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Animal Rights History Timeline » [c485-1450] Medieval Ages » Anonymous

Dives et Pauper

[late 14th c.] Dives et pauper, quoted in Dix Harwood's Love for Animals and How It Developed in Great Britain (New York, 1928)

When God forbade man to eat flesh, he forbade him to slay beasts in any cruel way, or out of any liking for shrewness. Therefore, He said, "Eat ye no flesh with blood (Gen. IX), that is to say, with cruelty: for I shall seek the blood of your souls, and the hands of all beasts." "That is to say: I shall take vengeance for all the beasts that are slain out of cruelty of soul and a liking for shrewness." For God that made all hath of care of all, and He will take vengeance upon all that misuse His creatures. Therefore, Solomon saith, "that He will arm creatures in vengeance on their enemies" (Sap. V); and so men should have thought for birds and beasts and not harm them without cause, in taking regard they are God's creatures. Therefore, they that out of cruelty and vanity behead beasts, and torment beasts or fowl, more than is proper for a man's living, they sin in case full grievously.