[ULPIANUS libro quarto ad edictum. ] §2.13.6.prSi quis ex argentariis, ut plerique eorum, in uilla habeat instrumentum uel in horreo: aut ad locum te perducet aut descriptas rationes dabit.
[ULPIANUS, on the Edict, book 4] If any of the bankers, as most of them do, keeps his records in his villa or in a warehouse, he shall either conduct you to the place or give you copied accounts.
§2.13.6.1Cogentur et successores argentarii edere rationes.
The successors of a banker shall also be compelled to produce accounts.
quod si plures sunt heredes et unus habeat, solus ad editionem compelletur: sed si omnes habeant et unus ediderit, omnes ad editionem compellendi sunt.
But if there are several heirs and only one has them, he alone shall be compelled to produce them. However, if all have them and one has produced them, all are still to be compelled to produce them.
quid enim si humilis et deploratus unus edidit, ut dubitare quis merito de fide editionis possit? ut igitur comparari rationes possint, etiam ceteri edere debent aut certe unius editioni subscribere.
For what if one who is humble and of ruined character has produced them, so that one might deservedly doubt the reliability of the production? Therefore, so that the accounts can be compared, the others also ought to produce them, or at least sign the production of the one.
hoc idem erit et si plures fuerint argentarii, a quibus editio desideratur.
This same rule will apply even if there are several bankers from whom production is demanded.
nam et si plures tutores tutelam administrauerunt simul, aut omnes edere debent aut unius editioni subscribere.
For even if several tutors have administered a guardianship together, they must either all produce them or sign the production of the one.
§2.13.6.2Exigitur autem ab aduersario argentarii iusiurandum non calumniae causa postulare edi sibi: ne forte uel superuacuas rationes uel quas habet edi sibi postulet uexandi argentarii causa.
Furthermore, an oath is required from the opponent of the banker that he does not demand the production for himself for the sake of harassment, lest by chance he demand the production of either unnecessary accounts or those which he already has, for the sake of vexing the banker.
§2.13.6.3Rationem autem esse Labeo ait ultro citro dandi accipiendi, credendi, obligandi soluendi sui causa negotiationem: nec ullam rationem nuda dumtaxat solutione debiti incipere.
Labeo says that an account is a business activity for the sake of mutual giving and receiving, crediting, obligating, and paying; and that no account begins with a bare payment of a debt.
nec si pignus acceperit aut mandatum, compellendum edere: hoc enim extra rationem esse.
Nor, if he has received a pledge or a mandate, is he to be compelled to produce it, for this is outside the account.
sed et quod solui constituit, argentarius edere debet: nam et hoc ex argentaria uenit.
But the banker must also produce what he has promised to pay, for this too arises from the banking business.
§2.13.6.4Ex hoc edicto in id quod interfuit actio competit:
An action is available under this edict for the amount of one's interest.
§2.13.6.5unde apparet ita demum tenere hoc edictum, si ad eum pertineat.
From this it appears that this edict applies only if it concerns him.
pertinere autem uidetur ad me ratio, si modo eam tractaueris me mandante.
Now, an account seems to concern me if only you managed it by my authorization.
sed si procurator meus absente me mandauerit, an mihi edenda sit, quasi ad me pertineat? et magis est ut edatur.
But if my agent authorized it in my absence, should it be produced to me, as if it concerned me? And it is more correct that it should be produced.
procuratori quoque meo edendam rationem, quam mecum habet, non dubito, quasi ad eum pertineat: et cauturum de rato, si mandatum ei non sit.
I do not doubt that an account which my agent has with me should also be produced to him, as if it concerned him; and he will provide security for ratification if he does not have a mandate.
§2.13.6.6Si initium tabularum habet diem, in quibus Titii ratio scripta est, postmodum mea sine die et consule, etiam mihi edendus est dies et consul: communis enim omnis rationis est praepositio diei et consulis.
If the beginning of the ledger, in which Titius's account is written, has the date, and afterwards mine is written without date and consul, the date and consul must also be produced to me; for the prefixing of the date and consul is common to every account.
§2.13.6.7Edi autem est uel dictare uel tradere libellum uel codicem proferre.
Now, to produce is either to dictate, or to hand over a notebook, or to present a ledger.
§2.13.6.8Praetor ait: 'Argentario eiue, qui iterum edi postulabit, causa cognita edi iubebo'. §2.13.6.9Prohibet argentario edi illa ratione, quod etiam ipse instructus esse potest instrumento suae professionis: et absurdum est, cum ipse in ea sit causa, ut edere debeat, ipsum petere ut edatur ei.
The Praetor says: "I will order production, after inquiry into the case, to a banker or to one who demands production a second time." He prohibits production to a banker on the ground that he himself can be supplied with the instrument of his profession; and it is absurd, when he himself is in such a position that he ought to produce, that he himself should ask that it be produced to him.
an nec heredi argentarii edi ratio debeat, uidendum: et si quidem instrumentum argentariae ad eum peruenit, non debet ei edi, si minus, edenda est ex causa.
We must see whether an account ought not to be produced even to the heir of a banker: and if indeed the records of the banking business have come to him, it ought not to be produced to him; if not, it must be produced upon cause shown.
nam et ipsi argentario ex causa ratio edenda est: si naufragio uel ruina uel incendio uel alio simili casu rationes perdidisse probet aut in longinquo habere, ueluti trans mare.
For the account must be produced upon cause shown even to the banker himself: if he proves that he lost the accounts by shipwreck, collapse, fire, or other similar accident, or that he has them in a distant place, such as across the sea.
§2.13.6.10Nec iterum postulanti edi praetor iubet, nisi ex causa:
Nor does the Praetor order production to one who demands it a second time, except upon cause shown.