The Three Books on interes-bearing loans and interest (Foenus et Usurae) by Gerard Noodt, Jurist and Professor of Law

Sj Van Niekerk, Jt Pretorius, Dm Kriel, Dh Van Zyl

Description

I. INTRODUCTION[1.1] This publication is the proud result of the team effort of the project participants named below. The project was initially inspired by the unavailability of a translation from Latin of the excellent writings of one of the great Roman-Dutch jurists, Gerard Noodt. A biography of Noodt published in 1988 fostered that initial inspiration.[1.2] The remarkable modern biography of Noodt was published in 1988 by Clarendon Press (Oxford University Press). The publication is titled The Life and Work of Gerard Noodt (1647 1725) Dutch Legal Scholarship Between Humanism and Enlightenment, authored by the late Prof GCJJ van den Bergh, then professor of the history of law at the University of Utrecht, Netherlands. Prof van den Bergh undertook a comprehensive study into the life and work of Gerard Noodt and his subsequent publication favoured the entire legal fraternity with an excellent addition to existing literature. His work ultimately inspired the undernamed project participants to produce a modern translation into English, as true to the original Latin text as reasonably possible, of an important but largely inaccessible part of Noodt's work, being his treatise The Three Books on Interest-Bearing Loans and Interest named De Foenore et Usuris Libri Tres forming part of his composite work named Opera Omnia.[1.3] More about that part of Noodt's treatise, his prominence as one of the greatest of Roman Dutch jurists, the team effort in achieving this publication, and the financial assistance towards the accomplishment of this publication, will concisely be addressed below.[1.4] Prof van den Bergh's extensive biography facilitates a brief capturing of the most important moments of Noodt's life and legal works without recourse to other sources. The following concise summary, extracted from and premised on that biography, is intended to introduce the reader to this remarkable jurist.[1.5] Thereafter a table of contents will be given facilitating easy access to the topics covered by Noodt in his treatise on interestbearing loans and interest.II. GERARD NOODT (1647-1725): THE JURIST[2.1] Gerard Noodt was born in Nijmegen in September 1647. He studied at that university and thereafter at the universities of Franeker, Leiden and Utrecht. After having been an attorney and advocate for a brief period of time, he was appointed professor of law at the University of Nijmegen at the age of 24. This was a short-lived appointment due to the French invasion and occupation of that area, shortly thereafter resulting in the unfortunate demise of the university.[2.2] In September 1679 at the age of 32, Noodt left Nijmegen, took up a professorship at Franeker University, and occupied the chair until then held by Ulrik Huber, who was appointed to the bench of the court of Friesland. Thereafter and at the age of 36, Noodt became professor at the University of Utrecht from 1683 (where he filled the vacancy left by Johannes Voet) until 1686, after which he finally settled (after having spent his life up to that point in time in the provinces of Friesland and Utrecht), at the University of Leiden in Holland.[2.3] There he served, for the remainder of his life, (almost four decades), the University of Leiden. He held the position of Professor of Law and served two terms as rector of that famous institution.[2.4] At the age of 66 Noodt's Opera Omnia was first published. He died in 1725 at the age of 77 years and 11 months.[2.5] The final edition of his Opera Omnia was prepared approximately one year before his death.III. NOODT’S MAJOR WORKS[3.1] Noodt’s major works include the Probabilia Juris Civilis, first published in 1674, consisting of essays on a variety of civil law topics. De Civili Prudentia, his inaugural address at Franeker in October 1679, followed approximately five years later, and thereafter his inaugural address at Utrecht in February 1684, titled De Causis Corruptae Jurisprudentiae. Those addresses emphasised the gradual historical development of legal science, the interrelation between law and freedom and the importance of understanding the true meaning of concepts of classical Roman law. In 1690 his two monographs, titled De jurisdictione et Imperio Libri Duo and Ad Legem Aquiliam Liber Singularis appeared, which addressed aspects of both private and public law. Once again his interpretations and emendations of Roman law texts characterised his work. In 1698 his monograph De Foenore et Usuris appeared and from that year until 1710 virtually one new publication followed each year.[3.2] Noodt’s approach to the subject of interest-bearing loans and interest included an analysis of Latin terminology employed in Roman law, an exhaustive treatment of the moral and legal justification for the charging of interest, an analysis of existing and maximum interest rates and the origin and termination of the obligation to pay interest. That publication conclusively established his standing as an excellent scholar and his command of the roots of Roman civil law.