Fordham


IHSP

Medieval History


Selected Sources Full Text Sources Saints' Lives Law Texts Maps Medieval Films Search Help


Selected Sources Sections Studying History End of Rome Byzantium Islam Roman Church Early Germans Anglo-Saxons Celtic World Carolingians 10 C Collapse Economic Life Crusades Empire & Papacy France England Celtic States Nordic Europe Iberia Italy Eastern Europe Intellectual Life Medieval Church Jewish Life Social History Sex & Gender States & Society Renaissance Reformation Exploration
IHSP Credits

Medieval Sourcebook:
Oldradus de Ponte:
No. 92 (Questio)
(1478 Printed Edition: fol. 62va-b)


Oldradus de Ponte was a jurist working in the papal curia from 1310 till his death after 1337. He was the first of the medieval jurists to write a large number of consilia. His collection of consilia and questiones written in the style of consilia, created in the mid-fourteenth century (probably not by Oldradus himself) helped establish the consilium as the most important genre of later medieval jurisprudential writing.

Although many of the items in the collection were actual consilia, i.e., they were written to resolve court-cases or as preliminaries to legislation or administrative decisions, they were "anonymized" for pedagogical reasons, to provide jurists with models for the writing of consilia, and to provide law-students with problems for classroom discussion and debate. The issues raised in Oldradus's consilia and questiones range from quotidian legal disputes, to matters of high politics, to more fanciful questions.

Item No.92 in Oldradus's collection appears to be a questio rather than a consilium. The "abstractness" of the issue and the way in which related issues are raised and not much discussed make it appear to be a thing of the classroom rather than the courtroom. The issue in this questio was the responsibility of a knight who had been entrusted with a castle while a war was going on. That knight gave custody of the castle to someone else who then lost it to the enemy. Was the original knight liable for the castle's loss? Oldradus dealt with it as what is called a bailment in common law. What is the responsibility of someone who undertakes to keep something safe for someone else? On this point, the Roman law was not perfectly consistent. Several jurists held that the bailee could indeed be responsible for damage done by a third party to an entrusted object (Notes 15, 19, and 28), although others held that he could not (Notes 18 and 19). According to Oldradus, the weight of opinion came down such that he could be held liable, and then the issue devolves into a question of negligence. In this case there were two standards. Oldradus says that according to the ius nobile of France, so long as the knight gave custody to a noble, he could not be held liable for the castle's loss. If he gave custody to a non-noble, he was ipso facto liable for the loss. This was consonant enough with the ius commune, which focused on competence rather than status as a standard. The rest of the questio treats in summary form several related questions.

