1Modestinus, Rules, Book II. A release is a discharge from liability through mutual interrogation, by means of which both parties are freed from compliance with the same contract.

2Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXIV. It is established that a ward can be discharged from liability by means of a release, without the authority of his guardian.

3Paulus, On Sabinus, Book IV. No one can be freed from liability through an agent, nor can anyone be discharged by a release without a mandate.

4Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book IX. A release cannot be granted under a condition.

5Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXIV. A release to date from a certain time is of no force or effect, for a release discharges a person from liability in the same way as a payment.

6The Same, On Sabinus, Book XLVII. Where several stipulations have been entered into, and the promisor demands a release, as follows, “Do you acknowledge the receipt of what I have promised you?” and it is clear to what reference is made, it alone will be disposed of by the release. If this is not clear, all of the stipulations will be extinguished, provided we bear in mind that if I had intended to grant the release of one debt, and you had asked for the release of another, the transaction will be void.

7The Same, On Sabinus, Book L. It is certain that a release can be made as follows, “Do you acknowledge the receipt of ten aurei?” and the other party answers “I do.”

8The Same, On Sabinus, Book XLVIII. The question arises whether a release which is of no effect can include a valid agreement. It includes an agreement, unless the intention is otherwise. Someone may say, “Can it not then be a consent?” Why can it not be? Suppose that he who makes the release, being well aware that it will be of no effect, grants it; who would entertain any doubt that there was no agreement, since he did not have the consent required to render one valid? 1As a slave owned in common can stipulate for one of his masters, he can also receive a release for him, and by so doing, he entirely discharged him from liability. Octavenus is of the same opinion. 2A slave owned in common can receive a release from one of his masters for the discharge of the other; and this opinion is held by Labeo. Finally, in the Book of Probabilities, he says that if the slave has stipulated with his first master for the benefit of his second, who is his partner, he can demand a release from the second, and by means of it, release his first master, whom he himself had bound by an obligation. Hence it happens that an obligation is contracted and annulled by one and the same slave. 3Only a verbal contract can be dissolved by a release, for it destroys the oral obligation, as it, itself, is verbally made; for what has not been contracted by words cannot be annulled by them. 4A son under paternal control does not bind his father civilly by promising, but he binds himself. Hence a son under paternal control can ask for a release in order to be discharged from liability, because he himself is bound; but the father, by making the interrogatories with reference to the release, does not produce any legal effect, for the reason that not he himself, but his son, is bound. The same rule applies to the case of slaves; for a slave can be discharged by a release, and even prætorian obligations are extinguished if they are against the master, because this is our practice, and a release is part of the Law of Nations. Therefore, I think that the release can be expressed in the Greek language, provided the same formula is used as in Latin, that is, “Do you acknowledge the receipt of so many denarii?” “I do.”

9Paulus, On Sabinus, Book XII. A part of a stipulation can be annulled by a release, as where anyone says, “Do you acknowledge the receipt of five of the ten sesterces which I have promised to pay you?” And also if anyone should ask, “Do you acknowledge the receipt of half of what I have promised you?”

10Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book XXVI. If, however, it is not money, but some other property, as, for instance, a slave, which is the object of the stipulation, a release can be granted for a portion of the same, as it can be granted for the benefit of one of several heirs.

11Paulus, On Sabinus, Book XII. One method of acquisition is the liberation of an owner from an obligation; and therefore a slave in whom someone has the usufruct can, by obtaining a release, discharge the usufructuary, because he will be considered to acquire the property of the latter. Even when we have only the use of property, the same rule applies. We say the same thing with reference to a person who is serving us in good faith as a slave, as well as to others subject to our authority. 1If, however, I release the slave who has himself promised to pay me, I cannot avail myself of any prætorian action against his master, which is granted with reference to peculium, or on account of the benefit accruing to property. 2Where a slave belonging to an estate, before it is entered upon, asks for a release which the deceased promised to give, I think that the better opinion is that he will be freed from liability, so that, in this manner, the estate itself will be released. 3But even if the master is in the hands of the enemy, it must be said that a release is confirmed by the right of postliminium; for a slave can stipulate for his master who is in the hands of the enemy.

12Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book XXVI. Anything which is due from a certain date, or under a condition, can be disposed of by means of a release. This, however, will appear to be done only where the condition is complied with, or the time has arrived.

13Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book L. It is better to say that the obligation for services promised by the oath of a freedman can be extinguished by a release. 1If what is the object of a stipulation is not susceptible of division, the release of a portion of it will be of no force or effect; as, for instance, where it is a servitude attaching to a rustic or an urban estate. It is clear that if an usufruct, for instance, of the Titian Estate, is the object of the stipulation, a release can be made for a part of it, and the usufruct of the remaining portion of the land will continue to exist. If, however, anyone should stipulate for a right of way, and a stipulation is granted for a right of passage, or a driveway, it will be of no effect. This opinion should also be adopted if a release is made for a driveway. But where a release is granted for both a passage and a driveway, the result will be that he who promised the right of way will be released. 2It is certain that anyone who stipulates for a tract of land, and consents to the release of the usufruct, or of a right of way through said land, commits an act which renders the release void; for he who grants a release must do so for the entire right, or that part of it which is included in the stipulation. These things, however, are not parts of the land, any more than if someone, having stipulated for a house, should give a release for the stones or windows, or for a wall, or a room. 3Ad Dig. 46,4,13,3Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. I, § 202, Note 1.Where anyone having stipulated for an usufruct gives a release for the use, and does so believing that only the use was due, there will be no release. If, however, he did this in order to deduct it from the usufruct, when the use can be established without the usufruct, it must be held that the release is valid. 4Where anyone who stipulated for a slave gives a receipt for Stichus, Julianus, in the Fifty-fourth Book of the Digest, says that the release has an effect, and that is to extinguish the entire obligation; for what the promisor can pay to the stipulator, even against his consent, being the object of the release, discharges the former from liability. 5Where anyone stipulates for a tract of land, it is decided that the clause having reference to fraud cannot be included in the release, for this does not constitute a part of the debt, as what is due is one thing, and what is released is another. 6If anyone stipulates for Stichus, or ten aurei, under a condition, and receipts for Stichus, or ten aurei, and while the condition is pending, Stichus dies, the ten aurei will remain in the obligation, just as if a release had not been given. 7If a release is granted to a surety, where the principal debtor was liable on account of the property, but not by words, will he also be released? It is our practice that, although the principal debtor may not be bound by words, still he will be discharged from liability on account of the release granted to his surety. 8When a surety is given for a legacy payable under a condition, and a release is given him, the legacy will be due as soon as the condition upon which its payment is dependent is complied with. 9Where anyone stipulates with a surety as follows, “Do you promise to be responsible for what I shall lend to Titius?” and then, before he lends him the money, he gives a release to the surety, the principal debtor will not be discharged, but when the money is lent to him he will be liable. For, although we think that the surety is not released before the money is lent to the principal debtor, still the latter cannot be discharged by a release which precedes his obligation. 10The guardian or curator of an insane person cannot consent to a release, nor can an agent do so, but all these persons must make novations; for, in this way, they can grant releases. Nor can a release be made for their benefit, but if a novation is made first, they can be discharged by means of a release. We are accustomed to apply this remedy with reference to an absent person, when we stipulate with someone for the purpose of making a novation of what the former owes us, and in this way we release him with whom we have stipulated. The result is that the absent person is released by the novation, and the one who is present is freed from liability by a release. 11An heir, as well as prætorian successors, can release others, and be released in this manner. 12Where one of several joint-stipulators grants a release, it will apply to the entire amount which is due.

14Paulus, On Sabinus, Book XII. Unless the release agrees with the stipulation, and what is stated in the release is true, it is imperfect; because words cannot be annulled by words, unless they agree with one another.

15Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book XXVII. If anyone, who has promised Stichus, makes the following interrogation, “As I have promised Stichus, do you acknowledge the receipt of Stichus and Pamphilus?” I think that the receipt is valid, and that the mention of Pamphilus is merely superfluous; just as where a man who has promised ten aurei makes the following interrogation, “As I have promised you ten aurei, do you acknowledge the receipt of twenty?” he will be released from liability for ten.

16Ulpianus, Disputations, Book VII. Where a release is granted to one of several persons, who are liable, he alone will not be released, but also all of those who are liable with him; for whenever a release is granted to one of two or more persons who are liable under the same obligation, the others are also discharged, not because the release was granted to them, but because he who was freed from liability by the release was considered to have paid the debt. 1If a surety is granted for the payment of a judgment, and a release is given him, the person against whom the judgment was rendered will also be discharged from liability.

17Julianus, Digest, Book LIV. Where anyone stipulates for a slave or ten aurei, and receives a receipt for five, he extinguishes a part of the stipulation, and he can demand five, or the half of a slave.

18Florentinus, Institutes, Book VIII. A release and a discharge from liability can be granted either in one, or in several contracts, whether they are certain or uncertain; or with reference to some, reserving the others; or for all of them, for any reason whatsoever. 1The following is the formula of a stipulation and a release, drawn up by Gallus Aquilius: “All that you owe, or shall owe me for any reason whatsoever, either now or after a certain date, for which I can now, or shall be able to bring suit against you, on a claim, or a right to collect; or any property of mine which you have, hold, or possess, and all the value of any of the things aforesaid, Aulus Agerius has stipulated for, and Numerius Nigidius has promised to pay. And Numerius Nigidius has asked Aulus Agerius if he acknowledges the receipt of what he promised him, and Aulus Agerius has granted a release for the same to Numerius Nigidius.”

19Ulpianus, Rules, Book II. If a release should be granted to someone who is not bound by words, but by the property, he will not, indeed, be freed from liability, but he can defend himself by an exception on the ground of bad faith, or on that of an informal agreement. 1The following difference exists between a release and a receipt: by a release, absolute discharge from liability takes place, even if the money has not been paid; but a receipt does not have this effect, unless the money has actually been paid.

20The Same, On the Edict, Book LXXVII. Where a release has been granted with reference to the clause providing for the payment of a judgment, Marcellus says that the remaining parts of the stipulation are extinguished, because they cannot be interposed except to enable the case to be decided.

21Venuleius, Stipulations, Book XI. If I stipulate for the purpose of making a novation on account of a legacy which was bequeathed to me under a condition, and I release my right to it before the condition is fulfilled, Nerva, the son, says that even if the condition should be fulfilled, I will not be entitled to an action under the will, because a novation took place, nor can I bring one under the stipulation, as the right to do so has been extinguished by the release.

22Gaius, On Oral Obligations, Book III. A slave cannot give a release by the order of his master.

23Labeo, Epitomes of Probabilities, by Paulus, Book V. If I should make a release to you, I will not, for that reason, be freed from liability, so far as you are concerned. Paulus: But when a hiring, a lease, a purchase, or a sale has been made under an agreement, and the property has not yet been delivered, even though only one of the contracting parties may have consented to a release, all of them, however, will be discharged.