[3.3] Further works of note were Noodt's first rectorial address at Leiden in February 1699, titled De Jure Summi Imperii et Lege Regia, in which Noodt based his arguments on natural law and humanistic legal philology. Two years later appeared Jullus Paulus Sive De Partus Expositione et Nece Apud Veteres, a controversial treatise concerning the exposition and killing of children by the ancients. Four years later, in 1704, Diocletianus et Maximianus Sive De Transactione et Pactione Criminum concerning the transaction and bargaining over crimes appeared. In 1706 De Rellgione Ab Imperio Jure Gentium Libera v followed, an address in favour of the freedom of religion, and also Observationum Libri Duo, an analysis and emendation of various texts of Roman civil law. The law concerning deception in the formation of contracts was the subject matter of his monograph titled De Forma Emendandi Doli Mali In Contrahendis Negotiis Admissi Apud Veteres which was published in April 1709.[3.4] The last thirteen years of Noodt's life (1713-1725) produced a treatise on usufruct titled De Usufructu Libri Duo, a single book on the praetorian edict concerning pacts and transactions titled Ad Edictum Praetoris De Pactis et Transactionibus Liber Singularis, as well as an unfinished commentary on the Digest titled Commentarius Ad Digesta Seu Pandectas, extending to the end of Book 27 of the Digest. Several manuscripts of lecture notes also remained part of his academic heritage.[3.5] Noodt is considered to be one of the greatest Roman Dutch jurists (van Zyl: Geskiedenis van die Romeins-Hollandse Reg, Butterworths, Durban, 1979 p.492). He established himself as one of the enlightened scholars of his time, and as an exponent of the ‘elegant’ school of thought following the Methodus Noodti, an approach to jurisprudence which emphasised the need for true historical interpretation of the Roman civil law texts and their explanation in the light of humanistic considerations of justice and equity and the law of nature. Prof van den Bergh (op.cit. p.181. et seq.) considers the treatise on interest-bearing loans and interest to be one of Noodt's greatest achievements. Yet Noodt's works have not been favoured with translation of his original Latin texts into English to the extent which befell other greats of Roman-Dutch jurisprudence such as De Groot (Grotius) and Voet.[3.6] Noodt's sometimes abstruse Latin style may very well have discouraged potential translators. We accordingly hope that this publication will contribute towards the unravelling of one of the proverbial jewels of an expert historical jurist, who devoted much of his productive time and energy towards the study of interest as the ‘Iife blood of finance’.[3.7] For purposes of convenience the Latin foenus will be rendered, in the English translation, as ‘interest bearing loan’, ‘loan at interest’, ‘interest’ or simply, ‘Ioan’. The Latin usura (plural: usurae) will be rendered throughout as ‘interest’, while the concept of sors will be rendered as ‘capital’ or ‘principal’ in the sense of the amount on which interest is paid. The terms ius civile (Roman ‘civil law’) and ius gentium (the ‘law of nations’) will retain their Latin form. The names of classical authors, legal or otherwise, will be rendered in their established English form, eg ‘Justinian’ (Justinianus), ‘Constantine’ (Constantinus), ‘Ambrose’ (Ambrosius), ‘Basil’ (Basilius), ‘Isidore’ (Isidorus), ‘Jerome’ (Hieronymus), ‘Augustine’ (Augustinus), ‘Diocletian’ (Diocletianus), ‘Paul’ (Paulus), ‘Ulpian’ (Ulpianus), ‘Papinian’ (Papinianus), ‘Pomponian’ (Pomponius), ‘Aristotle’ (Aristoteles), ‘Horace’ (Horatius), ‘Livy’ (Livius), ‘Quintilian’ (Quintilianus), ‘Pliny’ (Plinius) and ‘Terence’ (Terentius).[3.8] Reference to Justinian's Corpus iuris civilis (‘the body of civil law’) will be abbreviated as Inst. (Institutiones or ‘Institutions’), D. (Digesta or ‘Digest’ — also rendered as Pandectae or ‘Pandects’), C. (Codex or ‘Code’) and Nov. (Novellae or ‘Novels’). The Code of Theodosian (Codex Theodosianus) will be abbreviated as CTh.IV. PROJECT PARTICIPANTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS[4.1] Each of the following four project participants contributed to this publication: S J van Niekerk originated the idea of producing a publication of this magnitude in order to add to existing historical legal literature on banking law in general as well as the law of interest in particular; JT Pretorius co-ordinated various efforts towards its accomplishment; DM Kriel attended to the actual translation of Noodt's Latin text. Ph J Thomas assisted towards the revision of Book I and DH van Zyl revised the entire translation.[4.2] Our sincere gratitude is extended to Pretoria University Law Press, which undertook the publication of this work, as well as to Nedbank for its financial contribution towards the costs incurred in the preparation of the final manuscript, and also publishing costs. In particular the keen interest in the work taken by Nedbank's Professor Willem Kruger is highly appreciated.About the editor:SJ van Niekerk is Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and Member of the Johannesburg Bar.JT Pretorius is Professor of Banking, Law, UNISA, Pretoria.DM Kriel is Emeritus Professor of Latin, University of Pretoria and UNISA.DH van Zyl is Judge of the High Court of South Africa (CPD) and Former Professor of Roman Law and Legal History (UFS and UP), May 2009.

