criedthemonk。\"Godforbid！Isaidhemightkillhimprivately，andyouconcludethathemaykillhimtreacherously，asifthatwerethesamething！
Attend，sir，toEscobar’sdefinitionbeforeallowingyourselftospeakagainonthissubject：’Wecallitkillingintreacherywhenthepersonwhoisslainhadnoreasontosuspectsuchafate。He，therefore，thatslayshisenemycannotbesaidtokillhimintreachery，evenalthoughtheblowshouldbegiveninsidiouslyandbehindhisback—licetperinsidiasautatergopercutiat。’Andagain：’Hethatkillshisenemy，withwhomhewasreconciledunderapromiseofneveragainattemptinghislife，cannotbeabsolutelysaidtokillintreachery，unlesstherewasbetweenthemallthestricterfriendship—arctioramicitia。’Youseenowyoudonotevenunderstandwhatthetermssignify，andyetyoupretendtotalklikeadoctor。\"\"Igrantyouthisissomethingquitenewtome，\"Ireplied；
\"andIshouldgatherfromthatdefinitionthatfew，ifany，wereeverkilledintreachery；forpeopleseldomtakeitintotheirheadstoassassinateanybuttheirenemies。Bethisasitmay，however，itseemsthat，accordingtoSanchez，amanmayfreelyslay（Idonotsaytreacherously，butonlyinsidiouslyandbehindhisback）acalumniator，forexample，whoprosecutesusatlaw？\"\"Certainlyhemay，\"returnedthemonk，\"always，however，inthewayofgivingarightdirectiontotheintention：youconstantlyforgetthemainpoint。Molinasupportsthesamedoctrine；andwhatismore，ourlearnedbrotherReginaldmaintainsthatwemaydespatchthefalsewitnesseswhomhesummonsagainstus。And，tocrownthewhole，accordingtoourgreatandfamousfathersTannerandEmanuelSa，itislawfultokillboththefalsewitnessesandthejudgehimself，ifhehashadanycollusionwiththem。HereareTanner’sverywords：’SotusandLessiusthinkthatitisnotlawfultokillthefalsewitnessesandthemagistratewhoconspiretogethertoputaninnocentpersontodeath；butEmanuelSaandotherauthorswithgoodreasonimpugnthatsentiment，atleastsofarastheconscienceisconcerned。’Andhegoesontoshowthatitisquitelawfultokillboththewitnessesandthejudge。\"\"Well，father，\"saidI，\"IthinkInowunderstandprettywellyourprincipleregardingthedirectionoftheintention：butIshouldliketoknowsomethingofitsconsequences，andallthecasesinwhichthismethodofyoursarmsamanwiththepoweroflifeanddeath。
Letusgooverthemagain，forfearofmistake，forequivocationheremightbeattendedwithdangerousresults。Killingisamatterwhichrequirestobewell—timed，andtobebackedwithagoodprobableopinion。Youhaveassuredme，then，thatbygivingaproperturntotheintention，itislawful，accordingtoyourfathers，forthepreservationofone’shonour，orevenproperty，toacceptachallengetoaduel，togiveonesometimes，tokillinaprivatewayafalseaccuser，andhiswitnessesalongwithhim，andeventhejudgewhohasbeenbribedtofavourthem；andyouhavealsotoldmethathewhohasgotablowmay，withoutavenginghimself，retaliatewiththesword。Butyouhavenottoldme，father，towhatlengthhemaygo。\"\"Hecanhardlymistakethere，\"repliedthefather，\"forhemaygoallthelengthofkillinghisman。ThisissatisfactorilyprovedbythelearnedHenriquez，andothersofourfathersquotedbyEscobar，asfollows：’Itisperfectlyrighttokillapersonwhohasgivenusaboxontheear，althoughheshouldrunaway，provideditisnotdonethroughhatredorrevenge，andthereisnodangerofgivingoccasiontherebytomurdersofagrosskindandhurtfultosociety。Andthereasonisthatitisaslawfultopursuethethiefthathasstolenourhonour，ashimthathasrunawaywithourproperty。For，althoughyourhonourcannotbesaidtobeinthehandsofyourenemyinthesamesenseasyourgoodsandchattelsareinthehandsofthethief，stillitmayberecoveredinthesameway—byshowingproofsofgreatnessandauthority，andthusacquiringtheesteemofmen。And，inpointoffact，isitnotcertainthatthemanwhohasreceivedabuffetontheearisheldtobeunderdisgrace，untilhehaswipedofftheinsultwiththebloodofhisenemy？’\"IwassoshockedonhearingthisthatitwaswithgreatdifficultyIcouldcontainmyself；
