confessio

confessĭo, ōnis, f. [confiteor], a confession, acknowledgment.

• I In gen. (in good prose; esp. freq. in Cic. and Quint.), with gen. obj.: errati sui, Cic. Div. 1, 17, 33: ignorationis, id. Ac. 1, 12, 44; cf.: inscitiae suae, Quint. 2, 11, 2: captae pecuniae, Cic. Clu. 53, 148: culpae, Liv. 21, 18, 5; 36, 27, 6: paenitentiae, Quint. 11, 1, 76: vitiorum, Tac. A. 2, 33: facinoris, Suet. Tib. 19. —In plur.: cum ad vos indicia, litteras, confessiohes communis exitii detuli, Cic. Sest. 69, 145.—With acc. and inf.: ea erat confessio caput rerum Romam esse, Liv. 1, 45, 3; so id. 2, 7, 7; 42, 47, 8 al.—With pron. pers.: sua, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 47, § 104; 2, 5, 64, § 166; Liv. 28, 40, 11: confessionibus suis, Cic. Cat. 3, 6, 15.—With gen. subj.: illorum, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 40, § 103: inimicorum, id. Red. Quir. 1, 1: omnium, Vell. 2, 43: illa Ciceronis, Quint. 11, 1, 44: adversarii, id. 4, 4, 4; cf. ipsorum, Plin. 9, 7, 6, § 18 al.: extera corporum indubitatas confessiones habent, i. e. proofs of the healing power (of assafoetida), id. 22, 23, 49, § 103.—With de and abl.: immo si actionem stultissimasque de se, nefarias de patre confessiones audisses? Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 2: ipsorum de somno piscium confessio, Plin. 9, 7, 6, § 18.—With abstr. subjects: ea confessionem faciunt, non defensionem, Cato ap. Gell. 7, 3, 15.—
• II Esp.
• • A As a fig. of speech, Quint. 9, 2, 17; 12, 1, 33.—
  • B In eccl. Lat.
  • • 1 A creed, avowal of belief: fidei, Greg. M. Ep. 7, 5: nostra, Vulg. Heb. 3, 1.—
    • 2 An acknowledgment of Christ.
    • • • α In gen., Vulg. Rom. 10, 10.—
        • β Esp., an acknowledgment of Christ under torture; and hence, transf., torture, suffering for religion's sake, Lact. Mort. Pers. 1 init.

cōnfessio, ōnis, f. (confiteor), das Eingeständnis, Zugeständnis, das Geständnis, I) eig.: a) übh., Cic. u.a.: alqm ad confessionem compellere, Suet.: confessio cruciatu exprimitur, Suet.: ea confessionem faciunt (legen ab), non defensionem, Cato fr. – m. subj. Genet. od. Pron. poss., c. illorum, Cic.: c. vultus ac vocis, Quint.: confessione suā urgeri, Cic.: im Plur., Lentulus patefactus indiciis et confessionibus suis, Cic. Cat. 3, 15: se ipsos turpissimis confessionibus produnt, Plin. ep. 8. 18, 3. – m. obj. Genet., c. simplex veritatis, Val. Max.: simplex veri erroris, Cels.: c. inscitiae suae, Quint.: c. errati sui, Cic.: c. facti, Cic.: c. pecuniae captae, Cic.: adducere alqm ad ignorationis confessionem, Cic.: exprimere ab alqo confessionem culpae, Liv.: tormentis exprimere confessionem cogitati facinoris, Suet.: im Plur., ad iudices indicia, litteras, confessiones communis exitii deferre, Cic. Sest. 145. – m. subj. u. obj. Genet., Rhodiensium culpae c., Gell. 6 (7), 3, 24. – m. Ang. in betreff wessen? man eingesteht, durch de u. Abl., immo si actionem stultissimasque de se, nefarias de patre confessiones audisses? Cael. in Cic. ep. 8, 8, 2: ipsorum de somno piscium confessio, Plin. 9, 18. – b) als rhet. Figur, Quint. 9, 2, 17; 12, 1, 33. – II) übtr., das Eingeständnis, Geständnis, Bekenntnis (bes. der Furcht, der Schwäche), das man durch eine Tatsache ablegt, die Anerkennung (s. Fabri Liv. 21, 40, 2), tacitā confessione victus, Liv.: c. fidei, Glaubensbekenntnis, Eccl.: timoris confessionem (hosti) exprimere, Liv. – m. folg. Acc. u. Infin., ea erat confessio (hierin lag das G.) caput rerum Romam esse, Liv.: confessionem factam (man habe das G. abgelegt, habe eingestanden, anerkannt) populi quam consulis maiestatem vimque maiorem esse, Liv.