Sujets

• Economie
• développement
• Politics
• Relations internationales
• Développement
• Géopolitique

Informations

• Publié par: PULP (Pretoria University Law Press)
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 8
• EAN13: 9780981412405
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

The Three Books
on
INTEREST-BEARING LOANS
and INTEREST
(FOENUS ET USURAE)
by
Gerard Noodt, Jurist and
Professor of Law

In these books many passages fr omt heJur i sCor pus Ci vi l i sand other ancient
w r i t i ngsar eei t herel uci dat edor emended.

THIRD EDITION

LEIDEN

Johannes van der Linden Jr
1724

2 0 0 9

The three books on interest -bearingloans and int erest
By Gerard Noodt, Jurist andProf essorof Law

Publishe dby:

Pr e t or iaUnive r sit yLaw Pre ss(PULP)

The Pret or i aUni ver si t yLaw Press (PULP)i sa publi sherat the Facult yof Law,
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© 2009

I.

INTRODUCTION

PREAMBLE

[ 1. 1]Thi spubl i cat i oni st hepr oudr e sul tof the team eff or tof the
pr oj ectpar t i ci pant snam edbel ow .The proj ectw asi ni t i al l yi nspi r ed
by the unavail abi l i t yof a tr ansl at i onf r omLat i nof the excell ent
w r i t i ngsof one of the great Roman-Dut chj ur i st s,Ger ar dNoodt .A
bi ogr aphyof Noodt publi shedi n1988 fost er edt hati ni t i ali nspi r at i on.

[ 1. 2]The rem ar kabl em oder nbi ogr aphyof Noodt was publi shedi n
1988 by Clar endonPr ess(Oxf or dUni ver si t yPr ess).The publi cat i oni s
t i t l edar dk of Gerand Worf eLegalDut chNoodt (1647-1725)The Li
Schol ar shi pBet w eenHum ani smand Enli ght enm ent, author edby the
l at ePr ofGCJJ van den Bergh, then prof essorof the hist or yof law at
t heUni ver si t yof Utr echt ,Net her l ands.Pr ofvan den Bergh undert ook
a compr ehensi vest udyi nt ot hel i f eand wor kof Gerar dNoodt and his
subsequent publi cat i onf avour edt h eent i r el egalf r at er ni t yw i t han
excel l entaddi t i ont oexi st i ngl i t e r at ur e.Hi sw or kul t i m at el yi nspi r ed
t heunder nam edpr oj ectpar t i ci pant st opr oducea moder nt r ansl at i on
i nt oEngl i sh,as tr uet ot heor i gi nalLat i nt extas reasonabl ypossi bl e,
of an im por t antbut lar gel yi naccessi bl epar tof Noodt's wor k,bei ng
hi st r eat i seee Books on IntThe ThrLoans and Inter est -Bear i nger est
nam ede etUsur i sLi br iTr esDe Foenorposi t es comf or m i ngpar tof hi
w or knam edOm ni aOper a.