but，inmyanxietytoheartherest，Iallowedhimtoproceed。\"Nay，\"hecontinued，\"itisallowabletopreventabuffet，bykillinghimthatmeanttogiveit，iftherebenootherwaytoescapetheinsult。Thisopinionisquitecommonwithourfathers。Forexample，Azor，oneofthefour—and—twentyelders，proposingthequestion，’Isitlawfulforamanofhonourtokillanotherwhothreatenstogivehimaslapontheface，orstrikehimwithastick？’replies，’Somesayhemaynot；allegingthatthelifeofourneighbourismorepreciousthanourhonour，andthatitwouldbeanactofcrueltytokillamanmerelytoavoidablow。Others，however，thinkthatitisallowable；andIcertainlyconsideritprobable，whenthereisnootherwayofwardingofftheinsult；for，otherwise，thehonouroftheinnocentwouldbeconstantlyexposedtothemaliceoftheinsolent。’
ThesameopinionisgivenbyourgreatFiliutius；byFatherHereau，inhisTreatiseonHomicide，byHurtadodeMendoza，inhisDisputations，byBecan，inhisSummary；byourFathersFlahautandLecourt，inthosewritingswhichtheUniversity，intheirthirdpetition，quotedatlength，inordertobringthemintodisgrace（thoughinthistheyfailed）；andbyEscobar。
Inshort，thisopinionissogeneralthatLessiuslaysitdownasapointwhichnocasuisthascontested；hequotesagreatmanythatuphold，andnonethatdenyit；andparticularlyPeterNavarre，who，speakingofaffrontsingeneral（andthereisnonemoreprovokingthanaboxontheear），declaresthat’bytheuniversalconsentofthecasuists，itislawfultokillthecalumniator，iftherebenootherwayofavertingtheaffront—exsententiaomnium，licetcontumeliosumoccidere，sialitereainjuriaarcerinequit。’
Doyouwishanymoreauthorities？\"askedthemonk。IdeclaredIwasmuchobligedtohim；Ihadheardrathermorethanenoughofthemalready。But，justtoseehowfarthisdamnabledoctrinewouldgo，Isaid，\"But，father，maynotonebeallowedtokillforsomethingstillless？Mightnotapersonsodirecthisintentionaslawfullytokillanotherfortellingalie，forexample？\"\"Hemay，\"returnedthemonk；\"andaccordingtoFatherBaldelle，quotedbyEscobar，’youmaylawfullytakethelifeofanotherforsaying，\"Youhavetoldalie\"；ifthereisnootherwayofshuttinghismouth。’
Thesamethingmaybedoneinthecaseofslanders。OurFathersLessiusandHereauagreeinthefollowingsentiments：’Ifyouattempttoruinmycharacterbytellingstoriesagainstmeinthepresenceofmenofhonour，andIhavenootherwayofpreventingthisthanbyputtingyoutodeath，mayIbepermittedtodoso？Accordingtothemodernauthors，Imay，andthateventhoughIhavebeenreallyguiltyofthecrimewhichyoudivulge，provideditisasecretone，whichyoucouldnotestablishbylegalevidence。
AndIproveitthus：Ifyoumeantorobmeofmyhonourbygivingmeaboxontheear，Imaypreventitbyforceofarms；andthesamemodeofdefenceislawfulwhenyouwoulddomethesameinjurywiththetongue。
Besides，wemaylawfullyobviateaffrontsand，therefore，slanders。Infine，honourisdearerthanlife；andasitislawfultokillindefenceoflife，itmustbesotokillindefenceofhonour。’There，yousee，areargumentsindueform；thisisdemonstration，sir—notmerediscussion。
