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ER 648
The law issued by King Ervig (AD 680-687) imposes punishments on bishops, presbyters, deacons, and other clerics who neglect to enforce the anti-Jewish legislation. The codification known as the Lex Visigothorum (issued and re-edited several times between 569 and 702).
XII.3.24
 
XXIIII. FLAVIUS GLORIOSUS ERVIGIUS REX.
 
De damnis sacerdotum vel iudicum, qui in Iudeos legum instituta adinplere distulerint.
 
Consulendum est pie sacerdotibus ecclesie Dei, ne pro delinquentis populi inpunitate teneantur obnoxii. Quid enim prodest, si non puniatur quisque suo, cum possit tamen alieno puniri peccato? Et ideo ad horum talium incuriam excitandam huius preceptionis sanctione decernimus, ut, si quislibet pontificum aut cupiditate inlectus aut maligne voluntatis incuria tepidus predicta hec, que iussa sunt in Iudeis decreta, contempserit adinplere, scilicet ut, detecta vel nuntiata sibimet errata perfidie, nulla videatur equitatis censura corrigere , et trium mensium excommunicationis sententiam proferat et unam libram auri de suis rebus propriis fisco sociandam amittat. Quod si non habuerit, unde conponat, sex mensibus sub digna excommunicationis censura persistat, et insuper ad tepiditatem illius socordie corrigendam sit cuilibet episcopo licitum, in quo zelus Dei fuerit excitatus, vice illius episcopi talium perfidorum errata corrigere et hec, que ille neglexerat, emendare. Quod si, alternata simulatione vel incuria episcoporum, alter in alterius correctione zelo excitante divinitus non fuerit excitatus, tunc principis preceptione et eorum arguetar socordia, et perfidorum ulciscentur errata. Hic etiam ordo eodem modo eodemque ordine, sicuti superius de episcopis constitutum est , in ceteris quoque religiosis est observandus; id est in presbiteris, diaconibus vel etiam clericis, quibus horum in fidelium ab episcopo suo cura commissa est. Iudices tamen, qui eorundem Iudeorum crimina conperta vel nuntiata sibi legali non damnaverint ultione, tunc, sicut de episcopis constitutum est, unam libram auri fisco conpellendi sunt solvere. Tunc tamen et sacerdotes et iudices vel supradicti omnes, quibus regendi hec cura commissa est, ab his damnis erunt penitus alieni, cum inpeditos se fuisse pro talium districtione agere probaverint.
 
(ed. Zeumer 1902: 452-453)
XII.3.24
 
XXIIII. GLORIOUS KING FLAVIUS ERVIG.
 
Concerning the penalties to be imposed upon priests and judges who neglect to enforce the laws against the Jews.
 
The priests of our Holy Church must exercise due and pious care lest they be held responsible for the transgressions of the people. For what profit is there, where one is not punished for his own sin, but still can be punished for the sin of another? Therefore, to correct the negligence of such persons, we hereby decree that if any bishop, influenced by avarice or malice, should be lukewarm in the enforcement of the laws enacted against the Jews, to wit: that where any errors of that perfidious sect have been detected by him, or where he has received information of them, and it appears that he neglected to correct said errors, he shall be excommunicated for the space of three months, and shall forfeit a pound of gold to the royal treasury; and, if he should not have the means to make such pecuniary reparation, he shall be excommunicated for the space of six months; and, for the purpose of making amends for the negligence of said bishop, any other bishop who is zealous in the cause of God, shall have authority to correct the errors of said perfidious Jews, whom the former bishop neglected to correct, as aforesaid. And if, through deceit, negligence, or lukewarmness, the other bishop should hesitate, or procrastinate, in discharging the duty imposed upon him, his inactivity shall be punished, and the errors of the perfidious Jews be corrected by order of the king. This rule shall also, in every respect, apply to, and be observed by, all other ecclesiastics, as well as bishops; that is to say, presbyters, deacons and clerics, upon any of whom the duty of restraining infidels has been imposed by the bishop. And all judges who are informed of such crimes, or who shall, themselves, discover them, and do not at once punish them as prescribed by law, shall each pay a pound of gold to the public treasury, as has been provided in the case of bishops. Nevertheless, priests, judges or other officials who have been invested with authority, shall not be liable to the aforesaid penalties, if they can prove that they were prevented, by command of the king, from proceeding against the Jews.
 
(trans. P.S.Scott 1910: 406-407; slightly altered)

Discussion:

This is one of thirty four laws that are the original contribution of king Ervig to the codification revised during his reign. Twenty eight of this laws concerned Jews (Collins 2004: 236).
 
See also XII.3.26 [553].

Place of event:

Region
  • Iberian Peninsula

About the source:

Title: Lex Visigothorum, Liber iudiciorum, Liber iudiciorum sive Lex Visigothorum
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
Lex Visigothorum is a codification of law first composed during the reign of King Leovigild (569-586) on the basis of the Code of Euric, but the origin of all extant manuscripts is its revised version from the reign of King Reccesvinth (649-672). The codification was also enlarged in the times of King Ervig (680-687) and Ecgica (687-702).
Edition:
K. Zeumer ed., Liber iudiciorum sive lex Visigothorum, Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Leges nationum Germanicarum 1, Hannover, Leipzig 1902, 33-456.
 
Translation:
The Visigothic Code (Forum Judicum), trans. S.P. Scott, Boston 1910
Bibliography:
R. Collins, Visigothic Spain, 409-711, Oxford 2004.
J. Juster, "The Legal Condition of the Jews Under the Visigothic Kings Part I", Israel Law Review 11 (1976), 259-287.
J. Juster, "The Legal Condition of the Jews Under the Visigothic Kings Part II", Israel Law Review 11 (1976), 391-414.
J. Juster, "The Legal Condition of the Jews Under the Visigothic Kings Part III", Israel Law Review 11 (1976), 563-590.
K. Schäferdiek, Die Kirche in den Reichen der Westgoten und Suewen bis zur Errichtung der westgotischen katholischen Staatskirche, Berlin 1967.

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
    Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς
      Public law - Ecclesiastical
        Public law - Secular
          Relation with - Jew
            Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical
              Administration of justice - Secular
                Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema
                  Administration of justice - Financial punishment
                    Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER648, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=648
                    Record by: Marta Szada
                    last edited: 2018-11-22 14:33:02
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