[ 1. 3]Mor eabout that part of Noodt's tr eat i se,hi spr om i nenceas one
of the great estof Roman-Dut chj ur i st s,t het eamef f ort in achievi ng
t hi spubl i cat i on,and the fi nanci alassi st ancet ow ar dst he
accom pl i shm entof thi spubl i cat i on,w i l lconci sel ybe addressed
bel ow .

[ 1. 4]Pr ofvan den Bergh's extensi v ebi ogr aphyf aci l i t at esa bri ef
capt ur i ngof the most im por t antm o m ent sof Noodt's li f eand legal
w or ksw i t houtr ecour set oot hersour ces.The fol l ow i ngconci se
sum m ar y,ext r act edf r omand prem i sedon that biogr a phy,i si nt ended
t oi nt r oducet her eadert ot hi sr em ar kabl ej ur i st .

[ 1. 5]Ther eaf t era tabl eof content sw i l lbe given faci l i t at i ngeasy
access to the topi cscover edby Noodti nhi st r eat i seon int er est
bear i ngl oansand int er est .

II.

GERARD NOODT (16 4 7 -1 7 2 5 ):THE JURIST

[ 2. 1]Ger ar dNoodt was born in Nij m egeni nSept em ber1647. He
st udi edat that univer si t yand ther eaf t erat the uni ver si t i esof
Fr aneker ,Lei denand Utr echt .Af t erhavi ngbeen an att or neyand
advocat ef ora bri efper i odof ti m e,he was appoint ed prof essorof law
at the Univer si t yof Nij m egenat th eage of 24. This was a short -l i ved
appoi nt m entdue to the French invasi onand occupati onof that area,
shor t l yt her eaf t err esul t i ngi nt heunf or t unat edem i seof the
uni ver si t y.

iii

[ 2. 2]In Septem ber1679 att heage of 32, Noodt lef tNi j m egen,t ook
up a prof essor shi pat Franeker Univ er si t y,and occupied the chair unti l
t henhel dby Ulr i kHuber ,w how as appoi nt edt ot hebench of the court
of Fri esl and.Ther eaf t erand at the age of 36, Noodt became prof essor
at the Univer si t yof Utr echtf r om1683 (wher ehe fi l l edt hevacancy
l ef tby Johannes Voet) unti l1686, aft erw hi chhe fi nal l yset t l ed(af t er
havi ngspent his li f eup to that point in ti m ei nt hepr ovi ncesof
Fr i esl andand Utr echt ),at the Univer si t yof Leiden in Holl and.

[ 2. 3]Ther ehe served, for the re m ai nderof his li f e,(al m ostf our
decades), the Univer si t yof Leiden. Hehel dt heposi t i onof Prof essor
of Law and served tw ot er m sas re ct orof that fam ousi nst i t ut i on.

[ 2. 4]At the age of 66 Noodt's Oper aOm ni a w asHepubl i shed.f i r st
di edi n1725 att heage of 77 years and 11 mont hs.

[ 2. 5]The fi naledi t i onof hisOper a
appr oxi m at el yone year befor ehi sdeat h.

III.

NOODT’ S MAJORWORKS

Om ni a

w as

pr epar ed

[ 3. 1]Noodt ’ sm aj orw or ksi ncl udet heCi vi l i sJur i sPr obabi l i a, fi r st
publ i shedi n1674, consist i ngof essayson a vari ety of civi ll awt opi cs.
De Civi l iPr udent i aoberat Fraddr essn Octaneker i, hinaugur als i
1679, fol l ow edappr oxi m at el yf i veyear sl at er ,and ther eaf t erhi s
i naugur aladdr essat Utr echti nFebr uar y1684, ti t l edsDe Causi
Cor r upt aeJur i spr udent i aet hephasi sedesses em. Those addrgr adual
hi st or i caldevel opm entof legal sci ence,t hei nt er r el at i onbet w een
l awand fr eedomand the im por t anceof underst andi ngt het r ue
m eani ngof concepts ofcl assi calRom anl aw .In 1690 his tw o
m onogr aphs,t i t l edDe jur i sdi ct i oneet Imper i oLi br iDuo andAd
Legem Aquil i amLi berSi ngul ar i s appear ed,w hi chaddr essedaspect s
of both pri vat eand publi cl aw .Once again his int e r pr et at i onsand
em endat i onsof Roman law text schar act er i sedhi sw o r k.In 1698 his
m onogr aphUsur i se etDe Foenoryear untt hatr omand f appear edi l
1710 vir t ual l yone new publi c at i onf ol l ow edeach year.