1 confessio [CL] 1 confession, acknowledgement (of guilt or debt). ~o per metum vel per fraudem extorta non valet (Leg. Hen. 5. 16b) GAS 550; credibile satis est quod in omni narratione ‥ verax es excepta ~one timiditatis Map NC III 2 p. 117; 1241 pro ~one sua et magna suspeccione transgressionis foreste captus fuit et missus ad prisonam SelPlForest 73; 1289 debita ‥ de quibus docuerint ‥ per eorundem debencium ~onem RGasc II 433. 2 (sacrament of) confession (of sin). quia ~onem et paenitentiam vel in morte habuerunt, omnes in die judicii ad regnum caelorum perveniunt Bede HE V 12 p. 308; rex Eadredus aegrotavit et ‥ patrem ~onum suarum Dunstanum accersivit Adel. Blandin. Dunst. 5 (cf. Fl. Worc. I 136); Edredus ‥ nuncios legat qui ‥ Dunstanum accersiant ut sit ultimi arbitrii testis, ~onum susceptor Osb. V. Dunst. 24; c1100 facite ~onem omnium peccatorum vestrorum nominatim ab infantia vestra, quantum recordari potestis Anselm (Ep. 264) IV 179; sacerdotes instituit, qui languentes ‥ quotidie visitarent, ~ones reciperent, viaticum preberent Serlo Gram. Mon. Font. 123; quia ‥ ~onis saluberrimus usus per scripta nec fieri solet nec debet H. Bos. Thom. III 31; de generali ~one sane dici potest quod omnia criminalia semel saltem oportet in ~one exprimi, nisi a mente aliqua exciderint; sed, quia delicta nemo intelligit omnia, generaliter saltem ea confitere quorum memoriam non habes Gir. GE I 37; ~o est ‘fassio cum fide’, sive contritio cum fide Hales Qu. 1066; 1214 (v. audire 5b); 1234 quia ea que in capitulo tractantur sub sigillo ~onis debent celari Vis. Bury 734; assit confĕssio communis, tunsio crebra Garl. Myst. Eccl. 492 (cf. ib. 117: si cor contritum, confessiŏ plena sequatur); s1300 domino priori ‥ fere in mortis articulo constituto ~onem, eukaristiam et alia sacramenta ecclesiastica negaverunt G. Durh. 48; s1356 nec permittere [voluit rex] quod sacerdotem haberent, sed precepit quod coram toto populo suas emitterent ~ones; sicque ipsos non confessos nisi soli Deo fecit ‥ decollari Avesb. 135b; s1370 illo tempore erit tanta penuria sacerdotum secularium propter pestilenciam precedentem quod papa et episcopi solvent illam constitucionem qua cavetur quod fratres non ministrant sacramenta secularibus nisi ~onem (J. Bridl. gl.) Pol. Poems I 210; Wycl. Euch. 333 (v. 2 auricularis 1); Ziz. 386 (v. auriculosus); tunc unusquisque qui non prius conscienciam suam ~one mundaverat arma penitencie sumpsit G. Hen. V 12. 3 confession of faith, profession. [Albanus] Deo ‥ inter sacram ~onem ‥ placens Gildas EB 11; quamlibet expertes effusi sanguinis essent, / sed tamen egregiam meruit confessio palmam Aldh. VirgV 2892; c720 ad venerabilem fratrem ‥ ~onis titulo notatum (Eangyth) Ep. Bonif. 14 p. 24; ubi gentem Nordanhymbrorum cum suo rege ad fidem ~onemque Christi ‥ conversam esse didicit Bede HE II 17 (cf. ib. V 20: in catholicae fidei ~one); a1090 orate ‥ quatenus ‥ Deus ‥ animam meam in sui sancti nominis ~one educat Lanfr. Ep. 43. 539B; c1090 haec tria Christianae ~onis principia ‥ sic ‥ et corde credo et ore confiteor ut certus sim quia quicumque horum aliquid negare voluerit ‥ anathema est Anselm (Ep. 136) III 280; dum ~onis laudem Deo reddimus, in sanctificata solemnitate gaudemus Osb. Bawdsey clxxxi; [Julianus] sic ‥ negavit Christianam fidem ut ‥ sanguine immolato nostrum baptisma studeret ablui et abrenuntiare ecclesiastice ~oni J. Sal. Pol. 801A; potest concors et unanimis approbacio et ~o universalis ecclesie determinacio ecclesie appellari Ockham Pol. III 71; 1444 eis in partibus quibus ‥ [Wilfridus] miraculis claruit et fidem predicando populum in Christi ~one firmavit Lit. Cant. III 188. 4 ‘confession’, crypt or tomb sanctified by relics. [episcopus] ponit tres portiones corporis Domini intus in ~one ‥ et recluduntur intus reliquie Egb. Pont. 46 (cf. ib. 45); locus in quo ‥ orare solebat ‥ crypta quedam erat ‥; qui locus ~onis nomen pro more obtinuit Eadmer V. Osw. 7; ad hec altaria nonnullis gradibus ascendebatur a choro cantorum, quam criptam vel ~onem Romani vocant Id. Rel. S. Audoeni 8; s708 Offa rex ‥ ad ~onem Petri ‥ Romam adiens Ciren. I 228 (cf. Fl. Worc. I 46).