Oldradus's No.92 (Questio):
Latin Text and Translation

Rex habebat castrum et cum haberet guerram cum hostibus conuenit cum quodam milite quod custodiret eum sibi et pro mercede certum sibi salarium constituit. Miles ille commisit custodiam cuidam hostes uenerunt et occupauerunt castrum culpa illius. Modo queritur utrum teneatur miles. Et est de iure nobilium terre nostre quod si commisit nobili non tenetur; si innobili tenetur. Et satis consonum est iuri communi, ar. ff. de custodia reorum, l. finali, in principio,[1] C. eodem, l. Ad commentariensem,[2] et ar. ff. naute caupones, l. finali § Hac actione.[3] Set posito quod commisit nobili numquid tenetur eum presentare regi, C. locato, l. Ex diui.[4] Et uidetur quod sic ar. sumpto a contrario littere in dicta l. Ad commentariensem. Vel forte etiam si non presentet uidetur liberatus quia cum tempore commisse custodie diligens et sufficiens reputaretur non debet nocere si postea mutauit mores, ar. eorum que dicuntur de magistratibus qui dant tutores, ff. de magist. conuen. l.i. § Si magistratus,[5] et de negotiis gestis l. Litis § Si pecunie,[6] et de admin. rerum ad ciuit. pertin. l.iii. § Si eo tempore,[7] ff. commodati, l. Argentum.[8] A king was holding a castle and when he had a war with <his> enemies he made an agreement with a certain knight that he would guard it himself and for payment he established a certain salary for him. That knight committed custody <of the castle> to a certain person. The enemies came and occupied the castle by the fault of that one. Now it is asked whether the knight would be held <liable>, and according to the law of the nobles of our land: if he committed <custody> to a noble, he is not held <liable>, if to a non-noble he is held <liable>. And it is consonant enough to the ius commune, as is argued in the beginning of the final chapter from the Digest title on bailments,[1] in the chapter, Ad commentariensem, from the Code,[2] and it is argued by the paragraph Hac actione from the Digest title on sailors and shopkeepers.[3] But given that he committed <custody> to a noble, is he not held to present him to the king, as in the chapter Ex diui from the Code?[4] And it appears that he is, as is argued (as it has been placed) by the contrary letter in the said law, Ad commentariensem. Or else by chance even if <the knight> did not present <him>, he appears freed <of liability> because custody should be considered to have been committed diligently and sufficiently for a period of time. One ought not to do harm if afterwards one has changed the rules, as is argued of those things which are said concerning magistrates who give tutors, as in the paragraph Si magistratus[5], and in the paragraph Si pecunie from the Digest title on unauthorized administration,[6], and from the third law under the Digest title on carrying on public business.[7] and in the chapter Argentum from the Digest title on loan for use.[8]
Sed pone quod miles per se amisit; numquid tenetur et si dolo non est dubium? Et licet lata culpa in criminibus dolo non equiparetur, ut not. ff. de uerb. sig. l. Magna negligentia,[9] tamen fallit hic, ut ff. de custodia reorum, l. Milites, in principio,[10] et l. Ad commentariensem, C. eodem.[11] Item et tenetur de leui quia mercedem recepit, ff. commodati, Si ut certo.[12] Item et de leuissima si certa custodia fuit adhibita, ff. locati, l. Mercedem,[13] licet uideatur quod non sit ita grauiter puniendus, ut ff. de custodia reorum, l. Milites, et l. finali.[14] Set numquid tenetur de uiolentia? Et uidetur quod non quia est casus fortuitus, ut probatur ff. commodati, l. In rebus, in principio,[15] qui nullo humano iudicio prouideri possunt non uidetur teneri, ff. de admin. rerum ad ciuit. pertin. l.ii. § Si eo tempore,[16] C. de pigner. act. l. Que fortuitis;[17] et quia nulla custodia fieri potest ne damnum iniuria detur, ff. commodati, l. Ad eos,[18] ff. locati, l. Set de damno.[19] But what if a knight looses <the castle> by himself; is he not held <liable> even if there is no doubt (of bad faith)? And although the fault born in crimes does not compare to bad faith, as is noted by the chapter Magna negligentia from the Digest title on the meaning of words;[9] nevertheless, here he failed, as in the beginning of the chapter Milites, from the Digest title on bailments.[10], and by the chapter Ad commentariensem.[11] And moreover he is held <liable> slightly because he received payment, as in the chapter Si ut certo, from the Digest title on loan for use,[12] and moreover very, very slightly if certa custodia had been agreed to.[13] Although it would appear that he would not have to be punished severely, as in the chapters Milites and the final chapter from the Digest title on bailments.[14] But is he not held concerning the violence? And it appears not because it is a fortuitous case, as is proven in the beginning of the chapter In rebus under the Digest title on loan for use.[15] For one does not appear to be held <liable> for what cannot be anticipated by human judgment, as in the paragraph Si eo tempore in the second chapter under the Digest title on carrying on public business,[16] the chapter Que fortuitis under the Code title on the action for pledge;[17] and because no custody can happen such that a condemnation for iniuria would be given, as in the chapter Ad eos under the Digest title on loan for use,[18] <and> the chapter Set de damno under the Digest title on hire.[19]
Tu dic quod aut culpa precessit uiolentiam et tunc tenetur ut quia non habebat tot homines in castro sicut erat conuentum uel non habebant arma uel uictualia deficiebant tenetur, ar. ff. locati, Si merces § Culpe,[20] ff. commodati, Si ut certo § i.[21] Maxime si culpa fuit preordinata ad casum, ar. ff. de lege Rhodia de iactu, l. finali,[22] et semper presumitur culpa nisi ipse probet contrarium, ut ff. de custodia reorum, l. finali,[23] et ibi not. et ff. de edendo, Si quis ex argentariis § finali,[24] et not. Dy. ff. soluto matrim. l. Si mora.[25] Si culpa non precessit uidetur per iura superius allegata quod non tenetur, tamen de iure nobilium tenetur. Et uidetur posse probari de iure nam cum rex custodiam sibi commiserit obtentu uiolentie, uidetur etiam de uiolentia teneri, ar. optimum, ff. commodati, l.i.[26] et quod ibi not. Iaco. de Aren. Et quod tacite agitur pro expresse habendum est, ff. si certum petetur, l. Cum quid.[27] Nam et caupo recipiendo res etiam de damno uidetur se obligare, ff. naute caupones, l. Nauta § finali.[28] You say that either the fault preceded the violence, and then he is held <liable> so that because he was not holding as many men in the castle as had been agreed, or they did not have weapons, or the supplies were deficient, he is held <liable>, as is argued at the paragraph Culpe in the chapter Si merces under the Digest title on hire,[20] <and> in the first paragraph in the chapter Si ut certo under the Digest title on loan for use.[21] Most of all if the fault was preordained to the case, as is argued in the final law under the Digest title on the Rhodian sea law.[22] And fault is always presumed unless that one would prove the contrary, as in the final law under the Digest title on bailments;[23] and there it is noted, and in the final paragraph in the chapter Si quis ex argentariis under the Digest title on formal pronouncements.[24] and as Dynus noted on the chapter Si mora under the Digest title on marriage dissolution.[25] If the fault did not precede, it appears through the laws alleged above that he is not held <liable>; nevertheless, he is held <liable> from the laws of the nobility. And it appears to be able to be proven de iure, for since the King committed custody to him while fighting was underway, he appears to be held  concerning violence. The best argument is at the first law under the Digest title on loan for use,[26] and what Iacobus de Arenga noted there. And what is done tacitly must be held <as if it had been done> expressly, as in the chapter Cum quid under the Digest title on fixed claims.[27] For a shopkeeper in having received a thing, appears to obligate himself even concerning damage, as in the law Nauta under the Digest title on Sailors and Innkeepers.[28]

