Depriuilegiis militum, et quod sacramento astricti
The Soldier's Vow at the Altar
The military profession is defined by specific immunities and a sacred, tacit commitment to the Church symbolized by the offering of the sword at the altar.
The Church's rights, and why the sword is offered at the altar. The privileges of those who serve in the military are indeed many, and under ancient law, they are quite broad. They have more freedom and enjoy many immunities. They are exempt from forced labor, transport duties, and menial tasks; they are also free to be ignorant of the law. Furthermore, even though they remain under authority, they are permitted to make a will regarding their military earnings, and—most importantly—they are not allowed to suffer from want due to public concern; there is much more of this kind that would take too long to recount. Although some feel they aren't bound to the Church by a formal oath—because, as is often the case, it isn't required by custom—everyone is held accountable to the Church by either a tacit or explicit oath. Perhaps the formality of the oath is omitted for this reason: the necessity of the office and the sincerity of faith invite and compel everyone to this duty. Hence, a solemn custom has taken root: on the very day a man is honored with the military belt, he goes to church, places his sword upon the altar, and offers it. By this act, he makes a kind of public profession, dedicating himself to the service of the altar and pledging to God a life of constant service through his sword—that is, through his office. He doesn't need to profess this in words, since the legitimate profession of his military service is clearly embedded in his actions.
The Moral Discipline of Arms
Drawing on the example of John the Baptist, the soldier is called to reject extortion, false accusation, and greed in favor of contentment with their provision.
After all, who would demand a written profession from an unlettered man who ought to know weapons better than letters? Bishops and abbots seem to be bound to faith and obedience by a written or spoken profession, and they are indeed bound, because it isn't permitted to lie to God. Certainly, what soldiers do is either more or at least not less, for they offer not a document but a sword, and they redeem the first fruits of their office from the altar, so that they may serve the Church forever; for just as the Church does much for them, so they are permitted to do nothing against the Church. Luke reports that soldiers came to John to be baptized, asking, 'Master, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not extort from anyone, do not make false accusations, and be content with your pay.' It is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, fitting for the herald of grace, the proclaimer of truth, and the forerunner of the Lord. For he knew the military hand to be prone to injury, accustomed to plunder, and one for whom their own possessions are never or rarely enough, so that they crave what belongs to others. By forbidding extortion, therefore, he excluded injury, and by excluding false accusation, he wiped out plunder. He also condemned avarice when he commanded everyone to be content with their own pay.
Provision and Duty
The state ensures the soldier is provided for so that he may focus entirely on his duty without the temptation of need.
As has been said, a soldier shouldn't be in need, since while he's on duty he's provided with his pay, and when he's retired, he's provided with land or food from the public treasury for as long as necessity requires.1
Read the original Latin
8unt Ecclesiae et quare gladius offeratur altari. Recte uero militantium priuilegia multa sunt, quae de iure antiquo latius patent. Nam et liberiores sunt et pluribus immunitatibus gaudent. Ab angariis et parangariis et sordidis muneribus alieni, iura quoque licenter ignorant et, licet in potestate sint, in castrensi peculio testari possunt et ex publica solicitudine, quod maximum est, non permittuntur egere, et in hunc modum plurima quae longum est enarrare. Licet autem sint qui sibi non teneri uidentur Ecclesiae ex sacramento solenni, quia iam ex consuetudine plerumque non praestatur, nullus tamen est qui sacramento tacito uel expresso Ecclesiae non teneatur obnoxius. Et forte ideo cessat solennitas iuraraenti, quia ad hoc omnes inuitat et coartat necessitas officii et sinceritas fidei. Vnde iam inoleuit consuetudo solennis ut 6o3 a ea ipsa die, qua quisque militari cingulo decoratur, ecclesiam solenniter adeat gladioque super altare posito et oblato quasi celebri professione facta seipsum obsequio altaris deuoueat et gladii, id est officii sui, iugem Deo spondeat famulatum. Neque necesse est ut hoc profiteatur uerbo, cum legitima professio militiae facto eius uideatur inserta.
Quis enim in homine illitterato et qui magis arma debeat nosse quam litteras professionem exigat litteratam? Nam episcopi et abbates professione scripta uel dicta ad fidem et obedientiam uidentur artari; et reuera artantur, quia Deo mentiri non licet. Sane aut plus est aut non minus quod milites faciunt qui non cedulam sed gladium ofierunt et quasi primitias officii redimunt ab altari; unde Ecclesiae in perpetuum famulentur; nam, sicut eis pro Ecclesia plurimum, ita contra Ecclesiam licet nichil. Refert Lucas quod milites ut baptizarentur accesserunt ad lohannem interrogantes: Magister, quid faciemus et nos Et ait illis: Neminem concutiatis neque calumpniam faciatis; et contenti estote stipendiis uestris. Fidelis sermo et omni acceptione dignus, qui deceat praeambulum gratiae, praeconem ueritatis, Domini praecuvsorem. Nouerat enim manum militarem promptam ad iniurias, rapinis assuetam et cui numquam aut raro sufficiunt sua quin appetat aliena. Concussione ergo prohibita exclusit iniurias, rapinas exterminauit exclusa calumpnia. Auaritiam quoque dampnauit dum praecepit unumquemque contentum esse stipendiis suis.
Sicut enim dictum est, militem egere non licet, cui, dum militat, militiae suae praestantur stipendia et, cum emeritus est, praedia uel alimenta, quoad necessitas exigit, de publico prouidentur.
Notes
- 1 ↩The term 'emeritus' here refers to the soldier who has completed his service, and 'de publico' refers to the public treasury or state provision.
Policraticus companion
Study the argument weekly; pray the tradition daily
Pair the outline with the Chosen Portion app, which serves short daily portions from the same royal devotional tradition — free on iOS.
John of Salisbury argued that rulers must keep the law of God before their eyes daily; Chosen Portion gives modern readers that same daily discipline in five minutes a morning.
- 8 weeks, one book per week, with the 3-4 key chapters flagged in each
- Discussion questions usable for a reading group from week one
- A daily 5-minute companion portion in the app alongside your weekly study