But it may be that some one will, in opposition to what has been said, cite to us certain law texts to the effect that when a number of persons or a town sins, even if all or most of them are guilty, yet they should be pardoned. In the _Decretum_ (dist. 50, c. _ut constitueretur_) St. Augustine says, writing to Bonifacius: _Ubi per graves dissentionum scissuras non hujus aut illius hominis periculum sed populorum plurimorum strages jacet, detrahendum est aliquid severitati ut majoribus sanandis malis charitas syncera subveníat_. [26] And (1 q. 7 c. _Quoties_) Pope Innocent, as cited by Gratian, says: _Quoties a populis auta turba peccatur, quia in omnes propter multitudinem vindicari non potest inultum solet transire_. [27] Much to the same effect is what is said by Alexander III (c. _Extra, De clerico excommunicato_), and also by Honorius III (in the last chapter, _De transact._). And the reason for this is that in a multitude or in a town are many innocent persons, and it were a grave injustice to require that they shall suffer the rigorous punishment awarded to the guilty; while it is certain that in a war one suffers as much as the other; and hence, lest the innocent be punished, the guilty should be pardoned. To the objection which cites these testimonies in proof that _parcendum est multitudini_ [28] Castro makes apt reply (lib. 2 _De justa haereticorum punitione_ c. 14), that the proposition is true and applies when the multitude or town purposes amendment, and there is fair hope of the same; but if the case is otherwise, and they persist in their evil ways after being admonished, reason says they shall be punished rigorously. The opposite course would only give them occasion to go on and become more hardened in their sin and misdoing, and cause others, after the example of these, to do the same--that appearing to them to be lawful, when they see that it is not punished. And such is the teaching of c. _Qui vult, de Pænitentia_, 3. 6., attributed to St. Augustine: _Cum enim tot sunt qui labuntur ut pristinam dignitatem ex authoritate defendant et quasi usum peccandi sibi faciant, rescindenda est spes ista_. [29] Then, as these Zambales have many times been warned, and have promised and sworn peace and amends, and have totally defaulted, as we have already said, and have taken occasion, from the lenity shown them, to do greater mischiefs with more boldness--mistaking for timidity the kindliness that we have used toward them--it follows that, numerous though they are, we ought no longer to dissemble with them, but must punish them sternly; for the more numerous they are, the more mischief they do.