Title — Liber Sextus
Title XXII: On Arbiters
Chapter I
If two of three arbiters agree on an amount, their decision holds; if all disagree, the decision concerning the smaller amount holds.
Boniface VIII. If two of three arbiters condemn you in ten and the third in five, the decision of the two ought to prevail. But when one pronounces for fifteen, another for ten, and the third for five, the decision of the one who stated the smaller amount is judged effective, since they all agree upon that amount.
DE ARBITRIS.
Si ex tribus arbitris duo concordant in summa, tenet illorum sententia; si omnes discordant, tenet sententia de summa minori.
Bonifacius VIII.
Si ex tribus arbitris te duo in X., et tertius in V. condemnent, debet sententia praevalere duorum; licet, quum unus in XV., alius in X., tertius vero in V. pronunciant, illius, qui dixit de summa minori, (quum in illa omnes concordes exsistant,) sententia efficax censeatur.
Chapter II
If one of three arbiters is unwilling to take part in examining or deciding the business, the two will be able to proceed as if he were present. Concerning judges, however, the ancient laws are to be observed. John Andrew.
The same. So that questions that frequently remain undecided because of an arbiter’s voluntary or malicious absence may be ended more swiftly, we decree that if one of three arbiters chosen by the parties, after being lawfully required by the others, does not take care, no lawful impediment existing, to assemble with them to examine or decide the business concerning which a compromise was made in their favor, the two present—among whom we decree the entire power to remain in that case, although civil law appears to indicate otherwise—can, notwithstanding his malicious or voluntary absence, examine the said business and freely decide it, just as they could if he were present and unwilling to agree with them in one decision. Thus his absence, supplied by the divine presence, is to cause him to be reputed present. Concerning judges, however, we will that the ancient laws not be altered.
Si ex tribus arbitris unus nolit examinando vel diffiniendo negotio interesse: duo procedere poterunt, ac si ille praesens esset. Circa iudices autem antiqua iura serventur. Ioann. Andr.
Idem.
Ut quaestionibus, quae plerumque propter arbitrorum voluntariam seu malitiosam absentiam remanent indecisae, finis celerius imponatur, statuimus, ut, si ex* tribus arbitris a partibus electis eorum aliquis, ab aliis legitime requisitus, ad examinandum vel diffiniendum una cum eis negotium, super quo in ipsos exstitit compromissum, non curaverit, cessante impedimento legitimo, convenire, duo praesentes, penes quos, licet lex civilis aliud innuere videatur, totalem eo casu remanere decernimus potestatem, possint,malitiosa seu voluntaria illius absentia non obstante, dictum examinare negotium et libere diffinire, sicut possent illo praesente, nec volente cum eis in unam sententiam concordare; ut sic ipsius absentia, praesentia repleta divina, eum reputari faciat pro praesente. Circa iudices vero antiqua iura nolumus immutari.