Ad legem Aeliam Sentiam libri
Ex libro I
Paulus, On the Lex Ælia Sentia. Even if a guardian should become blind, he can authorize the performance of acts by his ward.
Paulus, On the Law of Ælia Sentia, Book I. For then they stand in one another’s way.
Paulus, On the Lex Ælia Sentia, Book I. If a man who is not solvent should, in the first place, appoint Stichus his heir with a grant of his freedom, and in the second, another slave, upon whom he conferred freedom by the terms of a trust, Neratius says that the slave appointed in the second place will be the heir, because he is not considered to have been manumitted for the purpose of defrauding creditors.
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.
Paulus, On the Lex Ælia Sentia, Book I. Those who can grant freedom by applying to a tribunal can also appoint slaves their necessary heirs; and this necessity itself renders the manumission proper.