He was happy in the so-
ciety of the pious and learned Spanish Canonist Novarro, who at upwards
of ninety had left his country to plead the cause of the injured Carranga
Archbishop of Toledo.
ciety of the pious and learned Spanish Canonist Novarro, who at upwards
of ninety had left his country to plead the cause of the injured Carranga
Archbishop of Toledo.
Sarpi - 1868 - Life of Fra Paolo Sarpi
- Gabriello.
-- The Mo-
rosini. - The Nave d' Oro. - Fra Paolo visits Padua and Pinelli, pleads for
Fra Giulio at Rome.
When Fra Paolo returned to Venice, he found the Republic ill at ease
as to the question of her boundaries, the Pope still occasioned her indirect
vexation; this state of affairs continued during the following year, and it
was visible to the liberal minded Servite, who watched events with greater
eagerness than hitherto, that both at home and abroad, the Pontiff was
acquiring more power. Austria, denied redress at the last council, succumb-
ed to his dictates, gave encouragement to the Jesuits, and treated the
Reformed with intolerance.
Nothing worthy of notice had occurred in the Order of the Servi, with
the exception of the appointment of the Cardinal San Severina in the
room of the Cardinal Farnese; but San Severina had higher views than
the Protectorship, he was anxiously looking forward to the Pontificate.
Fra Paolo had no such ambition, and his friends remarked with surprise
on his not yet having any preferment. He continued his usual occupations,
and attended learned societies as he had formerly done.
There were many learned associations in Italy about this period, besides
those which assembled at the houses of the noble Morosini, Manutii, and
others in Venice. In perpetual dread of the power of the Pope, and denied
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? 46 . THE LIFE OF [A-E- 1582.
liberty of conscience and free expression of thought in public, Italians
congregated together, not only to converse with greater freedom on learn-
ing and science and passing political events, but to endeavor to lay plans
for future emancipation. There can be no doubt but that the check given
in after times to these meetings or Academies was from the known bias
of their members to free thought and action. One of the few which
survives since the time of Sarpi is that of the Crusca, established in
the year 1582; it counted within its ranks many distinguished cha-
racters who, like the present Marchese Capponi, were eminent for their
attainments. Latin had hitherto been the medium of communication
between the learned, but the Crusca was formed with the express inten-
tion of purifying the language of Italy, Fra Paolo was not one of its mem-
bers, they were for the most part Florentines.
It would be presumption in a foreigner to pronounce on his fitness to
be of the Crusca, or of his writing of his native tongue, but if Livy, to
Whom Sarpi has been compared was charged with Patavinity, (the use of
words peculiar to the Paduese) is it probable that a Friar, who usually
wrote in Latin, would wholly avoid Venetian provincialisms?
After long examination and study, reference to the principal universi-
ties and due deliberation on the systems proposed, Gregory XIII, by a
bull dated 13th February A. D. 1582, announced that he had reformed the
Calendar. Y_e_t_a had been consulted, which may have attracted the attention
of Fra Paolo to the subject, but as there is no information relative to his
having shared in its adjustment, the reader is spared surmise.
In the month of April, having relinquished his duties of Provincial
of his Order, Paolo resumed his place in more private life, and Fulgenzio
used often to hear him say, " that the three years which followed was the
only period of repose he ever enjoyed, " but he did not waste his time in
indolence.
" The whole powers of his mind during the remainder of AD. 1582 to
A. D. 1585, were absorbed in speculations on the phenomena of nature,
in perfecting his knowledge of the transmutation of metals, and of distil-
1ation:>>i(ot that he ever supposed that he could make gold, or that any
man of sense could be induced to inquire into this subject, although the
study of alchemy was then common, but his only object was to obtain a
more intimate acquaintance with nature, in regard to which the greatest
physicians of our time can bear witness to his extensive knowledge, and
to the many discoveries which he communicated to others, who thereby
gained honor instead of him. There was no effete or occult property either
in writing or experiment, that he did not see or examine; his knowledge
was beyond all human belief!
" About this time, and for many years after, he practised all kinds of
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? arr. 30. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 47
anatomy, dissecting every species of animal with his own hand. The
anatomy of the eye particularly occupied his attention, so that l'Acqua-
pendente did not disdain to cite the authority of Padre Paolo both in his
lectures and in his printed works, and even spoke of him as " the Oracle
of the Age, " in respect to his general learning, and his knowledge of
minerals, metals, and anatomy. It was a matter of surprise to those who
know the truth, that as l'Acquapendente confesses in his treatise on the
Eye, " De otculo, visus organo " 1 to have learned from him the manner
in which vision is affected by the refraction of light When passing through
the crystalline humour, that he did not throughout his whole treatise
state that all it contains of new and rare speculations are by the Padre, " of
which I, " says F-ulgenzio " am an eye witness, and others ought at least to
have attributed praise to whom it is due, so also in respect to the blood. "
" There are many eminent and learned physicians still living, and of these
Santorio Santorio and Pietro Asselineo, who know that it was neither the
speculation nor invention of l'Acquapendente but of the Padre, who on
considering the gravity of the blood came to this conclusion I that it could
not remain stationary in the veins, without there being some barrier which
would retain it, and by opening and closing should afford that current
which is necessary to life, and therefore, under this opinion} he dissected
with still more care, and found the valves. He gave an account of them
to his friends in the medical profession, especially to l'Acquapendente, who
acknowledged it in his public anatomical lectures, and it was afterwards
acknowledged in the writings of many illustrious authors. " '
The above is the simple statement of Fra Fulgenzio Micanzio, a man
not only of profound learning but of the strictest probity and it is impos-
1 " Re igitur cum amico quodam nostro eommunicata ille tandem forte id
observavit scilicet non modo in cato, sed in homine, et quocunque animali
foramen uveae in majori luce contrahi in minori dilatari. Quod arcanum obser-
vatum est, et mihi significantum a Rev. Patre Magistro Paulo Veneto, Qrdinis
ut appellant Servorum Theologo, Philosophoque insigni, sed Mathematicarum
disciplinarum preecipueque Optices maxime studioso, quem hoe loco honoris
gratia nomino atque id deificeps ad libitum observare licuit quamvis preeter 77/
omnem opinionem id evenire judicaremus, quod lucis natura potlus sit disgre- /4;.
gare, dilatareque, tenebrarum vero constringere, densare et comprimere: at --
ratio omnis cessat, ubi sensus refragatur; quinimo in oculorum atfectionibus et
diminuta visione, cum scilicet ad Oonsultationem de ipsis habendam, oculos
patientis forte in loco non admodum claro videremus, saepe numero id nobis
imposuit cum patientem pupillae dilatatione laborare opinaremur. Etenim non
solum in magna luce foramen imminuitur, in modica dilitatur; sed etiam si quis QL
ob humorum impuritatem diminitute videat, impendio magis adhuc dilatari Z22
apparet ita ut dilatae? pupillae suspicionem facile faciat et injiciat. " -- " De
Oculo/Tisus Organo, " etc. Acquapendente, e. W, p. 229.
