He was apparently referring to the fact that ordained priests could not be prosecuted, and it appears that the tonsure did indeed save many priests from the gallows!
Vesels acīmredzot atsaucās uz faktu, ka priesterus nevarēja tiesāt, un, pēc visa spriežot, tonzūra patiešām daudzus bija paglābusi no karātavām.