For the reason that many persons are prone to controversy, and frequently pervert the meaning of the laws; and because it was declared by an ancient law that whenever a master comes upon his slave he may take him; and for the reason that said persons frequently refuse to surrender a fugitive slave, and, under such circumstances, cause delay, that they may have the benefit of the services of said slave for a time; and also, as said delay is entirely useless, and it is unjust that a master, for the sake of a vile slave, should be compelled to remain, for an indefinite period, two or three hundred miles from home; and because such proceedings are rather the result of artifice than of truth; we hereby decree that henceforth, whenever anyone refuses to surrender a fugitive slave to his master, or to the agent of the latter, or rescues him after he has been arrested, he shall be compelled to restore said fugitive to his master, along with four other slaves of equal value; or, if said fugitive should die, he shall be compelled to give his master five slaves of equal value; and if the fugitive should afterwards be found by said person, or by his former master, he shall belong to the latter, and one of those who was given in his stead shall be returned to the donor of the same. And if a slave, without the knowledge of his master, should commit any of the offences hereinbefore described, and his master is willing, he must give two slaves, of equal value, by way of compensation, to the owner of the fugitive; but should he be unwilling to do so, the slave shall be delivered to the owner of the fugitive to be his property forever. The same rule shall apply in the case of female slaves. =ANCIENT LAW.= =XIX. Where a Freeman, or a Slave, Undertakes the Concealment of Robbers.= Any freeman or slave who knowingly conceals robbers, shall be compelled to produce them, and shall receive two hundred lashes with the scourge; and should he not produce them, he shall be liable for the penalty for their crime. =XX. A Judge must Surrender a Fugitive Slave, with all the Property Found in his Possession, to his Master.= Whatever property a judge finds in the possession of a criminal or a fugitive slave, in the absence of him who has a right to claim said criminal or slave, must be delivered to the governor of the city, and kept by him, to be restored to the owner when he arrives. =EGICA, KING.= =XXI. Concerning Fugitive Slaves, and those who Shelter Them.=