(Plautus, Poen.) If the girl was young and apparently respectable, the official sought to influence her to change her mind; failing in this, he issued her a license (licentia stupri), ascertained the price she intended exacting for her favors, and entered her name in his roll.

Once entered there, the name could never be removed, but must remain for all time an insurmountable bar to repentance and respectability.

Failure to register was severely punished upon conviction, and this applied not only to the girl but to the pandar as well.

The penalty was scourging, and frequently fine and exile.

Notwithstanding this, however, the number of clandestine prostitutes at Rome was probably equal to that of the registered harlots.