[ULPIANUS libro trigensimo octauo ad edictum. ] §40.14.6.prQuotiens de hoc contenditur, an quis libertus sit, siue operae petantur siue obsequium desideretur siue etiam famosa actio intendatur siue in ius uocetur qui se patronum dicit siue nulla causa interueniat, redditur praeiudicium.
[ULPIAN, in the Thirty-eighth Book on the Edict.] Whenever there is a dispute as to whether someone is a freedman—whether services are claimed, or respect is demanded, or even an action involving infamy is brought, or he who calls himself the patron is summoned to court, or no specific cause intervenes—a preliminary action is granted.
sed et quotiens quis libertinum quidem se confitetur, libertum autem Gaii Seii se negat, idem praeiudicium datur.
But also, whenever someone indeed confesses that he is of freedman status, but denies that he is the freedman of Gaius Seius, the same preliminary action is granted.
redditur autem alterutro desiderante: sed actoris partibus semper qui se patronum dicit fungitur probareque libertum suum necesse habet aut, si non probet, uincitur.
Now, it is granted when either of the two desires it; however, he who says that he is the patron always performs the role of the plaintiff, and it is necessary for him to prove that the person is his freedman, or, if he does not prove it, he loses his case.