A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

306 A Source Book for Ancient Church Historythe law as to hereditary occupations and guilds, and the positionof the curiales, so as to explain the law as to admission to thepriesthood.(a) Codex Theodosianus, XIII, 5, 1; A. D. 314.The Theodosian Code was a collection of law made at thecommand of Theodosius II, A. D. 438. See § 80. It wasintended to comprise all the laws of general applicationmade since the accession of Constantine and arranged underappropriate titles.If a shipman shall have been originally a lighterman, none theless he shall remain permanently among those among whom itshall appear that his parents had been.(b) Codex Theodosianus, XIII, 5, 3; A. D. 319.If any shipman shall have obtained surreptitiously or in any otherway immunity, it is our will that he be not at all admitted toplead any exemption. But also if any one possess a patrimonyliable to the duties of a shipman, although he may be of higherdignity, the privileges of honor shall be of no avail to him in thismatter, but let him be held to this duty either by the whole or inproportion. For it is not just that when a patrimony liable to thispublic duty has been excused all should not bear the commonburden in proportion to ability.(c) Codex Theodosianus, XIV, 4, 1; A. D. 334.Because the guild of swineherds has fallen off to but few, wecommand that they plead in the presence of the Roman people,for the defence should be made to them for whom the burdenwas established.… Therefore let them know that the personalproperty of the swineherds is liable to public burdens and let them