Thus，fathers，itisunquestionablethatyourauthorshavegivenpermissiontokillindefenceofpropertyandhonour，thoughlifeshouldbeperfectlyfreefromdanger。Anditisuponthesameprinciplethattheyauthorizeduelling，asIhaveshownbyagreatvarietyofpassagesfromtheirwritings，towhichyouhavemadenoreply。YouhaveanimadvertedinyourwritingsonlyonasinglepassagetakenfromFatherLayman，whosanctionstheabovepractice，"whenotherwiseapersonwouldbeindangerofsacrificinghisfortuneorhishonour"；andhereyouaccusemewithhavingsuppressedwhatheadds，"thatsuchacasehappensveryrarely。"Youastonishme，fathers：thesearereallycuriousimposturesyouchargemewithal。Youtalkasifthequestionwerewhetherthatisararecase？whentherealquestionisif，insuchacase，duellingislawful？Thesearetwoverydifferentquestions。Layman，inthequalityofacasuist，oughttojudgewhetherduellingislawfulinthecasesupposed；andhedeclaresthatitis。Wecanjudgewithouthisassistancewhetherthecasebearareone；andwecantellhimthatitisaveryordinaryone。Or，ifyoupreferthetestimonyofyourgoodfriendDiana，hewilltellyouthat"thecaseisexceedinglycommon。"But，beitrareornot，andletitbegrantedthatLaymanfollowsinthistheexampleofNavarre，acircumstanceonwhichyoulaysomuchstress，isitnotshamefulthatheshouldconsenttosuchanopinionasthat，topreserveafalsehonour，itislawfulinconsciencetoacceptofachallenge，inthefaceoftheedictsofallChristianstates，andofallthecanonsoftheChurch，whileinsupportofthesediabolicalmaximsyoucanproduceneitherlaws，norcanons，norauthoritiesfromScripture，orfromthefathers，northeexampleofasinglesaint，nor，inshort，anythingbutthefollowingimpioussynogism：
　　"Honourismorethanlife；itisallowabletokillindefenceoflife；
　　thereforeitisallowabletokillindefenceofhonour！"What，fathers！becausethedepravityofmendisposesthemtopreferthatfactitioushonourbeforethelifewhichGodhathgiventhemtobedevotedtohisservice，musttheybepermittedtomurderoneanotherforitspreservation？Tolovethathonourmorethanlifeisinitselfaheinousevil；andyetthisviciouspassion，which，whenproposedastheendofourconduct，isenoughtotarnishtheholiestofactions，isconsideredbyyoucapableofsanctifyingthemostcriminalofthem！
　　Whatasubversionofallprincipleishere，fathers！Andwhodoesnotseetowhatatrociousexcessesitmaylead？Itisobvious，indeed，thatitwillultimatelyleadtothecommissionofmurderforthemosttriflingthingsimaginable，whenone’shonourisconsideredtobestakedfortheirpreservation—murder，Iventuretosay，evenforanapple！Youmightcomplainofme，fathers，fordrawingsanguinaryinferencesfromyourdoctrinewithamaliciousintent，wereInotfortunatelysupportedbytheauthorityofthegraveLessius，whomakesthefollowingobservation，innumber68："Itisnotallowabletotakelifeforanarticleofsmallvalue，suchasforacrownorforanapple—autpropomo—unlessitwouldbedeemeddishonourabletoloseit。Inthiscase，onemayrecoverthearticle，andeven，ifnecessary，killtheaggressor，forthisisnotsomuchdefendingone’spropertyasretrievingone’shonour。"Thisisplainspeaking，fathers；and，justtocrownyourdoctrinewithamaximwhichincludesalltherest，allowmetoquotethefollowingfromFatherHereau，whohastakenitfromLessius："Therightofself—defenceextendstowhateverisnecessarytoprotectourselvesfromallinjury。"