2 confessio v. consessio(a)

cōnfessĭō, (10) ōnis, f. (confiteor), ¶ 1 aveu, confession : alicujus rei Cic. Div. 1, 33, etc., aveu de qqch. ; alicujus Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 103, lʼaveu de qqn ; urgetur confessione sua Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 104, il est accablé par son propre aveu ; confessio de aliqua re Cæl. d. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 2 ; Plin. 9, 18, aveu au sujet de qqch. || [fig. de rhét.] : Quint. 9, 2, 17 ; 12, 1, 33 ¶ 2 action de convenir de, reconnaissance : ea erat confessio, caput rerum Romam esse Liv. 1, 45, 3, cʼétait reconnaître que Rome était la capitale (2, 7, 7 ; 42, 47, 8 ) ; confessionem cedentis ac detrectantis certamen pro victoria habui Liv. 21, 40, 2, jʼai considéré comme une victoire lʼaveu quʼil faisait en se retirant et en refusant le combat.

confessio , onis. f.
承認。吿解。Audire confessiones 聽神工。

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cōnfessiō ōnis, f

• confiteor, a confession, acknowledgment: sua: servorum: confessionibus ipsius patefacta parricidia: ignorationis: captae pecuniae: culpae, L.: ea erat confessio caput rerum Romam esse, L.: tacita, L.

CONFESSIO

CONFES´SIOThe ordinary course of a civil action was summarily interrupted if the defendant, while the case was before the praetor (in jure), made an acknowledgment (confessio) of the plaintiff's claim instead of disputing it (infitiari). From an early time a confession thus made was considered to have the same effect as judgment (confessus pro judicato est); the defendant, by condemning himself, dispensed with the necessity of a trial (judicium), and gave the plaintiff a right to execution. This rule is frequently asserted and referred to in our sources.

It was, as we are informed by Gellius (Noct. Att. 20.1), a provision of the law of the XII. Tables that those who confessed money debts (aeris confessi) and also judgment debtors (judicati) should be liable to personal execution by manus injectio (cf. Muirhead, Hist. Intr. to the Law of Rome, 203-205). When a claim was of uncertain value and the defendant confessed to it, or was adjudged liable, execution could not follow at once, because an ascertained money debt (certa pecunia) was necessary for execution. Hence under the legis actio procedure such a confession or judgment was supplemented by a judicial proceeding for the assessment of damages (litis aestimatio).

The principle of the formulary procedure, which required that a condemnation should be pecuniary in all cases, made it difficult to give the same effect to the confession of an uncertain claim as to condemnation. So the principle that confession is equivalent to judgment seems at first only to have been applicable in this procedure, in case of the acknowledgment of a money debt. If a defendant admitted a claim of uncertain value, pressure was put upon him to make him further acknowledge a liquidated debt (Dig. 42, 2, pr. 1). But in course of time full effect was given to confessio in all cases by means of a formula arbitraria, which was called in some cases actio confessoria (Dig. 9, 2, 23.11). This change, which may have begun as a practice of procedure, was fully recognised by an oratio divi Marci (Dig. 42, 1, 56; 2, 6.2). In the actiones quae infitiando crescunt, such as the Aquilian action and the action on account or a legatum per damnationem, a defendant who did not confess was condemned to pay double damages if he lost the action. The formula for the assessment of damages may have been first introduced in respect to these actions. A confessio had to be made before the praetor in the presence of the plaintiff; impossibility or mistake made confession nugatory. The silence of the defendant was treated as equivalent to admission ( in jure nihil respondere, Lex Rubric, 100.21, 22). Confessio when made at a trial in a civil case before a judex (in judicio) or out of court did not do away with the necessity of judgment, but was only evidence against the defendant. Some writers maintain that confession in criminal cases had also, under certain circumstances, the same effect as confessio in jure in an action; but the better opinion seems to be that confession of a crime at whatever stage in a trial it occurred was only evidence of guilt, though such as would in most cases be conclusive. (Cic. in Verr. 3.5. 6, § 130; Sal. Cat. 52; Suet. Aug. 33.)

The main object of the inquisitorial criminal procedure which grew up under the empire was to discover either by means of torture, by interrogatories or otherwise, whether the defendant could be induced to confess the charge made against him. (Lex Rubria, 100.21, 22; Paul. 5.5 a, § § 2-5; Dig. 42, 2; Cod. Justin. 7.59; Savigny, System, vii. § § 303, &c.; Keller, Civilprocess, § 63; Bethmann-Hollweg, Civilprocess, § 105; G. Demelius, Die Confessio in röm. Civilprocess; Geib, De Confessionis effectu, and Röm. Crim. Proc. pp. 137, 328, 612.)

[E.A.W]