2 MS.
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? 48 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1582.
sible, with such testimony, not to believe with the venerable Cavaliere Ci-
cogna and others, that Fra Paolo was the first who traced the true con-
nection of the action of the iris, in its contraction and dilitation, with vi-
sion; and the valves in the veins for the circulation of the blood. There
is no more reason to doubt these assertions by Fulgenzio, than any other
throughout the autograph MS. Let it also be remembered, that Pereisc
was in Italy from A. D. 1599 to A. D. 1602, and at Padua and Venice
during the life of Acquapendente; and that he Pereisc then knew and
said publicly that the valves in the veins had been discovered by Fra
Paolo Sarpi. -
In further support of this fact, Foscarini cites from the life of Pereisc,
by Gassendi; Fabricius Acquapendente obit. 1619. " Cum simul monuis-
sem Guglielmum Harvaeum medicum Anglum edidisse praeclarum librum
de successione sanguinis ex venis in arterias, et arteriis rursus in venas
per imperceptas anastomoses inter cetera vero argumenta confirmasse illam
et venarum valvulis, de quibus ipse (Peireschius) inaudierat aliquid ab
Acquapendente, et quarum inventorem primum Sarpium Servitam memi-
nerat, ideo, " etc. Morgagni disputes this. and affirms that no one during
the life of Acquapendente had the courage to attribute it to Fra Paolo,
and Gassendi adds, that " inaudierat ab Acquapendente, " shows that Pe-
reise judged upon the spot, and purposely expresses the contrary opinion,
and that " meminerat " proves, that then, and in face of Acquapendente,
such was the opinion current in Padua and in Venice. Acquapendente
makes no mention of Sarpi in his Venarum Ostialis, A. D. 1603.
Fra Paolo's study of Anatomy is one of many proofs that he was above
the prejudices of his times, and like his great countrymen Leonardo da
Vinci and Michael Angelo Buonarotti, did not shrink from a minute dis-
section of the dead, but not in public, as we learn from a MS. in the Mar-
ciana. He also traced the study of anatomy to its origin before the
Christian era when the ancients made some attempts at its definition, and
when the successors of Hippocrates, Xenophon and Plato did the same.
It is sufficient for our present purpose not to look beyond the beginning
of the 16th Century. The anatomists who followed Galen, Achilinus,
Benedictus Benegarius and Massa, were succeeded by Vessalius who rose
to high repute in Italy, chiefly through his account of his dissection of the
human body. In A. D. 1561 Fallopius was Professor of Anatomy at Pa-
dua; and the anatomical tables of Eustachius were well known to all
students of medical science. Thus eager in his pursuit after truth Fra
Paolo followed in the steps of former anatomists, and they who have nar-
rowly examined his title to discoveries in anatomy, need not fear the
charge of being listeners to fables. There does not appear to be any truth
in the report that Fra Paolo concealed his discovery of the valves in the
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? mr. 30. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 49
veins, lest he should be accused of magic, and that he confided a volume
to the care of the Friars of the Servi on the day of his death, in which he
had inserted an account of his discovery. No such volume has as yet been
found in the Library of S. Mark's, where it was said that Fra Paolo re-
quested that it should be deposited.
The discovery of the valves in the veins may have led to the discovery
of the circulation of the blood; but till the finding of a treatise, which
Wesling declares he saw, on the discovery of the circulation of the blood '
by Era Paolo, it has not been hitherto proved that he did make this
discovery. To depart from truth to over-eulogize a friend is as injurious
to his character as it is-ignoble to over-charge an adversary with error,
and the biographer of Sarpi need not snatch laurels from the justly adorn-
ed brow of Harvey, who was never slow to acknowledge either the genius
or discoveries of another.
Sprengel is of opinion that Sarpi neither discovered the valves in the
veins, nor the circulation of the blood, ' so is Tiraboschi; but Griselini
differs from both. It is respectfully submitted as to the valves, that
'neither of the above authors could have seen Fulgenzio's autograph
life of Sarpi, and as to the circulation of the blood, the words to which
Valens refers, do not convey more meaning than the opinion of Galen and
his followers, who held " that the blood flowed through the different
parts of the body and returned through the same channels. "
Colombo, the friend of Michael Angelo, Servetus and Cesalpini, all
wrote vaguely on the circulation of the blood. The discovery of Harvey is
now referred to, as Gassendi refers to it in the passage before quoted, and
it is almost unnecessary to add, that the discovery justly imputed to
Harvey, who studied under Acquapendente, is " that the arteries receiving
the blood from the heart afterwards communicate it to the veins, and by
them all the blood is returned again to the heart. " This he first publicly
announced in a lecture in the year 1616. It is the opinion of the modern
physicians in Italy, whom the writer had the opportunity to consult on
the subject, that Sarpi did not discover the circulation of the blood, but
they offered no dissenting opinion as to his discoveries respecting vision,
or the valves in the veins.
Vessalius first gave a scientific description of the human body with
drawings by Titian, and this is the work to which Fra Paolo alludes in
a letter which was in the Schedae Sarpianae. It bore no date. But the
copy of it is interesting, as the transfusion of blood is a subject which
still occupies attention.
It was during this year that Sarpi was again sent to Rome as Defi-
1 Sprengel, vol. xv, p. 32- (History of Medicine).
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? 59 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1582-1585.
nitor, to represent his province in the election of a General. He is silent
on the bigotry of Gregory XIII; perhaps he coincided with the Council
of Ten of 1355, in the suppression of what ought to be forgotten. On
Friday the 17th of April in that year Malier Falier was beheaded. In
the usual course, the minutes of the trial should have been entered on
the 33rd page of that volume, but in their stead we find a blank space
and the words.
" fr. SCBATVR. "
" Be it not written. " '
Such conduct is worthy of imitation. Such be that of the tolerant towards
Gregory. Let him turn to the learning of the Pope, it was not of a kind to
enlarge his views as to religion; he was indefatigable in his preparation
of a new edition of the " Decretals of Gratian. " These Decretals did not
escape the penetration of Sarpi, he was a sound logician, he knew that
truth cannot be deduced from_false premises: throughout his treatise on
Ecclesiastical Benefices, he shows that the changes, innovations, and
additions in the church of Rome had been introduced by the Popes, and
that many abuses had been traced to the Decretals of Gratian, because,
with greater zeal than knowledge, this Benedictine of the twelfth Century
had endeavored " to reconcile " many " contradictory Canons, " and
these being received by the greater part of the Church of Rome as the
infallible decrees of the Pope, the harm that was and is occasioned thereby
is incalculable. Gregory XIII thought to uphold the power of Rome by
his Comments on Gratian, but Sarpi taxes them with inefficiency, as
well as those of Gregory IX, which he says must be allowed to be a
book " much more edifying in the skilful managing of a lawsuit, than in
the salvation of souls. " Again, " Gratian, as well as the other old collectors
of the canons, made a collection of all he thought might most contribute
to the aggrandizing the Papal authority, even to the changing, vitiating,
and even falsifying the places from whence he drew the decision. By
which means he thought he had done his utmost to exalt this power to
the highest pitch it could possibly 'bg_r, and according to the state of
those times he was not mistaken; but a change of circumstances in affairs
made this compilation no longer seasonable; and so to thie decree, or
Decretum of Gratian, which was called after him, succeeded the Decretals,
but neither of which in process of time grew to signify much, the Popes,
as they grew in authority, establishing still new Orders and regulations, so
that neither the Decretum, the Decretal, nor the Sextus were any longer
1 Calendar. R. Brown, Pref. p. 16.
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? . 51'. 30-33;] FRA PAOLO SARPI 51 '
of use as to benefioes; but other rules and methods came in request, as
will appear hereafter. " '
The death of one of the Servi demands attention, the reader will recall
to mind Capella of Cremona, the early instructor of Fra Paolo, a lover of
peace, he faithfully discharged his public duties, and learned in the Holy
Scriptures, he left behind him several theological works, one of which was
on the sacrifice of Christ. He had lived to see his pupil distinguished and
beloved, and like himself devoting many hours to the perusal of the
sacred volume.