　　Whatstrangeconsequencesdoesthisinhumanprincipleinvolve！andhowimperativeistheobligationlaiduponall，andespeciallyuponthoseinpublicstations，tosettheirfaceagainstit！Notthegeneralgoodalone，buttheirownpersonalinterestshouldengagethemtoseewelltoit；forthecasuistsofyourschoolwhomIhavecitedinmylettersextendtheirpermissionstokillfarenoughtoreacheventhem。Factiousmen，whodreadthepunishmentoftheiroutrages，whichneverappeartotheminacriminallight，easilypersuadethemselvesthattheyarethevictimsofviolentoppression，andwillbeledtobelieveatthesametime，"thattherightofself—defenceextendstowhateverisnecessarytoprotectthemselvesfromallinjury。"Andthus，relievedfromcontendingagainstthechecksofconscience，whichstiflethegreaternumberofcrimesattheirbirth，theironlyanxietywillbetosurmountexternalobstacles。
　　Ishallsaynomoreonthissubject，fathers；norshallIdwellontheothermurders，stillmoreodiousandimportanttogovernments，whichyousanction，andofwhichLessius，incommonwithmanyothersofyourauthors，treatsinthemostunreservedmanner。Itwastobewishedthatthesehorriblemaximshadneverfoundtheirwayoutofhell；andthatthedevil，whoistheiroriginalauthor，hadneverdiscoveredmensufficientlydevotedtohiswilltopublishthemamongChristians。
　　FromallthatIhavehithertosaid，itiseasytojudgewhatacontrarietythereisbetwixtthelicentiousnessofyouropinionsandtheseverityofcivillaws，notevenexceptingthoseofHeathens。
　　Howmuchmoreapparentmustthecontrastbewithecclesiasticallaws，whichmustbeincomparablymoreholythananyother，sinceitistheChurchalonethatknowsandpossessesthetrueholiness！
　　Accordingly，thischastespouseoftheSonofGod，who，inimitationofherheavenlyhusband，canshedherownbloodforothers，butneverthebloodofothersforherself，entertainsahorroratthecrimeofmurderaltogethersingular，andproportionedtothepeculiarilluminationwhichGodhasvouchsafedtobestowuponher。Sheviewsman，notsimplyasman，butastheimageoftheGodwhomsheadores。Shefeelsforeveryoneoftheraceaholyrespect，whichimpartstohim，inhereyes，avenerablecharacter，asredeemedbyaninfiniteprice，tobemadethetempleofthelivingGod。Andthereforesheconsidersthedeathofaman，slainwithouttheauthorityofhisMaker，notasmurderonly，butassacrilege，bywhichsheisdeprivedofoneofhermembers；for，whetherhebeabelieveroranunbeliever，sheuniformlylooksuponhim，ifnotasone，atleastascapableofbecomingone，ofherownchildren。
　　Such，fathers，aretheholyreasonswhich，eversincethetimethatGodbecamemanfortheredemptionofmen，haverenderedtheirconditionanobjectofsuchconsequencetotheChurchthatsheuniformlypunishesthecrimeofhomicide，notonlyasdestructivetothem，butasoneofthegrossestoutragesthatcanpossiblybeperpetratedagainstGod。InproofofthisIshallquotesomeexamples，notfromtheideathatalltheseveritiestowhichIreferoughttobekeptup（forIamawarethattheChurchmayalterthearrangementofsuchexteriordiscipline），buttodemonstrateherimmutablespirituponthissubject。Thepenanceswhichsheordainsformurdermaydifferaccordingtothediversityofthetimes，butnochangeoftimecanevereffectanalterationofthehorrorwithwhichsheregardsthecrimeitself。
　　ForalongtimetheChurchrefusedtobereconciled，tilltheveryhourofdeath，tothosewhohadbeenguiltyofwilfulmurder，asthosearetowhomyougiveyoursanction。ThecelebratedCouncilofAncyraadjudgedthemtopenanceduringtheirwholelifetime；and，subsequently，theChurchdeemeditanactofsufficientindulgencetoreducethattermtoagreatmanyyears。But，stillmoreeffectuallytodeterChristiansfromwilfulmurder，shehasvisitedwithmostseverepunishmenteventhoseactswhichhavebeencommittedthroughinadvertence，asmaybeseeninSt。Basil，inSt。GregoryofNyssen，andinthedecretalsofPopesZacharyandAlexanderII。ThecanonsquotedbyIsaac，bishopofLangres（tr。2。13），"ordainsevenyearsofpenanceforhavingkilledanotherinself—defence。"AndwefindSt。