Legal Citations

[1] Dig. 48.3.14: Modestinus says that the custody of a prisoner should not lightly be given to an inexperienced person, for if the prisoner is lost, the blame rests on the one who entrusted the prisoner.

[2] Cod. 9.4.4.

[3] Dig. 4.9.7.§.4 (§ Hac autem actione): Ulpian says that the liability of a shipowner may depend on who he employs on the ship. He is responsible to employ competent help. But if he employs his own slaves, the owner can only be noxally liable for damage or loss.

[4] Cod. 4.65.4.

[5] Dig. 27.8.1.§.11: Ulpian says that if magistrates appoint incompetent tutors they are liable for losses caused by those tutors. But if the tutors were sound at the time of appointment, but then lose money, the magistrates are not liable because the loss would be due to an unforseeable chance occurence.

[6] Dig. 3.5.36(37).§.1: Paul says that anyone engaging in moneylending has to bear the responsibility both for the interest and the risk on the loans he himself has arranged unless, as the result of misfortunes, the debtors lost their property and so were insolvent at the time of joinder of issue of this action.

[7] Dig. 50.8.2.§.7: Ulpian says that if a person who is eligible for a position ends up loosing his wealth and costing the community as a result, that person's nominator is not liable because chance disasters are not humanly forseeable.

[8] Dig. 13.6.20.

[9] Dig. 50.16.226: Paulus says gross negligence is fault (culpa), gross fault is bad faith (dolus).

[10] Dig. 48.3.12: Callistratus notes that, according to a rescript of Hadrian, soldiers who allow prisoners to escape should be put to death if their negligence is very great, but that they should receive lesser punishment if their negligence is less. He mentions another of Hadrian's recripts stating that the loss of prisoners due to drunkenness should result in corporal punishment and diminished duties, and that such a loss due to accident should not be punished at all.