The decease of another of Fra Paolo's patrons, the Cardinal Borromeo
gave much regret to the Pope, who exclaimed: " Extincta est lucerna in
Israel. " A few lupins and a plank on which to sleep were all that latterly
the Cardinal had allowed himself, his austerities had so undermined 'his
constitution that at the early age of forty seven he died, and was carried
to the tomb with extraordinary pomp, and afterwards canonized.
Affairs at Rome continued in an agitated state, on the fifth of May
Pope Gregory died, and was succeeded by Sixtus V, who had been ex-
pelled from Venice when Inquisitor General for witholding absolution
from those who had copies of works named in the Index Expurgatorius.
His severity was not laid aside as Pope, but he wished to be on good
terms with Venice; he doubtless remembered her summary treatment of
him. He opened his eyes to many abuses at home and abroad, he renoun-
ced several claims, remodelled the Bull In Coena Domini, and abolished
the Congregation for ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Deceived by various
reforms, Venice appeared content with the new Pope whom she had more
cause to dread, because he was too fond of power. It would be however
unjust to overlook his great talents both in civil and ecclesiastical admi-
nistration, or to omit that he required the Cardinals to participate in the
general amendment. -
Fra Paolo had now attained too great reputation to he suffered to
remain in peace in his Convent. In a general Chapter he was elected
Procurator General of his Order, and during his residence of three years
at Rome, he attracted much notice. His office was to defend the suits of
the Servi, to offer prayers before the Pope, to be employed by him in the
Congregations, and to read a public lecture. At one of these assemblies
Fra Paolo met Bellarmine, and a friendship ensued which does honor
to both. Neither made any compromise as to what he considered truth,
and when the hour did come when they stood opposed to each other,
the noble conduct of Bellarmine cast a deathless lustre around the
character of the Jesuit who dared, even in spite of the opinions of
Possevin and others of his Order, to warn Sarpi that his life was in danger.
Bellarmine was ten years his senior, and learned himself, he appreciated the
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? 52 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1585.
learning of Fra Paolo. In youth he was distinguished for his superior talents,
and in after years as a controversialist. Although short in stature, in letters
he was no dwarfish nephew of Pope Marcellus. He joined the society of the
Jesuits when only eighteen, but he differed materially from that body
as to the doctrine of justification by faith, and in this particular leant to
the opinions of Saint Augustine. He was the first of his Order who
professed theology at the University of Lonvain, and his sermons were
listened to everywhere with marked attention and applause. Although
his countenance was not prepossessing, his manners were courteous and
fascinating: he loved peace, and never joined in harsh measures against
those who differed from him; saying that he valued an ounce of
peace more than a pound of victory. He was remarkable for patience
and great perspicuity of language, both in conversation and in his
Writings, with the exception of those of 1607. He was in great
favor with the Court of Rome where his strict life did not pass unob-
served, and he might have risen to the Pontificate had not the Jesuits
been distasteful to the other Orders. He was employed by Gregory
to instruct the students in the-vast college which the Pope had esta-
blished in Rome, but although he held very exalted views of the Pa-
pacy, yet Sixtus was not satisfied that Bellarmine affirmed (which he did
at one time), that the temporal power of the Pope was indirectly given
by the Holy Saviour to the Pope. Its advocates were still on the increase.
The papal Nuncios at Paris and at Venice approved of the attempt on
the life of Queen Elizabeth of England, and Cardinal Allen advocated
the regicide of an excommunicated prince, contending that it was lawful.
Such were the opinions against- which Fra Paolo had to strive, but it
must have been consolatory to him to know, that they were unwelcome at
Venice and at Rome, where he Was still detained.
He was happy in the so-
ciety of the pious and learned Spanish Canonist Novarro, who at upwards
of ninety had left his country to plead the cause of the injured Carranga
Archbishop of Toledo. Notwithstanding the extraordinary severity of
'the Cardinal San Severina, on his return to Rome, Paolo found him as
before well pleased with himself, but still wont to tell others who did
not contradict him, " that they were flatterers, and those who opposed
him and boldly gave their reasons for their opposition, that they were too
free and daring. "
But of 'all the friends of Fra Paolo at Rome, to none was his society
more acceptable than to the Cardinal Castagna, afterwards Pope Ur-
ban VII, whose life and similarity of disposition were the probable cause
of their amity. The Cardinal ever Welcomed Fra Paolo with a smile,
and the more frequent Were his visits, the more was the Cardinal well
satisfied. '
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? 81'. 33. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 53
From him Fra Paolo obtained information as to his History of the
Council of Trent; the Cardinal Castagna had been President at the forma-
tion of the decrees of that Council. "But the decrees," wrote Sarpi,
" do not agree with what the Congregation of Cardinals dictated as to the
Council. "
Paolo listened to all he heard concerning this subject, and made notes
on it, but this was not his only occupation, he appears usually to have
followed out some scientific pursuit when called to any city for the affairs
of the Servi, and thus we find that on the occasion of his going to Naples to
attend a Chapter of his Order, he became acquainted with della Porta, to
whom the discovery of the Camera Obscura is attributed. A meeting of
learned and scientific persons was held at his house, of which no one could
be a member unless he had made some new discovery; of all the members,
Sarpi was he who made the greatest research on the properties of the
magnet.
Besides da Porta of Naples, another associate also of Fra Paolo at
Rome demands notice. It is uncertain which of the original Jesuits he
met at Rome, but Fra Fulgenzio believed that he was Bobadilla, of whose
holy simplicity Fra Paolo spoke with pleasure, and it must have been
very gratifying to his devout mind to have seen this aged man at prayer
in places remote from the haunts of man. They frequently conversed, and
Bobadilla told Fra Paolo freely, " That had Ignatius returned to earth,
he would have found his Order in such 'a state that he would not have
recognized it as that Order which he had founded. " Bobadilla was one
of the seven persons who, at the instigation of Ignatius Loyola, took
a solemn vow at the Church of Montmartre, that after they had finis-
hed a course of theology, they would renounce the world, live in
poverty, labor for the glory of God and the good of souls, preach the
gospel to -the infidel, and if unable to fulfil this vow, they agreed
to offer their services to the Pope,_Ir-ivice in two years they renewed
their vows at Montmartre. Bobadilla remained steadfast to Loyola,
and when the latter summoned the ten (the seven had increased
to this number) to Venice, 1537, Bobadilla accompanied the others
habited as a pilgrim, all his worldly 'goods in a knapsack on his
back, and his Bible, breviary and rosary suspended around his neck.
He had intended to accompany Loyola and the little company to
Jerusalem, but he was hindered by the war between Turkey and
Venetia, and the ten went to Rome, 1538, Where they met with
great opposition from the Cardinal Giudici on account of the vast
increase of new Orders. At length Paul III approved the Society of
Jesuits by a bull dated the 27th of September 1540, but with this
proviso, that their number should not exceed sixty persons. The Jesuits
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? 54 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1585.
professed poverty, but their profession and practice were at variance.