　　Hildebert，bishopofMans，replyingtoYvesdeChartres，"thathewasrightininterdictingforlifeapriestwhohad，inself—defence，killedarobberwithastone。"
　　Afterthis，youcannothavetheassurancetopersistinsayingthatyourdecisionsareagreeabletothespiritorthecanonsoftheChurch。Idefyyoutoshowoneofthemthatpermitsustokillsolelyindefenceofourproperty（forIspeaknotofcasesinwhichonemaybecalledupontodefendhislife—sesuaquaeliberando）；yourownauthors，and，amongtherest，FatherLamy，confessthatnosuchcanoncanbefound。"Thereisnoauthority，"hesays，"humanordivine，whichgivesanexpresspermissiontokillarobberwhomakesnoresistance。"Andyetthisiswhatyoupermitmostexpressly。Idefyyoutoshowoneofthemthatpermitsustokillinvindicationofhonour，forabuffet，foranaffront，orforaslander。Idefyyoutoshowoneofthemthatpermitsthekillingofwitnesses，judges，ormagistrates，whateverinjusticewemayapprehendfromthem。Thespiritofthechurchisdiametricallyoppositetotheseseditiousmaxims，openingthedoortoinsurrectionstowhichthemobisnaturallyproneenoughalready。Shehasinvariablytaughtherchildrenthattheyoughtnottorenderevilforevil；thattheyoughttogiveplaceuntowrath；tomakenoresistancetoviolence；togiveuntoeveryonehisdue—honour，tribute，submission；toobeymagistratesandsuperiors，eventhoughtheyshouldbeunjust，becauseweoughtalwaystorespectinthemthepowerofthatGodwhohasplacedthemoverus。Sheforbidsthem，stillmorestronglythanisdonebythecivillaw，totakejusticeintotheirownhands；anditisinherspiritthatChristiankingsdeclinedoingsoincasesofhightreason，andremitthecriminalschargedwiththisgraveoffenceintothehandsofthejudges，thattheymaybepunishedaccordingtothelawsandtheformsofjustice，whichinthismatterexhibitacontrasttoyourmodeofmanagementsostrikingandcompletethatitmaywellmakeyoublushforshame。
　　Asmydiscoursehastakenthisturn，IbegyoutofollowthecomparisonwhichIshallnowdrawbetweenthestyleinwhichyouwoulddisposeofyourenemies，andthatinwhichthejudgesofthelanddisposeofcriminals。Everybodyknows，fathers，thatnoprivateindividualhasarighttodemandthedeathofanotherindividual；
　　andthatthoughamanshouldhaveruinedus，maimedourbody，burntourhouse，murderedourfather，andwasprepared，moreover，toassassinateourselves，orruinourcharacter，ourprivatedemandforthedeathofthatpersonwouldnotbelistenedtoinacourtofjustice。Publicofficershavebeenappointedforthatpurpose，whomakethedemandinthenameoftheking，orrather，Iwouldsay，inthenameofGod。Now，doyouconceive，fathers，thatChristianlegislatorshaveestablishedthisregulationoutofmereshowandgrimace？IsitnotevidentthattheirobjectwastoharmonizethelawsofthestatewiththoseoftheChurch，andthuspreventtheexternalpracticeofjusticefromclashingwiththesentimentswhichallChristiansareboundtocherishintheirhearts？Itiseasytoseehowthis，whichformsthecommencementofacivilprocess，muststaggeryou；itssubsequentprocedureabsolutelyoverwhelmsyou。