[ 3. 2]Noodt ’ sappr oacht ot hesubj ectof int er est -bear i ngl oansand
i nt er esti ncl udedan analysi sof Lati nt er m i nol ogyem pl oyedi nRom an
l aw ,an exhausti vet r eat m entof th em or aland legal just i f i cat i onf or
t hechar gi ngof int er est ,an analysi sof exist i ngand maxi m umi nt er est
r at esand the ori gi nand ter m i nat i onof the obli gat i ont opay int er est .
That publi cat i onconcl usi vel yest abl i shedhi sst andi ngas an excell ent
schol arand his comm andof th er oot sof Roman civi ll aw .

[ 3. 3]Fur t herw or ksof note wer eNoodt 'sf i r str ect or i aladdr essat
Lei deni nFebr uar y1699, ti t l edet LegeRegi am iIm per i iDe Jure Sum,
i nw hi chNoodt based his argum ents on natur all awand humani st i c
l egalphi l ol ogy.Tw oyear sl at erappear edt usDe ParJul l us Paul us Si ve
Exposi t i oneet NeceApud Veter es, a contr over si alt r eat i seconcer ni ng
t heexposi t i onand kil l i ngof chil dr enby the ancient s.Four years l at er,
i n1704,i oneet Maxim i anusDi ocl et i anusansact i oneet PactSi veDe Tr
Cr i m i num concerni ngand bargai ni ngt het r ansact i onover cri m es
appear ed.In 1706Ab Imper i oDe Rell gi oneLi ber aGent i umJur e

iv

f ol l ow ed,an address in favour of the fr eedomof rel i gi on,and also
Obser vat i onumLi br iDuot ext sof vari ousand emendat i on, an analysi s
of Roman civi ll aw .The law concerni ngdecept i oni nt hef or m at i onof
cont r act sw ast hesubj ectm at t e rof his monogr apht i t l edDe Form a
Em endandiDol iMal iIn Contr ahendi sNegot i i sAdm i ssiApud Veter es
w hi chw aspubl i shedi nApr i l1709.

[ 3. 4]The last thi r t eenyear sof Noodt's li f e(1713- 1725)pr oduceda
t r eat i seon usufr uctt i t l edDuoLi br ir uct uDe Usufhebook on tngl e, a si
pr aet or i anedi ctconcer ni ngpact sand tr ansact i onst i t l edAd Edict um
Pr aet or i sDe Pacti set Transact i oni busLi berSi ngul ar i sas anw el l, as
unf i ni shedcom m ent ar yon the Digest ti t l edgest aAd DiCom m ent ar i us
Seu Pandectasendi ng, extt het ohe Diend of Book 27 of tSever algest .
m anuscr i pt sof lect ur enot esal sor em ai nedpar tof his academi c
her i t age.

[ 3. 5]Noodt is consider edt obe one of the great estRom anDut ch
j ur i st s(van Zyl: Geskiedeni svan die Romei ns-Hol l andseReg,
But t er w or t hs,Dur ban,1979 p.492). Heest abl i shedhi m sel fas one of
t heenl i ght enedschol ar sof his ti m e,and as an exponent of the
‘ el egant ’school of thought fol l ow i ngt heMet hodusNoodt i ,an
appr oacht oj ur i spr udencew hi c hem phasi sedt heneed for tr ue
hi st or i cali nt er pr et at i onof th eRom anci vi ll awt ext sand thei r
expl anat i oni nt hel i ghtof humani st i cconsi der at i o nsof just i ceand
equi t yand the law of natur e.Pr