Loyola was created General of the Order on the 14th of March 1541,
and by a second bull of Paul III, the Society was allowed to be
composed of unlimited numbers, with liberty not only to make any
additions to the former constitutions, but also to change them ad
Mbitum. Many other privileges were also granted to Loyola, who
demanded and enforced a stricter obedience than had ever been re-
quired or exacted from any members of any monastic body. Pope
Julius III confirmed the privileges of the Jesuits, on the 22nd of
October 1552. In lb55 Loyola died, but not before he liad seen
his Society overspread the world. Roderigo and Xavier had the
Indies for their province; Faber, Germany; Aranez, Spain; Lainez Pas-
quier and Bobadilla, Italy; the seventh was sent with some youths to
France; Salmeron to Great Britain and Ireland, and several to Ame-
rica. In 1543 there were only eighty eight Jesuits, in 1545 they had
ten religious houses, in 1549 they had two provinces, one in Portugal,
and twenty two houses, in 1556 twelve provinces.
There can be no doubt ofthe honesty of Ignatius Loyola, his er-
rors were the result of a neglected education and a heated imagination,
usurping command over a weaker judgment. This is very evident in
his work called" Spiritual Exercises. " Sarpi never charged Loyola
with the intrigues and errors of his followers, but he did not hesitate
to condemn his theology. It was opposed to the theology of the Holy
Scriptures and of Saint Augustine.
Devotion to Ignatius appeared to be the mainspring of the obedience of
his followers, and the world witnessed= a self-abnegation founded on the
observation of the Spiritual Exercises which was a just cause of astonish-
ment. Ignatius aimed at nothing less than the spread of his Society, and
an entire subjugation of the will, understanding, and affection of each
member to him and to each successive General. The Jesuits were not a
body of which the members were actuated by separate impulse, one pulse
vibrated through the whole. The General could command the whole body
or the least member, equally certain that his command was law that
must be implicitly obeyed. The constitutions enlarged and recast (it is
believed by Lainez) certainly tended to the absolute bondage of the
conscience, it was made over to another, in strict parlance that so-
vereign was hurled from his throne, and the man was led captive
by another, until the hour when that dethroned sovereign asserted
its forgotten rights, and demanded to be reinstated in its high place.
But by long habitude and training, the conscience Was oftimes lul-
led to sleep, and the Jesuits were almost unconsiously slaves and ac-
customed by degrees to a novel and farlulty svstem of morals and of
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? ET. 33. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 55
theologynjhey did what once they would have been loath to do,
not because they judged it to be right, but because it was their
duty to obey their superior, when for the weal of the Pope or of the
Church. Men 'so sworn to the interests of the Court of Rome were
justly feared by Fra Paolo Sarpi, and this is the reason why their rise
and progress have been entered into here. They formed an important
feature of his times, and the reader will mark the different path of
these Reformers and of Sarpi. To a lover of free thought, of liberty of
conscience, of integrity, and of justice like him the Jesuits were op'-
POSe(l,'IlTB sighed for true reform within the Church of Rome, and
saw the Jesuits assume the name of Reformed when he knew they had
no right to such a title. Any reform which would tend to an abroga-
tion of their novel doctrines was distasteful to an Order who were the
servants of the Popes, or rather of the Papacy, for some of the Pon-
tiffs did not approve of the Jesuits, and in later times the Order was
abolished by Clement XIV ' who partook largely of the opinions of
Sarpi as to the reform of the Church of Rome. Of the reformed Church
and its members whom the Jesuits deemed "heretics" they were the
opponents, and as they ignored all human ties, their hearts were steeled
against the voice of supplication. Sarpi, both in his letters and other
writings, complains bitterly of their obduracy. They were strict obser-
vers of human nature, and were distinguished for their tact, address,
and good manners. They were generally of pleasing exterior, and to
this " letter of recommendation" ' they added considerable power of
bending those whom they addressed to their purpose.
About the year 1556, the Jesuits had obtained such knowledge
of state affairs at Venice through the confessional, that it was se-
riously mooted that they should be banished from the city; but they
used all their talents and skill in persuasion to remain, and effected
their purpose, the Senators contenting themselves' with forbidding their
wives and daughters to confess to them, though unfortunately some of
the Senators at a later period had recourse themselves to these attrac-
tive but unsafe teachers. We shall have occasion to notice their pro-
gress from time to time, their first introduction to Venice was sin-
gular. Duriug the infancy of Fra Paolo, Trevisano was Doge, he was
a good but superstitious man, and many years previous to his holding
the highest office in the state he lived in' S. Marco. It is said that he
dreamed that a saint stood at his door. He awoke, went to it, and
found Loyola. Trevisano sheltered him, presented him to the Doge
1 Restored by Pius VII.
2 Lord Bacon.
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? 56 THE LIFE OF [A. E. 1587.
Gritti, who gave him a free passage to Palestine, but Trevisano did
not know the effect of that introduction, it was not long before the
Jesuits made Venice a stronghold. The genius and intelligence of
the Venetians would be a powerful instrument to the Society, and it
was not neglected, but they never Won Fra Paolo to be one of their
number.
The heart of Fra Paolo was_deeply touched by the war against the
Reformed in Germany and in France. How would he have been glad-
dened had Henry III remembered the parting advice given to him by
the Doge and Senate, to sheath his sword against his subjects, whose
only demand was in liberty of conscience to serve their God. It is a
spot of earth on which the eye loves to rest, that where the tolerant
Servite craved of Heaven's High King, thatfi would permit a gen-
tler rule, and it may well be believed that all the persecutions and
misery that Fra Paolo either saw or heard of for the sake of religion,
not only awakened his deepest sympathy, but nerved him for the con-
test which he was one day to wage against papal aggression and
wrong.
He had many objects of interest; books and rare MSS. which few
saw were open to him/for example, he was at Rome when the Codex
Amiatinus, was borrowed for the correction of the Sixtine Bible. ' Fra
Paolo speaks of the readings of Sixtus, but not in commendation; the
edition of the Scriptures published by this Pope. was too much in ac-
cordance with the papal interpretation of the volume to be approved by
an unprejudiced scholar. Sixtus published not only an edition of the
Vulgate, but a Bible in the Italian language against the wishes of the
Cardinals. To the people the Sacred Book was still prohibited, which was
a source of regret to Fra Paolo because there were Bibles of Venice 1471,
1477, and 1481, and Brucciolo's of 1541, and it must never be lost sight of
in his biography, that the Holy Scriptures were his guide in life, his con-
solation in afiiiction, his refuge in danger, his support in death.
Sixtus had made large additions to the Library of the Vatican, which
at the end of the sixteenth century was esteemed the richest public library
in the world, and Fra Paolo availed himself of its treasures, Ilia chief
families of Rome had also amassed many volumes, and the learned honor-
ed him by presents of books. His eagerness to see works lately published,
or that he had not previously met with, is apparent throughout his let-
ters, and as his reputation increased, authors were ambitions to send their
1 The New Testament of this valuable Copy of the Latin Vulgate was published
by Dr. Tischendorf, and the whole is about to be prepared for publication by
Dr. Heyse an accurate German scholar for Brockhaus Leipzig. The Codex was
restored A. D. 1590, and is now in the Laurentian Library.
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? A? '1'. 35. ] ERA PAOLO SARPI 57
'-wwwm
works to him, and to await his opinion of them before they were sent to
the press.