　　Supposethen，fathers，thattheseofficialpersonshavedemandedthedeathofthemanwhohascommittedalltheabove—mentionedcrimes，whatistobedonenext？Willtheyinstantlyplungeadaggerinhisbreast？No，fathers；thelifeofmanistooimportanttobethusdisposedof；theygotoworkwithmoredecency；thelawshavecommittedit，nottoallsortsofpersons，butexclusivelytothejudges，whoseprobityandcompetencyhavebeendulytried。Andisonejudgesufficienttocondemnamantodeath？No；itrequiressevenattheveryleast；andoftheseseventheremustnotbeonewhohasbeeninjuredbythecriminal，lesthisjudgementshouldbewarpedorcorruptedbypassion。Youareawarealso，fathers，that，themoreeffectuallytosecurethepurityoftheirminds，theydevotethehoursofthemorningtothesefunctions。Suchisthecaretakentopreparethemforthesolemnactionofdevotingafellow—creaturetodeath；inperformingwhichtheyoccupytheplaceofGod，whoseministerstheyare，appointedtocondemnsuchonlyashaveincurredhiscondemnation。
　　Forthesamereason，toactasfaithfuladministratorsofthedivinepoweroftakingawayhumanlife，theyareboundtoformtheirjudgementsolelyaccordingtothedepositionsofthewitnesses，andaccordingtoalltheotherformsprescribedtothem；afterwhichtheycanpronounceconscientiouslyonlyaccordingtolaw，andcanjudgeworthyofdeaththoseonlywhomthelawcondemnstothatpenalty。Andthen，fathers，ifthecommandofGodobligesthemtodeliverovertopunishmentthebodiesoftheunhappyculprits，thesamedivinestatutebindsthemtolookaftertheinterestsoftheirguiltysouls，andbindsthemthemoretothisjustbecausetheyareguilty；sothattheyarenotdelivereduptoexecutiontillaftertheyhavebeenaffordedthemeansofprovidingfortheirconsciences。Allthisisquitefairandinnocent；andyet，suchistheabhorrenceoftheChurchtobloodthatshejudgesthosetobeincapableofministeringatheraltarswhohaveborneanyshareinpassingorexecutingasentenceofdeath，accompaniedthoughitbewiththesereligiouscircumstances；fromwhichwemayeasilyconceivewhatideatheChurchentertainsofmurder。
　　Such，then，beingthemannerinwhichhumanlifeisdisposedofbythelegalformsofjustice，letusnowseehowyoudisposeofit。
　　Accordingtoyourmodernsystemoflegislation，thereisbutonejudge，andthatjudgeisnootherthantheoffendedparty。Heisatoncethejudge，theparty，andtheexecutioner。Hehimselfdemandsfromhimselfthedeathofhisenemy；hecondemnshim，heexecuteshimonthespot；and，withouttheleastrespecteitherforthesoulorthebodyofhisbrother，hemurdersanddamnshimforwhomJesusChristdied；andallthisforthesakeofavoidingablowonthecheek，oraslander，oranoffensiveword，orsomeotheroffenceofasimilarnature，forwhich，ifamagistrate，intheexerciseoflegitimateauthority，werecondemninganytodie，hewouldhimselfbeimpeached；for，insuchcases，thelawsareveryfarindeedfromcondemninganytodeath。Inoneword，tocrownthewholeofthisextravagance，thepersonwhokillshisneighbourinthisstyle，withoutauthorityandinthefaceofalllaw，contractsnosinandcommitsnodisorder，thoughheshouldbereligiousandevenapriest！Wherearewe，fathers？Arethesereallyreligious，andpriests，whotalkinthismanner？AretheyChristians？aretheyTurks？
　　aretheymen？oraretheydemons？Andarethese"themysteriesrevealedbytheLambtohisSociety"？oraretheynotratherabominationssuggestedbytheDragontothosewhotakepartwithhim？
　　Tocometothepoint，withyou，fathers，whomdoyouwishtobetakenfor？—forthechildrenoftheGospel，orfortheenemiesoftheGospel？Youmustberangedeitherontheonesideorontheother；
　　forthereisnomediumhere。"HethatisnotwithJesusChristisagainsthim。"Intothesetwoclassesallmankindaredivided。Thereare，accordingtoSt。Augustine，twopeoplesandtwoworlds，scatteredabroadovertheearth。ThereistheworldofthechildrenofGod，whoformonebody，ofwhichJesusChrististhekingandthehead；andthereistheworldatenmitywithGod，ofwhichthedevilisthekingandthehead。HenceJesusChristiscalledtheKingandGodoftheworld，becausehehaseverywherehissubjectsandworshippers；andhencethedevilisalsotermedinScripturetheprinceofthisworld，andthegodofthisworld，becausehehaseverywherehisagentsandhisslaves。JesusChristhasimposedupontheChurch，whichishisempire，suchlawsashe，inhiseternalwisdom，waspleasedtoordain；
