It became the custom of Normandy to insist on forfeiture of estate if the suicide was committed to avoid punishment, and not otherwise.
The Parliament of Toulouse also decided in this manner.
In the 14th century Charles V. imposed this law on all the country under his dominion; and indeed it remained in force in France until 1789, when it was repealed by the National Assembly, because it impeded human liberty of action. Suicide is not a crime in the Code Napoleon.
Yet in the early Christian centuries suicide lingered on as an occasional virtue, either for the purpose of preserving the faith, or to avoid apostacy, to procure the honour of martyrdom, or to retain the crown of virginity: some eminent Christian teachers have considered such deaths desirable. The Roman Catholic Saints Pelagia and Sophronia were examples of canonised suicides; and two widows, Berenice and Prosdocea, are praised by St. Chrysostom for destroying themselves to avoid pollution.
[CHAPTER III.]
NOTABLE SUICIDES.
I.─Mentioned in the Bible.
Abimelech, 1206 B.C., King of the Shechemites. Judges, cap. ix.
Samson, 1120 B.C., Judge of Israel. Judges, cap. xvi.
Saul, 1050 B.C., the first King of Israel. I. Samuel, cap. xxxi.