When the usual term of his office as Procurator was completed, Fra
Paolo retraced his steps to Venice. Poor he had entered the vast city
of Rome, poor he quitted it, but he had gained deep insight into the
policy of Sixtus V, he had seen that although there were men of deep
religious thought at his Court yet there was scarcely any advancement
but through intrigue, the liberality of his sentiments was even then sus-
pected, as the issue proved, notwithstanding his silence and prudence. He
was little likely to follow the faulty precepts of those desirous of place, he
had early shown that a Court was uncongenial to him, and the Court of
Rome partook too much of the nature of other Courts to be relished by a
man whose highest ambition was to follow the steps of a King whose
kingdom is not of this world. " Regnum meum non est de hoc mondo, "
was often repeated by him. Nor could his non-reception of the doctrines
of the Jesuits pass unnoticed at Romejhey had the power by means of
constant confession as well as otherwise, of discovering the most hidden
secrets, and as Fra Paolo was acquainted with Bobadilla and Bellarmine,
either they or other members of their Society knew his opinion of it.
It has been well observed that among those who dwelt within the walls
of convents and monasteries, " religion was usually either all or nothing, "
/issuredly, that in such institutions there have been reared many of su-
perior talent and vast acquirements, of great and varied science and
extensive erudition, men of whom human nature might be justly proud, is
a fact which needs no proof, but it is equally true, that within these walls
have been found others in whom that life of seclusion has fostered the
worst passions; who first corrupted by idleness have brooded over mis-
chievous designs from which they would once have recoiled, until carried
on from step to step by ambition, love of gain, or other evil incentives
they have come to feel no compunction even in jeopardizing the life of an
innocent person. '
But lest the reader suppose from this that in the narrative which follows
concerning Gabriello there is any desire to overcharge the failings of an
enemy of Fra Paolo, we quote from the faithful pen of Fra Fulgenzio.
" The latter part of the charge of Fra Paolo as Procurator at Rome was
during the early part of the Pontificate of Sixtus V, who having been
himself a Friar, knew those among the Friars who were remarkable for
their talents. And knowing the Padre's genius, he eniployed him in the
Congregations and in other affairs more than had been usually done. On one
occasion when the Pope was being carried on his litter through the streets,
he summoned P. Paolo to him and conversed with him for some time.
Although the subject of this conversation was nothing more than some me-
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? as THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1587-
morials against the Generals of the Order of the Servi, this unusual oc-
currence was remarked by the whole Court, and it was quickly rumoured
how much the Padre was in favor with the Pontiff. Idle gossip had already
created him a Cardinal. But the flattering incident, which he had never
sought or coveted, entailed on him a long and harassing persecution. On
first leaving Venice, he had commended his friends to the counsel and
direction of Gabriello Colissoni, who had formerly been associated with
him in the removal of certain abuses from the Provinces. But it often
happens that what we condemn in others we justify in ourselves, and as
Gabriello's ruling, principal passion was self interest, he carried on a
system of extortion during the Padre's absence from his Province to such
excess, as to acquire there an almost absolute power. There remained in
fact but one impediment in his way: the expectation of the Padre's speedy
return to Venice, by whom he knew such malpractices would not be ap-
proved. He therefore thought his safest course would be to endeavour to
persuade him to remain at Rome, and to this object he at once 'applied
himself, and procured some of the Padre's best friends to advise him that
by a further sojourn his credit at the Court of Rome might probably ad-
vance his fortunes. But the Padre, not only reproved him for the advice,
but to cut short the correspondence, answered him once for all by a letter
written in cypher (the same which was usually employed between them)
in these words; " Would you have me place confidence in Rome, where"
only " Cenedi " and other ministers of pleasure or of gain prosper? "
This unfortunate letter and the cypher with it were carefully treasured
up by Gabriello, and when at the end of three years the Padre returned
to his Convent, he found the extortions of Gabriello throughout the Pro-
vince had been carried to such an excess as he could not possibly sanc-
tion. A venal countenance of them was however obtained with some diffi-
culty, and at a cost of no less than 20,000 . Ducats, part of the accumu-
. lated plunder, from some who were paying court to the Cardinal S. Se-
verina; and when at last the Padre expressed his disapproval, Gabriello
at once came to an open rupture with him. Then it was, that to save
himself and carry his point, Gabriello, who was already in favor with
the Court, and, which is yet more surprising, especially With the Car-
dinal Protector, at that time Head of the Holy Office, presented to
that Court the letter of the Padre and its cypher above mentioned.
On this the Cardinal, though he did not venture to cite the Padre
before the Inquisition, evinced the most implacable anger, and as the
multitude always veer with the wind as it changes, although Fra Paolo,
seeing the abuses in his Province were now incurable, withdrew from all
further concern in its government to the privacy of his cell, he became
from this time a constant mark for persecution, if not in his own person
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? ar. 35. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 69
(where it was difiicult to find a vulnerable point), yet in the person of his
friends, who were not only excluded from degrees and honors on the
most trifling pretences, but every fault, even the most venial, was ma-
gnified into a mortal sin. " '
No doubt, this letter and cypher were never forgotten at the Court of
Rome. The resentment of such a spirit as that of the Cardinal S. Seve-
rina was no light matter, but he had not at present declared himself
openly against Fra Paolo. Perhaps conscience might have admonished
him how strictly true had been the stricture against Rome expressed in
the Padre's letter, whom all her blandishments had not been able to
seduce from the path of honor and rectitude. '
At all events, the tide of public opinion was not wholly against him.
He had still many friends, friends even within the " Council of the Ten,"
friends within the Senate, friends among the nobles, friends among the
merchants, citizens and people. Free and independant Venice was still
proud of Fra Paolo, and had any ventured to carry that letter before the
Inquisition at Venice, the charge would have fallen utterly powerless,
for the Republic still required three of her patricians to be present
there to see justice done, and to control the papal officials. In all
Venice there never was found one noble capable of dragging Fra
Paolo before the Inquisition. Rome reserved to herself the shame of de-
manding his presence before that most iniquitous tribunal, a tribunal
against which the outraged people of Naples, Mantua and many others
towns of Italy had often risen, but were powerless till modern times to
effect its destruction.
The Republic, or more properly speaking the Doge and Senate, knew all
that was going on at Rome, and the treachery of Gabriello had doubtless
been communicated to them by their Ambassador at that city, but it had
created no prejudice in their minds against Fra Paolo, and he was still
welcomed as usual by his friends at the Ridotto Morosini, an interesting
association which is thus described by one who frequented it. " This con-
versazione had become numerous, not only as men of Worth and letters
made it their resort, some of whom have since become distinguished Sena-
tors and stars in the firmament of the most serene Republic, but all vir-
tuosi, seculars and men of religious orders were admitted, as well as all
lovers of literature who came to Venice from Italy or from any other
country. . . Ceremony which in our times is so much affected, and yet is so
superfluous, was debarred: because it wearies the brains of the most quick
sighted and consumes time by an artificial method of telling untruths,
unmeaning because it means so much. But politeness, freedom and confi-
1 MS.
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? 60 _ THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1588.
dence prevailed, each person was permitted to introduce his own subject,
without any restriction as to passing from one topic to another, thus
there was always new matter, the object in discussion being the discovery
of truth.