　　andthedevilhasimposedontheworld，whichishiskingdom，suchlawsashechosetoestablish。JesusChristhasassociatedhonourwithsuffering；thedevilwithnotsuffering。JesusChristhastoldthosewhoaresmittenontheonecheektoturntheotheralso；andthedevilhastoldthosewhoarethreatenedwithabuffettokillthemanthatwoulddothemsuchaninjury。JesusChristpronouncesthosehappywhoshareinhisreproach；andthedevildeclaresthosetobeunhappywholieunderignominy。JesusChristsays：Woeuntoyouwhenmenshallspeakwellofyou！andthedevilsays：Woeuntothoseofwhomtheworlddoesnotspeakwithesteem！
　　Judge，then，fathers，towhichofthesekingdomsyoubelong。Youhaveheardthelanguageofthecityofpeace，themysticalJerusalem；andyouhaveheardthelanguageofthecityofconfusion，whichScriptureterms"thespiritualSodom。"Whichofthesetwolanguagesdoyouunderstand？whichofthemdoyouspeak？ThosewhoareonthesideofJesusChristhave，asSt。Paulteachesus，thesamemindwhichwasalsoinhim；andthosewhoarethechildrenofthedevil—expatrediabolo—whohasbeenamurdererfromthebeginning，accordingtothesayingofJesusChrist，followthemaximsofthedevil。Letushear，therefore，thelanguageofyourschool。Iputthisquestiontoyourdoctors：Whenapersonhasgivenmeablowonthecheek，oughtIrathertosubmittotheinjurythankilltheoffender？ormayInotkillthemaninordertoescapetheaffront？
　　Killhimbyallmeans—itisquitelawful！exclaim，inonebreath，Lessius，Molina，Escobar，Reginald，Filiutius，Baldelle，andotherJesuits。IsthatthelanguageofJesusChrist？Onequestionmore：
　　WouldIlosemyhonourbytoleratingaboxontheear，withoutkillingthepersonthatgaveit？"Cantherebeadoubt，"criesEscobar，"thatsolongasamansuffersanothertolivewhohasgivenhimabuffet，thatmanremainswithouthonour？"Yes，fathers，withoutthathonourwhichthedeviltransfuses，fromhisownproudspiritintothatofhisproudchildren。Thisisthehonourwhichhaseverbeentheidolofworldly—mindedmen。Forthepreservationofthisfalseglory，ofwhichthegodofthisworldistheappropriatedispenser，theysacrificetheirlivesbyyieldingtothemadnessofduelling；theirhonour，byexposingthemselvestoignominiouspunishments；andtheirsalvation，byinvolvingthemselvesintheperilofdamnation—aperilwhich，accordingtothecanonsoftheChurch，deprivesthemevenofChristianburial。WehavereasontothankGod，however，forhavingenlightenedthemindofourmonarchwithideasmuchpurerthanthoseofyourtheology。Hisedictsbearingsoseverelyonthissubject，havenotmadeduellingacrime—theyonlypunishthecrimewhichisinseparablefromduelling。Hehaschecked，bythedreadofhisrigidjustice，thosewhowerenotrestrainedbythefearofthejusticeofGod；andhispietyhastaughthimthatthehonourofChristiansconsistsintheirobservanceofthemandatesofHeavenandtherulesofChristianity，andnotinthepursuitofthatphantomwhich，airyandunsubstantialasitis，youholdtobealegitimateapologyformurder。Yourmurderousdecisionsbeingthusuniversallydetested，itishighlyadvisablethatyoushouldnowchangeyoursentiments，ifnotfromreligiousprinciple，atleastfrommotivesofpolicy。Prevent，fathers，byaspontaneouscondemnationoftheseinhumandogmas，themelancholyconsequenceswhichmayresultfromthem，andforwhichyouwillberesponsible。Andtoimpressyourmindswithadeeperhorrorathomicide，rememberthatthefirstcrimeoffallenmanwasamurder，committedonthepersonofthefirstholyman；thatthegreatestcrimewasamurder，perpetratedonthepersonoftheKingofsaints；andthat，ofallcrimes，murderistheonlyonewhichinvolvesinacommondestructiontheChurchandthestate，natureandreligion。
