Diego de Covarrubias y Leyva, De potestate principis in Opera omnia (2 vols. Geneva: 1723) 2.305: Dominium etenim privatum a principe tolli non potest, nisi ex causa utili reipublicae . . . Dominium autem nihil aliud est quam ius disponendi de re ipas . . . Ergo princeps non potest tollere liberam testandi facultatem in rebus propriis privato competentem nec testamentum mutare nec ipsius legibus derogare nisi id ab eo fiat ad publicam utilitatem.”

Therefore the Prince may not take away the right to make a will distributing private property nor can he change a will . . . unless he does so for public utility.