TITLE VI. CONCERNING BEES, AND THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSE.
| I. | Where a Person Finds Bees on his Property. |
| II. | Where Bees Cause any Damage. |
| III. | Concerning the Theft of Bees. |
I. Where a Person Finds Bees on his Property.
Where anyone finds bees on his premises, whether in his grove, or in the rocks, or in the trees, or in any place whatsoever, he must make three marks, or characters, in testimony of possession, for the reason that where only one mark is made, it often gives occasion for fraud. If another person should make a mark of his own in the same place, or should erase any which have already been made, he shall pay double the value of the bees to him whom he defrauded, and shall also receive twenty lashes.
II. Where Bees Cause any Damage.
Should anyone build an apiary in a town or village, and any damage should result to others thereby, he must straightway be notified to move it elsewhere, that the bees may not inflict further injury upon men or animals in that locality; and if, after such notice, the owner should neglect to move said apiary, and any quadruped should be injured by the bees, the owner of the latter shall give two animals for every one that is killed, and one for each that is crippled, to the owner thereof; and shall be entitled to keep said injured animals; and shall be compelled to pay five solidi for neglecting to heed the warning of the judge.
FLAVIUS RECESVINTUS, KING.
III. Concerning the Theft of Bees.
Any freeman who enters an apiary for the purpose of theft, and is caught there, even though he should take nothing, for the mere fact that he has been arrested in such a place, shall pay three solidi, and receive fifty lashes. If, however, he should have taken anything, he shall be compelled to pay ninefold its value, and shall receive the number of lashes aforesaid. If a slave should enter an apiary, without stealing anything, he shall receive a hundred lashes; and if he should steal anything, he shall be compelled to restore sixfold the value of the same; and if his master is unwilling to render satisfaction for his act, he must deliver said slave to him who suffered the loss.