　　IhavejustseentheanswerofyourapologisttomyThirteenthLetter，butifhehasnothingbettertoproduceintheshapeofareplytothatletter，whichobviatesthegreaterpartofhisobjections，hewillnotdeservearejoinder。Iamsorrytoseehimperpetuallydigressingfromhissubject，toindulgeinrancorousabusebothofthelivingandthedead。But，inordertogainsomecredittothestorieswithwhichyouhavefurnishedhim，youshouldnothavemadehimpubliclydisavowafactsonotoriousasthatofthebuffetofCompiegne。Certainitis，fathers，fromthedepositionoftheinjuredparty，thathereceiveduponhischeekablowfromthehandofaJesuit；andallthatyourfriendshavebeenabletodoforyouhasbeentoraiseadoubtwhetherhereceivedtheblowwiththebackorthepalmofthehand，andtodiscussthequestionwhetherastrokeonthecheekwiththebackofthehandcanbeproperlydenominatedabuffet。Iknownottowhattribunalitbelongstodecidethispoint；butshallcontentmyself，inthemeantime，withbelievingthatitwas，tosaytheveryleast，aprobablebuffet。
　　Thisgetsmeoffwithasafeconscience。
　　LETTERXV
　　TOTHEREVERENDFATHERS，THEJESUITSNovember25，1656REVERENDFATHERS，Asyourscurrilitiesaredailyincreasing，andasyouareemployingtheminthemercilessabuseofallpiouspersonsopposedtoyourerrors，Ifeelmyselfobliged，fortheirsakeandthatoftheChurch，tobringoutthatgrandsecretofyourpolicy，whichIpromisedtodisclosesometimeago，inorderthatallmayknow，throughmeansofyourownmaxims，whatdegreeofcreditisduetoyourcalumniousaccusations。Iamawarethatthosewhoarenotverywellacquaintedwithyouareatagreatlosswhattothinkonthissubject，astheyfindthemselvesunderthepainfulnecessity，eitherofbelievingtheincrediblecrimeswithwhichyouchargeyouropponents，or（whatisequallyincredible）ofsettingyoudownasslanderers。"Indeed！"theyexclaim，"werethesethingsnottrue，wouldclergymenpublishthemtotheworld—
　　wouldtheydebauchtheirconsciencesanddamnthemselvesbyventingsuchlibels？"Suchistheirwayofreasoning，andthusitisthatthepalpableproofofyourfalsificationscomingintocollisionwiththeiropinionofyourhonesty，theirmindshanginastateofsuspensebetweentheevidenceoftruth，whichtheycannotgainsay，andthedemandsofcharity，whichtheywouldnotviolate。Itfollowsthatsincetheirhighesteemforyouistheonlythingthatpreventsthemfromdiscreditingyourcalumnies，ifwecansucceedinconvincingthemthatyouhavequiteadifferentideaofcalumnyfromthatwhichtheysupposeyoutohave，andthatyouactuallybelievethatinblackeninganddefamingyouradversariesyouareworkingoutyourownsalvation，therecanbelittlequestionthattheweightoftruthwilldeterminethemimmediatelytopaynoregardtoyouraccusations。
　　This，fathers，willbethesubjectofthepresentletter。Mydesignisnotsimplytoshowthatyourwritingsarefullofcalumnies；Imeantogoastepbeyondthis。Itisquitepossibleforapersontosayanumberoffalsethingsbelievingthemtobetrue；butthecharacterofaliarimpliestheintentiontotelllies。NowIundertaketoprove，fathers，thatitisyourdeliberateintentiontotelllies，andthatitisbothknowinglyandpurposelythatyouloadyouropponentswithcrimesofwhichyouknowthemtobeinnocent，becauseyoubelievethatyoumaydosowithoutfallingfromastateofgrace。ThoughyoudoubtlessknowthispointofyourmoralityaswellasIdo，thisneednotpreventmefromtellingyouaboutit；whichIshalldo，wereitfornootherpurposethantoconvinceallmenofitsexistence，byshowingthemthatIcanmaintainittoyourface，whileyoucannothavetheassurancetodisavowit，withoutconfirming，bythatverydisavowment，thechargewhichIbringagainstyou。