A fugitive slave shall be compelled to disclose the name of his master, and shall be thoroughly examined by the judge, in order to ascertain whether his master did not cause him to take refuge with another person for the sake of illegal gain. And if it should be established that his master was guilty of fraud, whereby he desired to implicate another in the crime of having knowingly concealed his slave, he shall be liable for such damages as are imposed upon those who wilfully conceal slaves. For it is but just that he who is guilty of such malignant treachery should pay the penalty which he attempted to impose upon another.
ANCIENT LAW.
XII. Where a Slave, Falsely Declaring that he is Free, Serves Another for Hire.
Where a fugitive slave asserts that he is freeborn, and remains with anyone, for hire, in a place where he is unknown, he shall be produced and examined before the judge, as has been provided by a former law. And if the investigation should disclose that he is merely a laborer, and not a fugitive slave; and if, afterwards, this should be found to be false, and his master should appear; he who ignorantly employed him, not knowing that he was a fugitive, shall in no wise be held responsible. The master, however, shall receive the compensation due to the slave, according to the contract made by the latter. If the slave should escape from his master a second time, and should take refuge with him who formerly employed him, he must at once deliver him up to the judge, or restore him to his master; and if he should not do so, he shall be liable to the penalty imposed upon those who shelter fugitive slaves.
XIII. Where a Fugitive Slave is Found in the House of any Person.
Where a fugitive is found in the house of a person of rank, or of anyone else, whether he declares that he is free or not, he shall, without delay, be delivered up to whoever claims him. He in whose house said slave was found shall require security that he shall be brought into court, and that he shall not be tortured, in any way, before his case is decided, until he himself establishes the fact of his freedom, or he who claims him proves that he is a fugitive slave. Where the claimant is unwilling to do this, the fugitive shall remain in charge of him who found him, until it is ascertained what disposition the judge shall make of him.
FLAVIUS RECESVINTUS, KING.
XIV. Concerning the Reward for Arresting a Fugitive Slave.
Whoever arrests a fugitive slave, shall be entitled to one tremisa for every thirty miles, or less, which said slave has traversed in his flight, and a solidus for every hundred miles, as a reward for the capture; and the number of solidi paid shall increase with the number of miles traversed. He who finds a fugitive slave, must deliver him, at once, with all the property which is in his possession, to his master. If, however, a fugitive slave should escape from his captor, the latter must swear before the master that the fugitive did not gain his liberty through any design or fraud on his part, and he shall then incur no liability therefor. But if, after having made oath as aforesaid, he should be proved to have accepted anything from said fugitive, or to have committed any fraud, whereby the latter might take refuge elsewhere, and said fugitive should be afterwards found, said party shall be required to give another slave, of the same value, to his master; but if the fugitive should not be found, he shall be compelled to give him two slaves in his stead.
XV. Where a Fugitive Slave Falsely Declares that he is Freeborn.