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