ThedoctrinetowhichIalludeissocommoninyourschoolsthatyouhavemaintaineditnotonlyinyourbooks，but，suchisyourassurance，eveninyourpublictheses；as，forexample，inthosedeliveredatLouvainintheyear1645，whereitoccursinthefollowingterms："Whatisitbutavenialsintoculminateandforgefalseaccusationstoruinthecreditofthosewhospeakevilofus？"Sosettledisthispointamongyouthat，ifanyonedaretoopposeit，youtreathimasablockheadandahare—brainedidiot。SuchwasthewayinwhichyoutreatedFatherQuiroga，theGermanCapuchin，whenhewassounfortunateastoimpugnthedoctrine。ThepoormanwasinstantlyattackedbyDicastille，oneofyourfraternity；andthefollowingisaspecimenofthemannerinwhichhemanagesthedispute："Acertainrueful—visaged，bare—footed，cowledfriar—cucullatusgymnopoda—whomIdonotchoosetoname，hadtheboldnesstodenouncethisopinion，amongsomewomenandignorantpeople，andtoallegethatitwasscandalousandperniciousagainstallgoodmanners，hostiletothepeaceofstatesandsocieties，and，inshort，contrarytothejudgementnotonlyofallCatholicdoctors，butofalltrueCatholics。ButinoppositiontohimImaintained，asIdostill，thatcalumny，whenemployedagainstacalumniator，thoughitshouldbeafalsehood，isnotamortalsin，eitheragainstjusticeorcharity：and，toprovethepoint，Ireferredhimtothewholebodyofourfathers，andtowholeuniversities，exclusivelycomposedofthemwhomIhadconsultedonthesubject；andamongothersthereverendFatherJohnGans，confessortotheEmperor；thereverendFatherDanielBastele，confessortotheArchdukeLeopold；FatherHenri，whowaspreceptortothesetwoprinces；allthepublicandordinaryprofessorsoftheuniversityofVienna"（whollycomposedofJesuits）；"alltheprofessorsoftheuniversityofGratz"（allJesuits）；"alltheprofessorsoftheuniversityofPrague"（whereJesuitsarethemasters）；—"fromallofwhomIhaveinmypossessionapprobationsofmyopinions，writtenandsignedwiththeirownhands；besideshavingonmysidethereverendFatherPanalossa，aJesuit，preachertotheEmperorandtheKingofSpain；FatherPilliceroli，aJesuit，andmanyothers，whohadalljudgedthisopiniontobeprobable，beforeourdisputebegan。"Youperceive，fathers，thattherearefewofyouropinionswhichyouhavebeenatmorepainstoestablishthanthepresent，asindeedtherewerefewofthemofwhichyoustoodmoreinneed。Forthisreason，doubtless，youhaveauthenticateditsowellthatthecasuistsappealtoitasanindubitableprinciple。"Therecanbenodoubt，"saysCaramuel，"thatitisaprobableopinionthatwecontractnomortalsinbycalumniatinganother，inordertopreserveourownreputation。Foritismaintainedbymorethantwentygravedoctors，byGaspardHurtado，andDicastille，Jesuits，&；c。；sothat，werethisdoctrinenotprobable，itwouldbedifficulttofindanyonesuchinthewholecompassoftheology。"Wretchedindeedmustthattheologybe，androttentotheverycore，which，unlessithasbeendecidedtobesafeinconsciencetodefameourneighbor’scharactertopreserveourown，canhardlyboastofasafedecisiononanyotherpoint！
　　Hownaturalisit，fathers，thatthosewhoholdthisprincipleshouldoccasionallyputitinpractice！corruptpropensityofmankindleanssostronglyinthatdirectionofitselfthat，theobstacleofconscienceoncebeingremoved，itwouldbefollytosupposethatitwillnotburstforthwithallitsnativeimpetuosity。Ifyoudesireanexampleofthis，Caramuelwillfurnishyouwithonethatoccursinthesamepassage："ThismaximofFatherDicastille，"