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THE

PREFACE.

The usefulness of this Treatise.

Many have tried to explain the Civil Law—whether the laws specific to the Romans or those belonging to other nations—either through large commentaries or by making them accessible through summaries original: epitomes. However, very few have written about that Law which governs most nations and the rulers of various peoples. This law arises from nature, is established by divine authority, or is introduced by custom or tacit unspoken but understood consent. No one has treated this subject universally or systematically, even though such a treatise would be highly beneficial to humanity. The excellence of this science, says Seneca original: Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Stoic philosopher, is seen in treaties original: "leagues", covenants, articles of agreement, and the conditions made between different free peoples and between kings of foreign nations, and in all the rights of war and peace. Indeed, Euripides original: Ancient Greek playwright prefers it above all other knowledge of things either divine or human, saying:

It is useless to boast of things, of gods, or of men,
Past or future, unless you know what is just.

The common error concerning the rights of war.

Book 6.

Indeed, such a book is all the more necessary because we find many people—both in this age and in previous ones—who look down on this part of justice as if it were nothing but an empty name. There is no phrase more common than the words of Euphemus in Thucydides original: Greek historian of the Peloponnesian War: “To imperial kings and cities, nothing that is profitable is unjust.” And also what the Athenians (being then the most powerful party in all Greece) told the Melians: “According to human reason, things are only just when an equal necessity is imposed on both sides; otherwise, the stronger party will do whatever it can and will, and the weaker party must suffer.” It is as if it were in the power of luck original: "fortune" to make oppression just, or as if no commonwealth could be well-governed without injustice. To which they