Whatever subject was introduced, Paolo could not only discourse on
it without premeditation, but was equally ready to maintain a proposition,
or to impugn it, after the manner of the schools. This he did to the sur-
prise of all present, and if in his riper years any one recalled these thing
to his remembrance, he smiled and treated them as trifles. "
The illustrious Andrea Morosini and Sarpi had been school-fellows as
well as companions in their maturer years, and the courteous manners, as
well as the learning of the Servite, could not fail to ensure respect under
the roof of the future senator and historian of Venice. The calm dignified
and grave but not morose expression, which pervades the portrait of
Morosini is but a faithful mirror of the mind of that eloquent and distin-
guished patriot. Deep thought dwells in that steadfast eye, and the whole
countenance as well as the bearing of the head bespeak, not only high birth,
but noble qualities.
Another member of the society was Leonardo Donato, he too
had been the school-fellow of Fra Paolo, and had studied at Bologna
and at Padua. He was a man of prudent and upright character, loyal
to his God and to his country. He had beensent on several embassies
to foreign powers, had given promise of the wisdom of his future career,
and no one could so well inform the society at the Morosini of the
state of affairs at the Court of Rome as Donato, who had resided
there officially.
rosini. - The Nave d' Oro. - Fra Paolo visits Padua and Pinelli, pleads for
Fra Giulio at Rome.
When Fra Paolo returned to Venice, he found the Republic ill at ease
as to the question of her boundaries, the Pope still occasioned her indirect
vexation; this state of affairs continued during the following year, and it
was visible to the liberal minded Servite, who watched events with greater
eagerness than hitherto, that both at home and abroad, the Pontiff was
acquiring more power. Austria, denied redress at the last council, succumb-
ed to his dictates, gave encouragement to the Jesuits, and treated the
Reformed with intolerance.
Nothing worthy of notice had occurred in the Order of the Servi, with
the exception of the appointment of the Cardinal San Severina in the
room of the Cardinal Farnese; but San Severina had higher views than
the Protectorship, he was anxiously looking forward to the Pontificate.
Fra Paolo had no such ambition, and his friends remarked with surprise
on his not yet having any preferment. He continued his usual occupations,
and attended learned societies as he had formerly done.
There were many learned associations in Italy about this period, besides
those which assembled at the houses of the noble Morosini, Manutii, and
others in Venice. In perpetual dread of the power of the Pope, and denied
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? 46 . THE LIFE OF [A-E- 1582.
liberty of conscience and free expression of thought in public, Italians
congregated together, not only to converse with greater freedom on learn-
ing and science and passing political events, but to endeavor to lay plans
for future emancipation. There can be no doubt but that the check given
in after times to these meetings or Academies was from the known bias
of their members to free thought and action. One of the few which
survives since the time of Sarpi is that of the Crusca, established in
the year 1582; it counted within its ranks many distinguished cha-
racters who, like the present Marchese Capponi, were eminent for their
attainments. Latin had hitherto been the medium of communication
between the learned, but the Crusca was formed with the express inten-
tion of purifying the language of Italy, Fra Paolo was not one of its mem-
bers, they were for the most part Florentines.
It would be presumption in a foreigner to pronounce on his fitness to
be of the Crusca, or of his writing of his native tongue, but if Livy, to
Whom Sarpi has been compared was charged with Patavinity, (the use of
words peculiar to the Paduese) is it probable that a Friar, who usually
wrote in Latin, would wholly avoid Venetian provincialisms?
After long examination and study, reference to the principal universi-
ties and due deliberation on the systems proposed, Gregory XIII, by a
bull dated 13th February A. D. 1582, announced that he had reformed the
Calendar. Y_e_t_a had been consulted, which may have attracted the attention
of Fra Paolo to the subject, but as there is no information relative to his
having shared in its adjustment, the reader is spared surmise.
In the month of April, having relinquished his duties of Provincial
of his Order, Paolo resumed his place in more private life, and Fulgenzio
used often to hear him say, " that the three years which followed was the
only period of repose he ever enjoyed, " but he did not waste his time in
indolence.
" The whole powers of his mind during the remainder of AD. 1582 to
A. D. 1585, were absorbed in speculations on the phenomena of nature,
in perfecting his knowledge of the transmutation of metals, and of distil-
1ation:>>i(ot that he ever supposed that he could make gold, or that any
man of sense could be induced to inquire into this subject, although the
study of alchemy was then common, but his only object was to obtain a
more intimate acquaintance with nature, in regard to which the greatest
physicians of our time can bear witness to his extensive knowledge, and
to the many discoveries which he communicated to others, who thereby
gained honor instead of him. There was no effete or occult property either
in writing or experiment, that he did not see or examine; his knowledge
was beyond all human belief!
" About this time, and for many years after, he practised all kinds of
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? arr. 30. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 47
anatomy, dissecting every species of animal with his own hand. The
anatomy of the eye particularly occupied his attention, so that l'Acqua-
pendente did not disdain to cite the authority of Padre Paolo both in his
lectures and in his printed works, and even spoke of him as " the Oracle
of the Age, " in respect to his general learning, and his knowledge of
minerals, metals, and anatomy. It was a matter of surprise to those who
know the truth, that as l'Acquapendente confesses in his treatise on the
Eye, " De otculo, visus organo " 1 to have learned from him the manner
in which vision is affected by the refraction of light When passing through
the crystalline humour, that he did not throughout his whole treatise
state that all it contains of new and rare speculations are by the Padre, " of
which I, " says F-ulgenzio " am an eye witness, and others ought at least to
have attributed praise to whom it is due, so also in respect to the blood. "
" There are many eminent and learned physicians still living, and of these
Santorio Santorio and Pietro Asselineo, who know that it was neither the
speculation nor invention of l'Acquapendente but of the Padre, who on
considering the gravity of the blood came to this conclusion I that it could
not remain stationary in the veins, without there being some barrier which
would retain it, and by opening and closing should afford that current
which is necessary to life, and therefore, under this opinion} he dissected
with still more care, and found the valves. He gave an account of them
to his friends in the medical profession, especially to l'Acquapendente, who
acknowledged it in his public anatomical lectures, and it was afterwards
acknowledged in the writings of many illustrious authors. " '
The above is the simple statement of Fra Fulgenzio Micanzio, a man
not only of profound learning but of the strictest probity and it is impos-
1 " Re igitur cum amico quodam nostro eommunicata ille tandem forte id
observavit scilicet non modo in cato, sed in homine, et quocunque animali
foramen uveae in majori luce contrahi in minori dilatari. Quod arcanum obser-
vatum est, et mihi significantum a Rev. Patre Magistro Paulo Veneto, Qrdinis
ut appellant Servorum Theologo, Philosophoque insigni, sed Mathematicarum
disciplinarum preecipueque Optices maxime studioso, quem hoe loco honoris
gratia nomino atque id deificeps ad libitum observare licuit quamvis preeter 77/
omnem opinionem id evenire judicaremus, quod lucis natura potlus sit disgre- /4;.
gare, dilatareque, tenebrarum vero constringere, densare et comprimere: at --
ratio omnis cessat, ubi sensus refragatur; quinimo in oculorum atfectionibus et
diminuta visione, cum scilicet ad Oonsultationem de ipsis habendam, oculos
patientis forte in loco non admodum claro videremus, saepe numero id nobis
imposuit cum patientem pupillae dilatatione laborare opinaremur. Etenim non
solum in magna luce foramen imminuitur, in modica dilitatur; sed etiam si quis QL
ob humorum impuritatem diminitute videat, impendio magis adhuc dilatari Z22
apparet ita ut dilatae? pupillae suspicionem facile faciat et injiciat. " -- " De
Oculo/Tisus Organo, " etc. Acquapendente, e. W, p. 229.
