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BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS 55 4. Concerning the thefts and crimes of slaves, let that form of punishment be followed which is contained in the code of the ancient law. 1. If anyone resists violently in his own defense, let the rule be followed as established in former laws by what means he may be judged in the matter of wounds inflicted by the sword; but it is desirable to define in the present law matters omitted in this constitution relevant to later cases. If therefore anyone breaks another's arm with a blow of stick or stone, and the injured man recovers the use of his limb without any permanent disability, let the doer of the deed be compelled to pay a tenth part of the wergeld, according to the status of the person, just as it is written in former laws. 2. Also if anyone strikes and breaks the shinbone of another by a similar accident, we order the same requirement to be observed in composition for the crime. 3. But if anyone's arm or shinbone has been broken in the abovementioned manner, and he has suffered a clear disability, let that mode of composition be observed which has been decreed in former laws. 4. But if anyone resisting violently in his own cause and defense has committed acts of this sort from necessity,let him, even though he has departed unhurt, be compelled by order of the judge to pay half the established payment according to the degree of blame. XLIX 1. This is established for the welfare and peace of all, that a general definition be set forth relevant to each and every case, so that the counts (comites) and magistrates (praepositi) of the localities, having been instructed adequately, may understand ...

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