§ XXIV
Timely Release of Galley Convicts and True Power
A king must ensure galley convicts are freed as soon as their term expires, recognizing that prolonging detention is inhuman, that expediency cannot excuse injustice, and that true power is only that which is held without wounding justice.
Have you taken care to free every galley convict as soon as the term fixed by justice for his punishment is up?1 The condition of these men is dreadful: nothing is more inhuman than to prolong it beyond the term. Don't say you'd run short of men for the galley crews if this justice were kept: justice is better than the galley crews.2 You should count as true and real power only the power you hold without wounding justice, and without taking what is not yours.
Read the original French
Avez - vous eu soin de faire délivrer chaque galérien d'abord après le terine réglé par la justice pour sa punition. L'état de ces hommes est affreux : rien n'est plus inhumain que de le prolonger audelà du terme. Ne dites pôint qu'on manqueroit d'hommes pour la chiourme si on observoit cette justice : la justice est préférable à la chiourme. Il ne faut compter pour vraie et réelle puissance que celle que vous avez sans blesser la justice, et sans prendre ce qui n'est pas à vous.
Notes
Examen de conscience sur les devoirs de la Royauté companion
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