2 MS.
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? 48 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1582.
sible, with such testimony, not to believe with the venerable Cavaliere Ci-
cogna and others, that Fra Paolo was the first who traced the true con-
nection of the action of the iris, in its contraction and dilitation, with vi-
sion; and the valves in the veins for the circulation of the blood. There
is no more reason to doubt these assertions by Fulgenzio, than any other
throughout the autograph MS. Let it also be remembered, that Pereisc
was in Italy from A. D. 1599 to A. D. 1602, and at Padua and Venice
during the life of Acquapendente; and that he Pereisc then knew and
said publicly that the valves in the veins had been discovered by Fra
Paolo Sarpi. -
In further support of this fact, Foscarini cites from the life of Pereisc,
by Gassendi; Fabricius Acquapendente obit. 1619. " Cum simul monuis-
sem Guglielmum Harvaeum medicum Anglum edidisse praeclarum librum
de successione sanguinis ex venis in arterias, et arteriis rursus in venas
per imperceptas anastomoses inter cetera vero argumenta confirmasse illam
et venarum valvulis, de quibus ipse (Peireschius) inaudierat aliquid ab
Acquapendente, et quarum inventorem primum Sarpium Servitam memi-
nerat, ideo, " etc. Morgagni disputes this. and affirms that no one during
the life of Acquapendente had the courage to attribute it to Fra Paolo,
and Gassendi adds, that " inaudierat ab Acquapendente, " shows that Pe-
reise judged upon the spot, and purposely expresses the contrary opinion,
and that " meminerat " proves, that then, and in face of Acquapendente,
such was the opinion current in Padua and in Venice. Acquapendente
makes no mention of Sarpi in his Venarum Ostialis, A. D. 1603.
Fra Paolo's study of Anatomy is one of many proofs that he was above
the prejudices of his times, and like his great countrymen Leonardo da
Vinci and Michael Angelo Buonarotti, did not shrink from a minute dis-
section of the dead, but not in public, as we learn from a MS. in the Mar-
ciana. He also traced the study of anatomy to its origin before the
Christian era when the ancients made some attempts at its definition, and
when the successors of Hippocrates, Xenophon and Plato did the same.
It is sufficient for our present purpose not to look beyond the beginning
of the 16th Century. The anatomists who followed Galen, Achilinus,
Benedictus Benegarius and Massa, were succeeded by Vessalius who rose
to high repute in Italy, chiefly through his account of his dissection of the
human body. In A. D. 1561 Fallopius was Professor of Anatomy at Pa-
dua; and the anatomical tables of Eustachius were well known to all
students of medical science. Thus eager in his pursuit after truth Fra
Paolo followed in the steps of former anatomists, and they who have nar-
rowly examined his title to discoveries in anatomy, need not fear the
charge of being listeners to fables. There does not appear to be any truth
in the report that Fra Paolo concealed his discovery of the valves in the
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? mr. 30. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 49
veins, lest he should be accused of magic, and that he confided a volume
to the care of the Friars of the Servi on the day of his death, in which he
had inserted an account of his discovery. No such volume has as yet been
found in the Library of S. Mark's, where it was said that Fra Paolo re-
quested that it should be deposited.
The discovery of the valves in the veins may have led to the discovery
of the circulation of the blood; but till the finding of a treatise, which
Wesling declares he saw, on the discovery of the circulation of the blood '
by Era Paolo, it has not been hitherto proved that he did make this
discovery. To depart from truth to over-eulogize a friend is as injurious
to his character as it is-ignoble to over-charge an adversary with error,
and the biographer of Sarpi need not snatch laurels from the justly adorn-
ed brow of Harvey, who was never slow to acknowledge either the genius
or discoveries of another.
Sprengel is of opinion that Sarpi neither discovered the valves in the
veins, nor the circulation of the blood, ' so is Tiraboschi; but Griselini
differs from both. It is respectfully submitted as to the valves, that
'neither of the above authors could have seen Fulgenzio's autograph
life of Sarpi, and as to the circulation of the blood, the words to which
Valens refers, do not convey more meaning than the opinion of Galen and
his followers, who held " that the blood flowed through the different
parts of the body and returned through the same channels. "
Colombo, the friend of Michael Angelo, Servetus and Cesalpini, all
wrote vaguely on the circulation of the blood. The discovery of Harvey is
now referred to, as Gassendi refers to it in the passage before quoted, and
it is almost unnecessary to add, that the discovery justly imputed to
Harvey, who studied under Acquapendente, is " that the arteries receiving
the blood from the heart afterwards communicate it to the veins, and by
them all the blood is returned again to the heart. " This he first publicly
announced in a lecture in the year 1616. It is the opinion of the modern
physicians in Italy, whom the writer had the opportunity to consult on
the subject, that Sarpi did not discover the circulation of the blood, but
they offered no dissenting opinion as to his discoveries respecting vision,
or the valves in the veins.
Vessalius first gave a scientific description of the human body with
drawings by Titian, and this is the work to which Fra Paolo alludes in
a letter which was in the Schedae Sarpianae. It bore no date. But the
copy of it is interesting, as the transfusion of blood is a subject which
still occupies attention.
It was during this year that Sarpi was again sent to Rome as Defi-
1 Sprengel, vol. xv, p. 32- (History of Medicine).
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? 59 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1582-1585.
nitor, to represent his province in the election of a General. He is silent
on the bigotry of Gregory XIII; perhaps he coincided with the Council
of Ten of 1355, in the suppression of what ought to be forgotten. On
Friday the 17th of April in that year Malier Falier was beheaded. In
the usual course, the minutes of the trial should have been entered on
the 33rd page of that volume, but in their stead we find a blank space
and the words.
" fr. SCBATVR. "
" Be it not written. " '
Such conduct is worthy of imitation. Such be that of the tolerant towards
Gregory. Let him turn to the learning of the Pope, it was not of a kind to
enlarge his views as to religion; he was indefatigable in his preparation
of a new edition of the " Decretals of Gratian. " These Decretals did not
escape the penetration of Sarpi, he was a sound logician, he knew that
truth cannot be deduced from_false premises: throughout his treatise on
Ecclesiastical Benefices, he shows that the changes, innovations, and
additions in the church of Rome had been introduced by the Popes, and
that many abuses had been traced to the Decretals of Gratian, because,
with greater zeal than knowledge, this Benedictine of the twelfth Century
had endeavored " to reconcile " many " contradictory Canons, " and
these being received by the greater part of the Church of Rome as the
infallible decrees of the Pope, the harm that was and is occasioned thereby
is incalculable. Gregory XIII thought to uphold the power of Rome by
his Comments on Gratian, but Sarpi taxes them with inefficiency, as
well as those of Gregory IX, which he says must be allowed to be a
book " much more edifying in the skilful managing of a lawsuit, than in
the salvation of souls. " Again, " Gratian, as well as the other old collectors
of the canons, made a collection of all he thought might most contribute
to the aggrandizing the Papal authority, even to the changing, vitiating,
and even falsifying the places from whence he drew the decision. By
which means he thought he had done his utmost to exalt this power to
the highest pitch it could possibly 'bg_r, and according to the state of
those times he was not mistaken; but a change of circumstances in affairs
made this compilation no longer seasonable; and so to thie decree, or
Decretum of Gratian, which was called after him, succeeded the Decretals,
but neither of which in process of time grew to signify much, the Popes,
as they grew in authority, establishing still new Orders and regulations, so
that neither the Decretum, the Decretal, nor the Sextus were any longer
1 Calendar. R. Brown, Pref. p. 16.
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? . 51'. 30-33;] FRA PAOLO SARPI 51 '
of use as to benefioes; but other rules and methods came in request, as
will appear hereafter. " '
The death of one of the Servi demands attention, the reader will recall
to mind Capella of Cremona, the early instructor of Fra Paolo, a lover of
peace, he faithfully discharged his public duties, and learned in the Holy
Scriptures, he left behind him several theological works, one of which was
on the sacrifice of Christ. He had lived to see his pupil distinguished and
beloved, and like himself devoting many hours to the perusal of the
sacred volume.
