrate, although he himself, being subject to paternal authority, has, as a private individual, no right to manumit a slave. 1A Prætor cannot manumit a slave in the presence of his colleague. 2A son can also manumit a slave in the presence of his father, with the consent of the latter.
19 Celsus libro vicensimo nono digestorum. Si minor annis apud consilium matrimonii causa praegnatem manumiserit eaque interim pepererit, in pendenti erit, servus an liber sit, quem ea peperit.
19 Celsus, Digest, Book XXIX. If a minor of twenty years of age manumits a female slave who is pregnant, before the proper tribunal, for the purpose of marrying her, and, in the meantime, she should have a child, the condition of the child whom she brought forth, that is to say, whether it is a slave or a freeman, shall remain undetermined.
20 Ulpianus libro secundo de officio consulis. Si rogatus sit minor viginti quinque annis manumittere per fideicommissum, incunctanter debet ei permitti, nisi si proprium servum rogatus fuit manumittere: hic enim conferenda erit quantitas emolumenti, quae ad eum pervenit ex iudicio eius qui rogavit, cum pretio eorum quos rogatus est manumittere. 1Sed et si hac lege ei servus fuerit donatus, ut manumittatur, permittendum erit manumittere, ne constitutio divi Marci superveniens cunctationem consulis dirimat. 2Matrimonii causa manumittere si quis velit et is sit, qui non indigne huiusmodi condicionis uxore sortiturus sit, erit ei concedendum. 3Mulieri quoque volenti suum filium naturalem vel quem ex supra scriptis manumittere permittendum esse Marcellus scribit. 4Consul apud se potest manumittere, etiamsi evenerit, ut minor annis viginti sit.
20 Ulpianus, On the Duties of Consul, Book II. If a minor of twenty-five years of age is charged by the terms of a trust to manumit a slave, he should be permitted to do so immediately, unless he was charged to manumit his own slave. For, in this instance, the amount of the benefit, which he will obtain from the will of the person who made the request, must be compared with the value of the slave whom he was requested to manumit. 1Where, however, a slave was donated to the minor under the condition that he should be manumitted, he ought to be allowed to manumit him, in order to prevent the Constitution of the Divine Marcus from becoming applicable during the delay granted by the Consul. 2Where anyone wishes to manumit a female slave in order to marry her, and he can, without dishonor to his rank, marry a woman of this kind, he should be permitted to do so. 3Marcellus also says that if a woman desires to emancipate her natural son, or any of the other persons previously mentioned, she should be allowed to do so. 4A Consul can manumit a slave before himself, if he should happen to be a minor of twenty years of age.
21 Modestinus libro primo pandectarum. Apud praefectum Aegypti possum servum manumittere ex constitutione divi Augusti.
21 Modestinus, Pandects, Book I. I can, in accordance with the Constitution of the Divine Augustus, manumit a slave in the presence of the Prefect of Egypt.
22 Paulus libro duodecimo quaestionum. Pater ex provincia ad filium sciens Romae agentem epistulam fecit, quae permisit ei, quem vellet ex servis, quos in ministerio secum hic habebat, vindicta liberare: post quam filius Stichum manumisit apud praetorem: quaero, an fecerit liberum. respondi: quare non hoc concessum credamus patri, ut permittere possit filio ex his, quos in ministerio haberet, manumittere? solam enim electionem filio concessit, ceterum ipse manumittit.
22 Paulus, Questions, Book XII. A father sent a letter from a province to his son, whom he knew to be at Rome, by which he permitted him to liberate before a magistrate any slave whom he might select out of those whom he had with him for his personal service, and the son subsequently manumitted Stichus in the presence of the Prætor. I ask whether he rendered him free? The answer was, why should we not believe that the father could authorize his son to manumit any slaves which he had for his personal service? For he only granted his son the privilege of making a choice, and, as for the rest, he himself manumitted the slave.
23 Hermogenianus libro primo iuris epitomarum. Manumissio per lictores hodie domino tacente expediri solet, et verba sollemnia licet non dicantur, ut dicta accipiuntur.
23 Hermogenianus, Epitomes of Laiv, Book I. At the present time, it is usual for manumission to be made by means of the lictors, the master remaining silent, and although solemn words are not spoken, they are considered to be spoken.
24 Paulus libro secundo ad Neratium. Pupillus qui infans non est apud consilium recte manumittit. Paulus: scilicet tutore auctore, ita tamen, ut peculium eum non sequatur.
24 Paulus, On Neratius, Book II. A minor who is no longer an infant can legally manumit a slave before the proper tribunal. Paulus: Provided his guardian authorizes him to do so, and he liberates him in such a way that the peculium does not follow the slave.
25 Gaius libro primo de manumissionibus. Si tutoris habendi causa pupillus manumittat, probationi esse causam Fufidius ait. Nerva filius contra sentit, quod verius est: namque perabsurdum est in eligendo tutore firmum videri esse iudicium pupilli, cuius in omnibus rebus ut infirmum iudicium tutore auctore regitur.
25 Gaius, On Manumissions, Book I. If a minor manumits a slave for the purpose of making him his guardian: Fufidius says that this should be approved. Nerva, the son, holds the contrary opinion, which is correct. For it would be the height of absurdity for the judgment of a minor to be held to be sufficiently good to enable him to select a guardian, when in every other transaction he is controlled by the authority of his guardian, because his judgment is weak.