[11] Cod. 9.4.4.

[12] Dig. 13.6.5: regarding loan for use arrangements, details of time and place are to be considered by the judge.

[13] Dig. 19.2.25 (Si merces).

[14] Dig. 48.3.12 et 14.

[15] Dig. 13.6.18: Gaius says that a borrower is not liable for events that cannot be prevented or forseen.

[16] Dig. 50.8.2.§.7.

[17] Cod. 4.24.6.

[18] Dig. 13.6.19: Julian says that those who lend or borrow for use are not responsible if a third party wrongfully damages what is loaned or borrowed.

[19] Dig. 19.2.41: Ulpian notes that Julian held that one cannot bring an action against a bailee for damage done by a third party, but that Marcellus held the opposite opinion. Marcellus held that the bailee had a duty to protect his charge against harm. Ulpian agrees with Marcellus's view.

[20] Dig. 19.2.25.§.4: Gaius says that it if a neighbor cuts down a tree on property leased to the occupier due to a quarrel with the same, that the occupier could be liable for the damage, apparently because he might be responsible for the quarrel.

[21] Dig. 13.6.5.§.1.

[22] Dig. 14.2.10: Paul discusses the case of a ship captain who transfers his cargo to another ship, knowing that the owner of the cargo would have opposed this. If that other ship goes down, the captain is liable. If both ships go down, he is not.

[23] Dig. 48.3.14.

[24] Dig. 2.13.6.§.10: Ulpian notes that the preator has ordered that one should not give over something to someone who makes a second request <for the same material or item> without showing cause.

[25] Dig. 24.3.9: Sabinus says that if a wife is slow to accept back her dowry from her ex-husband, the ex-husband is responsible for dolum malum, but not for culpa, so that he cannot be responsible to cultivate fields which are part of such a dowry indefinitely.

[26] Dig. 13.6.1: does not appear to be relevant.

[27] Dig. 12.1.3: Pomponius says that even if there is no specific provision in a loan for consumption (mutuum), the thing returned should be of the same quality. The debtor cannot return something of inferior quality: likeness in kind and quality is assumed.

[28] Dig. 4.9.5: Gaius says someone who receives something for safekeeping has to keep it safe from theft and from damage.

For an explanation and of the citations of Medieval Canon and Roman Law jurisprudence, please ORB Online Encyclopedia: Law: A Guide to Online Resources.


Bibliography

Mario Ascheri, "Analecta manoscritta consiliare (1285-1354)," Bulletin of Medieval Canon Law 15 (1985) 61-94.

Ingrid Baumgärtner, ed. Consilia im späten Mittelalter: Zum historischen Aussagewert einer Quellengattung (Studi/Schriften des Deutschen Studienzentrums in Venedig 13; Sigmaringen 1995).

B.McManus, "The Consilia and Questiones of Oldradus de Ponte," Bulletin of Medieval Canon Law (Forthcoming in 1998).

Peter Pazzaglini and Catherine A. Hawks, Consilia. A bibliography of holdings in the Library of Congress and certain other collections in the United States (Washington, D.C. 1990) xiii-xxiv.

Peter Riesenberg, "The consilia literature: A prospectus," Manuscripta 6 (1962) 3-22.

Eduard Will, Die Gutachten des Oldradus de Ponte zum prozeá Heinrichs VII. gegen Robert von Neapel (Abhandlungen zur mittleren und neueren Geschichte 65; Berlin/Leipzig 1917).

Norman Zacour, Jews and saracens in the consilia of Oldradus de Ponte (Pontifical Institute Studies and Texts 100; Toronto/Buffalo 1990).


Transcription, translation, and notes by Brendan McManus, Ph.D. [[email protected]].


This text is part of the Internet Medieval Source Book. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history.

Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is copyright. Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source. No permission is granted for commercial use.

© Paul Halsall June 1998
[email protected]



The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of  Fordham University, New York. The Internet Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at the Fordham University Center for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University.  Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.

© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 11 March 2024 [CV]