Ex libro XVI

Dig. 40,5,36Idem libro sexto decimo fideicommissorum. Neque infantes neque furiosi neque ab hostibus capti neque hi, quos religio aut honestior causa vel calamitas aliqua vel maior res familiaris aut capitis famaeve periculum aut similis causa moretur, Rubriano senatus consulto continentur: ac ne pupilli quidem, qui tutores non habent, aut eos habeant, quos earum quae causa detinet. sed nec, si hi data opera sui potestatem non faciunt, puto pupillis libertos eripi, quia et iniquum est facto tutoris, qui forsitan solvendo non sit, pupillum damno adfici, et senatus consulto non continetur alius quis quam qui ex causa fideicommissi debet praestare libertatem. quid ergo est? Dasumiano senatus consulto subvenitur his, quo cautum est de his, qui iusta ex causa abessent, ut nec libertas impediatur nec libertus eripiatur his, qui fraude careant. 1Si per procuratorem quis defendatur, semper iusta ex causa abesse dicitur nec libertus ei eripitur. 2Nihil facit ad interpellandam iurisdictionem eius, qui de fideicommissa libertate cognoscit, privilegium cuiusque vel civitatis vel corporis vel officii, in quo quisque est, vel condicio personarum.

The Same, Trusts, Book XVI. Neither infants, insane persons, captives taken by the enemy, nor those whom religion or any honorable cause, or some calamity, or important business, or the danger of forfeiting life or reputation, or anything of this kind detains, come within the scope of the Rubrian Decree of the Senate; nor, indeed, minors who have no guardians, and even if they have any, are they or their guardians subject to its provisions, where any of the above-mentioned matters are involved. For, even if the latter designedly refrain from exerting their authority, I do not think that their wards should be deprived of the rights over their freedmen, because it is unjust that a ward should suffer wrong by the act of his guardian who, perhaps, may not be solvent, and only those are included in the Decree of the Senate who are obliged to grant freedom in accordance with the provisions of the trust. What course must then be pursued? Relief is granted to such persons by the Dasumian Decree of the Senate, under which provision is made with reference to those who are absent for some good reason, in order that no impediment may be placed in the way of freedom, and that the rights over a freedman may not be taken from those who are not guilty of fraud. 1If an absent party is defended by an attorney, he is always held to be absent for some good reason, and he will not be deprived of his rights over his freedman. 2No objection can be urged against the jurisdiction of a magistrate who has cognizance of a grant of freedom under a trust, by alleging a personal privilege, or one attaching to a municipality or a corporation, or any office held by anyone, or the civil condition of any of the parties interested.

Dig. 40,5,54Maecianus libro sexto decimo fideicommissorum. Si mater, postquam filium accepisset, vel qui in eius locum successit praestare noluit libertatem, compellendi sunt: amplius si mater aut nollet sibi filium tradi aut in rerum natura esse desisset, non ab re est dicere, nihilo minus ita natis ab herede libertatem praestari.

Marcianus, Trusts, Book XVI. If the mother, after having received her child, or he who has succeeded to her place, refuses to grant it its freedom, he or she should be compelled to do so. Again, if the mother is unwilling that the child should be delivered to her, or if she should die before this is done, it may not incorrectly be said that freedom should be granted to the child by the heir.

Corpus iurisprudentiae Romanae

Digesta Iustiniani Augusti

Fideicommissorum libri

Ex libro XVI