Bracton says, "si quis furem
nocturnum occident, ita demum impune foret, si parcere ei sine
periculo suo non potuit, si autem potuit, aliter erit." "Item erit si
quis hamsokne quae dicitur invasio domus contra pacem domini regis in
domo sua se defenderit, et invasor occisus fuerit; impersecutus et
insultus remanebit, si ille quem invasit aliter se defendere non
potuit; dicitur enim quod non est dignus habere pacem qui non vult
observare eam." L. 3. c. 23. 3. "Qui latronem occiderit, non tenetur,
nocturnum vel diurum, si aliter periculum evadere non possit; tenetur
tamen si possit. Item non tenetur si per infortunium, et non animo et
voluntate occidendi, nec dolus, nec culpa ejus inveniatur." L. 3. c.
36. 1. The stat. 24. H. 8. c. 5. is therefore merely declaratory of
the Common law. See on the general subject Puffend. 2. 5. 10. 11.
12. 16. 17. Excusable homicides are by misadventure, or in
self-defence. It is the opinion of some lawyers, that the Common law
punished these with death, and that the statute of Marlbridge c. 26.
and Gloucester, c. 9. first took away this by giving them title to a
pardon, as matter of right, and a writ of restitution of their goods.
See 2. Inst. 148. 315. 3. Inst. 55. Bracton L. 3. c. 4. 2. Fleta L.
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