THE ENACTMENTS OF JUSTINIAN.
  
THE NOVELS.
~  CXXXVIII  ~
INTEREST SHALL NOT BE CALCULATED FOR AN AMOUNT MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PRINCIPAL.



 
S. P. Scott, The Civil Law, XVII, Cincinnati, 1932 ).
 

 
The Emperor Justinian to Hermogenes, Master of the Offices.
  We have promulgated a law which annuls the right of action to collect a claim when the interest paid by the debtor amounts to more than twice the principal. Hence, where any of your creditors have received from you interest equal to twice the amount of your indebtedness, and others have received less, those who have paid double the sums which were loaned at different times cannot molest you any further, and their claims having been satisfied they can, for this reason, be compelled to remain silent. We decree if the others should bring suit for what is due to them, they can recover the amount of interest stated in their bonds; and when their claims are just, We decree that they shall enjoy the benefit of the present law.