And，toconclude，thisgreatmanLessiusshows，inthesameplace，thatitislawfultokillevenforasimplegesture，orasignofcontempt。
’Aman’shonour，’heremarks，’maybeattackedorfilchedawayinvariousways—inallofwhichvindicationappearsveryreasonable；as，forinstance，whenoneofferstostrikeuswithastick，orgiveusaslapontheface，oraffrontuseitherbywordsorsigns—sivepersigna。’\"\"Well，father，\"
saidI，\"itmustbeownedthatyouhavemadeeverypossibleprovisiontosecurethesafetyofreputation；butitstrikesmethathumanlifeisgreatlyindanger，ifanyonemaybeconscientiouslyputtodeathsimplyforadefamatoryspeechorasaucygesture。\"\"Thatistrue，\"hereplied；\"but，asourfathersareverycircumspect，theyhavethoughtitpropertoforbidputtingthisdoctrineintopracticeonsuchtriflingoccasions。Theysay，atleast，’thatitoughthardlytobereducedtopractice—practicevixprobaripotest。’Andtheyhaveagoodreasonforthat，asyoushallsee。\"
\"Oh，Iknowwhatitwillbe，\"interruptedI；\"becausethelawofGodforbidsustokill，ofcourse。\"\"Theydonotexactlytakethatground，\"saidthefather；\"asamatterofconscience，andviewingthethingabstractly，theyholditallowable。\"\"Andwhythen，dotheyforbidit？\"\"Ishalltellyouthat，sir。Itisbecause，werewetokillallthedefamersamongus，weshouldveryshortlydepopulatethecountry。’Although，’saysReginald，’theopinionthatwemaykillamanforcalumnyisnotwithoutitsprobabilityintheory，thecontraryoneoughttobefollowedinpractice；for，inourmodeofdefendingourselves，weshouldalwaysavoiddoinginjurytothecommonwealth；anditisevidentthatbykillingpeopleinthiswaytherewouldbetoomanymurders。’Weshouldbeonourguard，’saysLessius，’lestthepracticeofthismaximprovehurtfultotheState；forinthiscaseitoughtnottobepermitted—tuncenimnonestpermittendus。’\"\"What，father！isitforbiddenonlyasapointofpolicy，andnotofreligion？
Fewpeople，Iamafraid，willpayanyregardtosuchaprohibition，particularlywheninapassion。VeryprobablytheymightthinktheyweredoingnoharmtotheState，byriddingitofanunworthymember。\"\"Andaccordingly，\"
repliedthemonk，\"ourFiliutiushasfortifiedthatargumentwithanother，whichisofnoslenderimportance，namely，’thatforkillingpeopleafterthismanner，onemightbepunishedinacourtofjustice。’\"\"Therenow，father；Itoldyoubefore，thatyouwillneverbeabletodoanythingworththewhile，unlessyougetthemagistratestogoalongwithyou。\"\"Themagistrates，\"
saidthefather，\"astheydonotpenetrateintotheconscience，judgemerelyoftheoutsideoftheaction，whilewelookprincipallytotheintention；
andhenceitoccasionallyhappensthatourmaximsarealittledifferentfromtheirs。\"\"Bethatasitmay，father；fromyours，atleast，onethingmaybefairlyinferred—that，bytakingcarenottoinjurethecommonwealth，wemaykilldefamerswithasafeconscience，providedwecandoitwithasoundskin。But，sir，afterhavingseensowelltotheprotectionofhonour，haveyoudonenothingforproperty？Iamawareitisofinferiorimportance，butthatdoesnotsignify；Ishouldthinkonemightdirectone’sintentiontokillforitspreservationalso。\"\"Yes，\"repliedthemonk；\"andIgaveyouahinttothateffectalready，whichmayhavesuggestedtheideatoyou。Allourcasuistsagreeinthatopinion；andtheyevenextendthepermissiontothosecases’wherenofurtherviolenceisapprehendedfromthosethatstealourproperty；as，forexample，wherethethiefrunsaway。’Azor，oneofourSociety，provesthatpoint。\"\"But，sir，howmuchmustthearticlebeworth，tojustifyourproceedingtothatextremity？\"
