Polycarpus, Prologus

Cologne, Dombibliothek 126, fol. 3r

Emanuel Gonzalez Tellez (ca. 1625), Commentaria to X 3.1.2, vol. 3, p.6: "et ipsa naturalis ratio permittat ut a periculis nos defendamus, l. Itaque 4. ff. de iustitia et iure (Dig. 1.1.3), unde ius hoc, ut arma armis repellere liceat, a natura comparatum dicitur, l.1 § Vim vi 27 ff. de vi et vi armat (Dig.43.16[15].1.27)  .  .  . Nec obstat dubitandi ratio supra expensa nam a praesenti generali prohibitione necessitatis casus excipiendi sunt ut contra vim tum sibi tum patriae illatam armis sese clerici defendere possint .  .  . Eadem ratione si civitas ab hostibus oppugnatur, clerici arma defensionis causa sumere possunt." (Natural reason permits that we defend ourselves from danger .  .  . consequently the law that it is permitted to repel armed force with armed force is said to be conferred by nature .  .  .  Notwithstanding the reason for doubting this above, in spite of the general prohibition,  cases of necessity must be excepted and clerics may defend themselves and their home land .  .  .  By the same reason if a city is besieged by enemies clerics can take up arms based on the principle of defense.")