Lastly, for private persons, we may read in Suarez, that an heretical King, eafter sentence given against him, is absolutely deprived of his Kingdom, so that he cannot possess it by any just title: and therefore from thenceforth may be handled altogether as a Tyrant; and consequently, he may be killed by any private person. Only the Jesuit addeth this limitation: that fIf the Pope do depose the King, he may be expelled or killed by them only to whom he shall commit that business. But if he enjoin the execution thereof to no body; then it shall appertain to the lawful successor in the Kingdom: or if none such be to be found, it shall belong to the Kingdom it self. But let him once be declared to be a Tyrant; Mariana (Suarez his Country-man and fellow Jesuit) will tell you better how he should be handled. gThat a Tyrant (saith he) may be killed by open force and arms, whether by violent breaking in ⟨p. 46⟩into the Court, or by joining of battle, is a matter confessed: yea, and by deceit and ambushes too, as Ehud did in killing Eglon the King of the Moabites. Indeed it would argue a braver mind to profess open enmity, and publicly to rush in upon the enemy of the Common-wealth: but it is no less prudence, to take advantage by fraud and ambushes, because it is done without stir, and with less danger surely, both public and private. His conclusion is, that hit is lawful to take away his life, by any art whatsoever: with this proviso only, that he be not constrained either wittingly or unwittingly to be the cause of his own death. Where the tenderness of a Jesuits conscience is well worth the observing. He maketh no scruple at all to take away the mans life: only he would advise that he be not made away, by having poison conveyed into his meat or drink, lest in taking hereof (forsooth) he which is to be killed, should by this means have some hand in procuring his own death. iYet poison him you may, if you list, so that the venom be externally applied by some other, he that is to be killed helping nothing thereunto: namely, when the force of the poison is so great, that a seat or garment being infected therewith, it may have strength to kill. And that such means of poisoning hath been used, he proveth by divers practices of the Moors:
Lastly, for priuate persons, wee may reade in Suarez, that an hereticall King, eafter sentence giuen against him, is absolutely depriued of his Kingdome, so that he cannot possesse it by any iust title: and therfore from thenceforth may be handled altogether as a Tyrant; and consequently, hee may bee killed by any priuate person. Onely the Iesuite addeth this limitation: that fIf the Pope doe depose the King, he may be expelled or killed by them onely to whom hee shall commit that businesse. But if he inioyne the execution thereof to no body; then it shall appertaine to the lawfull successor in the Kingdome: or if none such be to be found, it shall belong to the Kingdome it selfe. But let him once be declared to be a Tyrant; Mariana (Suarez his Country-man and fellow Iesuite) will tell you better how hee should bee handled. gThat a Tyrant (saith he) may be killed by open force and armes, whether by violent breaking in ⟨p. 46⟩into the Court, or by ioyning of battell, is a matter confessed: yea, and by deceit and ambushes too, as Ehud did in killing Eglon the King of the Moabites. Indeed it would argue a brauer minde to professe open enmity, and publikely to rush in vpon the enemy of the Common-wealth: but it is no lesse prudence, to take aduantage by fraud and ambushes, because it is done without stirre, and with lesse danger surely, both publike and priuate. His conclusion is, that hit is lawfull to take away his life, by any art whatsoeuer: with this prouiso onely, that he be not constrained either wittingly or vnwittingly to bee the cause of his owne death. Where the tendernesse of a Iesuites conscience is well worth the obseruing. Hee maketh no scruple at all to take away the mans life: onely hee would aduise that hee be not made away, by hauing poyson conueyed into his meat or drinke, lest in taking hereof (forsooth) he which is to be killed, should by this meanes haue some hand in procuring his owne death. iYet poyson him you may, if you list, so that the venome be externally applyed by some other, he that is to bee killed helping nothing thereunto: namely, when the force of the poyson is so great, that a seat or garment being infected therewith, it may haue strength to kill. And that such meanes of poysoning hath been vsed, hee prooueth by diuers practices of the Moores:
- ePost sententi am latam omninò privatur regno, ita ut non possit justo titulo illud possidere: ergo extunc poterit tanquam omninò tyrannus tractari; & consequenter à quocunque privato poterit interfici. Fr. Suarez Defens. fid. Cathol. lib. 6. cap. 4. §. 14.Post sententi am latam omninò priuatur regno, ita vt non possit iusto titulo illud possidere: ergo extunc poterit tanquam omninò tyrannus tractari; & consequenter à quocunque priuato poterit interfici. Fr. Suarez Defens. fid. Cathol. lib. 6. cap. 4. §. 14.
- fSi Papa Regem deponat, ab illis tantùm poterit expelli, vel interfici, qui bus ipse id commiserit. Quod si nulli executionem imperet, pertinebit ad legitimum in regno successorem; vel si nullus inuentus fuerit, ad regnum ipsum spectabit. Id. ibid. § 18.
- gJtaque apertâ vi & armis posse occidi tyrannum, sive impetu in regiam facto, sive commissâ pugnâ, in confesso est. Sed & dolo atque insidijs exceptum: quod fecit Aiod, &c. Est quidem maioris virtutis & animi simultatem apertè exercere, palàm in hostem reipublicae irruere: sed non minoris rudentiae, fraudi & insidijs locum captare, quod sine molu contingat, minori certe periculo publico atque privato. Jo. Mariana, de Reg instit. lib. 1. cap. 7.Jtaque apertâ vi & armis posse occidi tyrannum, siue impetu in regiam facto, siue commissâ pugnâ, in confesso est. Sed & dolo atque insidijs exceptum: quod fecit Aiod, &c. Est quidem maioris virtutis & animi simultatem apertè exercere, palàm in hostem reipublicae irruere: sed non minoris rudentiae, fraudi & insidijs locum captare, quod sine molu contingat, minori certe periculo publico atque priuato. Io. Mariana, de Reg instit. lib. 1. cap. 7.
- hJn eius vitam grassari quacunque art concessum; ne cogatur tantùm sciens aut imprudens sibi conscire mortem. Id. ibid. in fine.Jn eius vitam grassari quacunque arte concessum; ne cogatur tantùm sciens aut imprudens sibi conscire mortem. Id. ibid. in fine.
- iHoc tamen temperamento uti in hâc quidem disputation lícebit, si non ipse qui perimitur venenum haurire cogitur, quo intimis medullis concepto pereat: sed exteriùs ab alio adhibeatur nihil adivvante eo qui perimendus est: nimirum cùm tanta vis est veneni, ut sellâ eo aut veste delibutâ vim interficiendi habeat. Id. ibid.Hoc tamen temperamento vti in hâc quidem disputatione lícebit, si non ipse qui perimitur venenum haurire cogitur, quo intimis medullis concepto pereat: sed exteriùs ab alio adhibeatur nihil adiuuante eo qui perimendus est: nimirum cùm tanta vis est veneni, vt sellâ eo aut veste delibutâ vim interficiendi habeat. Id. ibid.