\"AccordingtoReginaldandTanner，’thearticlemustbeofgreatvalueintheestimationofajudiciousman。’AndsothinkLaymanandFiliutius。\"
\"But，father，thatissayingnothingtothepurpose；whereamItofind’ajudiciousman’（ararepersontomeetwithatanytime），inordertomakethisestimation？Whydotheynotsettleuponanexactsumatonce？\"
\"Ay，indeed！\"retortedthemonk；\"andwasitsoeasy，thinkyou，toadjustthecomparativevaluebetweenthelifeofaman，andaChristianman，too，andmoney？ItishereIwouldhaveyoufeeltheneedofourcasuists。Showmeanyofyourancientfatherswhowilltellforhowmuchmoneywemaybeallowedtokillaman。Whatwilltheysay，but’Nonoccides—Thoushaltnotkill？’\"\"Andwho，then，hasventuredtofixthatsum？\"Iinquired。
\"OurgreatandincomparableMolina，\"hereplied—\"thegloryofourSociety—
whohas，inhisinimitablewisdom，estimatedthelifeofaman’atsixorsevenducats；forwhichsumheassuresusitiswarrantabletokillathief，eventhoughheshouldrunoff’；andheadds，’thathewouldnotventuretocondemnthatmanasguiltyofanysinwhoshouldkillanotherfortakingawayanarticleworthacrown，orevenless—uniusaurei，velminorisadhucvaloris’；whichhasledEscobartolayitdown，asageneralrule，’thatamanmaybekilledquiteregularly，accordingtoMolina，forthevalueofacrown—piece。’\"\"Ofather，\"criedI；\"wherecanMolinahavegotallthiswisdomtoenablehimtodetermineamatterofsuchimportance，withoutanyaidfromScripture，thecouncils，orthefathers？Itisquiteevidentthathehasobtainedanilluminationpeculiartohimself，andisfarbeyondSt。Augustineinthematterofhomicide，aswellasofgrace。
Well，now，IsupposeImayconsidermyselfmasterofthischapterofmorals；
andIseeperfectlythat，withtheexceptionofecclesiastics，nobodyneedrefrainfromkillingthosewhoinjurethemintheirpropertyorreputation。\"
\"Whatsayyou？\"exclaimedthemonk。\"Doyou，then，supposethatitwouldbereasonablethatthose，whooughtofallmentobemostrespected，shouldalonebeexposedtotheinsolenceofthewicked？Ourfathershaveprovidedagainstthatdisorder；forTannerdeclaresthat’Churchmen，andevenmonks，arepermittedtokill，forthepurposeofdefendingnotonlytheirlives，buttheirproperty，andthatoftheircommunity。’Molina，Escobar，Becan，Reginald，Layman，Lessius，andothers，holdthesamelanguage。Nay，accordingtoourcelebratedFatherLamy，priestsandmonksmaylawfullypreventthosewhowouldinjurethembycalumniesfromcarryingtheirilldesignsintoeffect，byputtingthemtodeath。Care，however，mustalwaysbetakentodirecttheintentionproperly。Hiswordsare：’Anecclesiasticoramonkmaywarrantablykilladefamerwhothreatenstopublishthescandalouscrimesofhiscommunity，orhisowncrimes，whenthereisnootherwayofstoppinghim；if，forinstance，heispreparedtocirculatehisdefamationsunlesspromptlydespatched。For，inthesecircumstances，asthemonkwouldbeallowedtokillonewhothreatenedtotakehislife，heisalsowarrantedtokillhimwhowoulddeprivehimofhisreputationorhisproperty，inthesamewayasthemenoftheworld。’\"\"Iwasnotawareofthat，\"saidI；\"infact，Ihavebeenaccustomedsimplyenoughtobelievetheveryreverse，withoutreflectingonthematter，inconsequenceofhavingheardthattheChurchhadsuchanabhorrenceofbloodshedasnoteventopermitecclesiasticaljudgestoattendincriminalcases。\"\"Nevermindthat，\"hereplied；\"ourFatherLamyhascompletelyprovedthedoctrineIhavelaiddown，although，withahumilitywhichsitsuncommonlywellonsogreataman，hesubmitsittothejudgementofhisjudiciousreaders。Caramuel，too，ourfamouschampion，quotingitinhisFundamentalTheology，p。543。thinksitsocertain，thathedeclaresthecontraryopiniontobedestituteofprobability，anddrawssomeadmirableconclusionsfromit，suchasthefollowing，whichhecalls’theconclusionofconclusions—conclusionumconclusio’：’Thatapriestnotonlymaykillaslanderer，buttherearecertaincircumstancesinwhichitmaybehisdutytodoso—etiamaliquandodebetoccidere。’
Heexaminesagreatmanynewquestionsonthisprinciple，suchasthefollowing，forinstance：’MaytheJesuitskilltheJansenists？’\"\"Acuriouspointofdivinitythat，father！\"criedI。\"IholdtheJanseniststobeasgoodasdeadmen，accordingtoFatherLamy’sdoctrine。\"\"There，now，youareinthewrong，\"saidthemonk：\"Caramuelinferstheveryreversefromthesameprinciples。\"\"Andhowso，father？\"\"Because，\"hereplied，\"itisnotinthepoweroftheJanseniststoinjureourreputation。’TheJansenists，’
sayshe，’calltheJesuitsPelagians，maytheynotbekilledforthat？
No；inasmuchastheJansenistscannomoreobscurethegloryoftheSocietythananowlcaneclipsethatofthesun；onthecontrary，theyhave，thoughagainsttheirintention，enhancedit—occidinonpossunt，quianocerenonpotuerunt。’\"\"Ha，father！dothelivesoftheJansenists，then，dependonthecontingencyoftheirinjuringyourreputation？Ifso，Ireckonthemfarfrombeinginasafeposition；forsupposingitshouldbethoughtintheslightestdegreeprobablethattheymightdoyousomemischief，why，theyarekillableatonce！Youhaveonlytodrawupasyllogismindueform，and，withadirectionoftheintention，youmaydespatchyourmanatoncewithasafeconscience。Thricehappymustthosehotspiritsbewhocannotbearwithinjuries，tobeinstructedinthisdoctrine！Butwoetothepoorpeoplewhohaveoffendedthem！Indeed，father，itwouldbebettertohavetodowithpersonswhohavenoreligionatallthanwiththosewhohavebeentaughtonthissystem。For，afterall，theintentionofthewounderconveysnocomforttothewounded。Thepoormanseesnothingofthatsecretdirectionofwhichyouspeak；heisonlysensibleofthedirectionoftheblowthatisdealthim。AndIambynomeanssurebutapersonwouldfeelmuchlesssorrytoseehimselfbrutallykilledbyaninfuriatedvillainthantofindhimselfconscientiouslystilettoedbyadevotee。Tobeplainwithyou，father，Iamsomewhatstaggeredatallthis；
andthesequestionsofFatherLamyandCaramueldonotpleasemeatall。\"
\"Howso？\"criedthemonk。\"AreyouaJansenist？\"\"Ihaveanotherreasonforit，\"Ireplied。\"YoumustknowIaminthehabitofwritingfromtimetotime，toafriendofmineinthecountry，allthatIcanlearnofthemaximsofyourdoctors。Now，althoughIdonomorethansimplyreportandfaithfullyquotetheirownwords，yetIamapprehensivelestmylettershouldfallintothehandsofsomestraygeniuswhomaytakeintohisheadthatIhavedoneyouinjury，andmaydrawsomemischievousconclusionfromyourpremisses。\"\"Away！\"criedthemonk；\"nofearofdangerfromthatquarter，I’llgiveyoumywordforit。Knowthatwhatourfathershavethemselvesprinted，withtheapprobationofoursuperiors，itcannotbewrongtoreadnordangeroustopublish。\"Iwriteyou，therefore，onthefaithofthisworthyfather’swordofhonour。But，inthemeantime，Imuststopforwantofpaper—notofpassages；forIhavegotasmanymoreinreserve，andgoodonestoo，aswouldrequirevolumestocontainthem。Iam，&；c。TheProvincialLettersofBlaisePascalLETTERVIIIParis，May28，1656