The decease of another of Fra Paolo's patrons, the Cardinal Borromeo
gave much regret to the Pope, who exclaimed: " Extincta est lucerna in
Israel. " A few lupins and a plank on which to sleep were all that latterly
the Cardinal had allowed himself, his austerities had so undermined 'his
constitution that at the early age of forty seven he died, and was carried
to the tomb with extraordinary pomp, and afterwards canonized.
Affairs at Rome continued in an agitated state, on the fifth of May
Pope Gregory died, and was succeeded by Sixtus V, who had been ex-
pelled from Venice when Inquisitor General for witholding absolution
from those who had copies of works named in the Index Expurgatorius.
His severity was not laid aside as Pope, but he wished to be on good
terms with Venice; he doubtless remembered her summary treatment of
him. He opened his eyes to many abuses at home and abroad, he renoun-
ced several claims, remodelled the Bull In Coena Domini, and abolished
the Congregation for ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Deceived by various
reforms, Venice appeared content with the new Pope whom she had more
cause to dread, because he was too fond of power. It would be however
unjust to overlook his great talents both in civil and ecclesiastical admi-
nistration, or to omit that he required the Cardinals to participate in the
general amendment. -
Fra Paolo had now attained too great reputation to he suffered to
remain in peace in his Convent. In a general Chapter he was elected
Procurator General of his Order, and during his residence of three years
at Rome, he attracted much notice. His office was to defend the suits of
the Servi, to offer prayers before the Pope, to be employed by him in the
Congregations, and to read a public lecture. At one of these assemblies
Fra Paolo met Bellarmine, and a friendship ensued which does honor
to both. Neither made any compromise as to what he considered truth,
and when the hour did come when they stood opposed to each other,
the noble conduct of Bellarmine cast a deathless lustre around the
character of the Jesuit who dared, even in spite of the opinions of
Possevin and others of his Order, to warn Sarpi that his life was in danger.
Bellarmine was ten years his senior, and learned himself, he appreciated the
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? 52 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1585.
learning of Fra Paolo. In youth he was distinguished for his superior talents,
and in after years as a controversialist. Although short in stature, in letters
he was no dwarfish nephew of Pope Marcellus. He joined the society of the
Jesuits when only eighteen, but he differed materially from that body
as to the doctrine of justification by faith, and in this particular leant to
the opinions of Saint Augustine. He was the first of his Order who
professed theology at the University of Lonvain, and his sermons were
listened to everywhere with marked attention and applause. Although
his countenance was not prepossessing, his manners were courteous and
fascinating: he loved peace, and never joined in harsh measures against
those who differed from him; saying that he valued an ounce of
peace more than a pound of victory. He was remarkable for patience
and great perspicuity of language, both in conversation and in his
Writings, with the exception of those of 1607. He was in great
favor with the Court of Rome where his strict life did not pass unob-
served, and he might have risen to the Pontificate had not the Jesuits
been distasteful to the other Orders. He was employed by Gregory
to instruct the students in the-vast college which the Pope had esta-
blished in Rome, but although he held very exalted views of the Pa-
pacy, yet Sixtus was not satisfied that Bellarmine affirmed (which he did
at one time), that the temporal power of the Pope was indirectly given
by the Holy Saviour to the Pope. Its advocates were still on the increase.
The papal Nuncios at Paris and at Venice approved of the attempt on
the life of Queen Elizabeth of England, and Cardinal Allen advocated
the regicide of an excommunicated prince, contending that it was lawful.
Such were the opinions against- which Fra Paolo had to strive, but it
must have been consolatory to him to know, that they were unwelcome at
Venice and at Rome, where he Was still detained.
He was happy in the so-
ciety of the pious and learned Spanish Canonist Novarro, who at upwards
of ninety had left his country to plead the cause of the injured Carranga
Archbishop of Toledo. Notwithstanding the extraordinary severity of
'the Cardinal San Severina, on his return to Rome, Paolo found him as
before well pleased with himself, but still wont to tell others who did
not contradict him, " that they were flatterers, and those who opposed
him and boldly gave their reasons for their opposition, that they were too
free and daring. "
But of 'all the friends of Fra Paolo at Rome, to none was his society
more acceptable than to the Cardinal Castagna, afterwards Pope Ur-
ban VII, whose life and similarity of disposition were the probable cause
of their amity. The Cardinal ever Welcomed Fra Paolo with a smile,
and the more frequent Were his visits, the more was the Cardinal well
satisfied. '
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? 81'. 33. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 53
From him Fra Paolo obtained information as to his History of the
Council of Trent; the Cardinal Castagna had been President at the forma-
tion of the decrees of that Council. "But the decrees," wrote Sarpi,
" do not agree with what the Congregation of Cardinals dictated as to the
Council. "
Paolo listened to all he heard concerning this subject, and made notes
on it, but this was not his only occupation, he appears usually to have
followed out some scientific pursuit when called to any city for the affairs
of the Servi, and thus we find that on the occasion of his going to Naples to
attend a Chapter of his Order, he became acquainted with della Porta, to
whom the discovery of the Camera Obscura is attributed. A meeting of
learned and scientific persons was held at his house, of which no one could
be a member unless he had made some new discovery; of all the members,
Sarpi was he who made the greatest research on the properties of the
magnet.
Besides da Porta of Naples, another associate also of Fra Paolo at
Rome demands notice. It is uncertain which of the original Jesuits he
met at Rome, but Fra Fulgenzio believed that he was Bobadilla, of whose
holy simplicity Fra Paolo spoke with pleasure, and it must have been
very gratifying to his devout mind to have seen this aged man at prayer
in places remote from the haunts of man. They frequently conversed, and
Bobadilla told Fra Paolo freely, " That had Ignatius returned to earth,
he would have found his Order in such 'a state that he would not have
recognized it as that Order which he had founded. " Bobadilla was one
of the seven persons who, at the instigation of Ignatius Loyola, took
a solemn vow at the Church of Montmartre, that after they had finis-
hed a course of theology, they would renounce the world, live in
poverty, labor for the glory of God and the good of souls, preach the
gospel to -the infidel, and if unable to fulfil this vow, they agreed
to offer their services to the Pope,_Ir-ivice in two years they renewed
their vows at Montmartre. Bobadilla remained steadfast to Loyola,
and when the latter summoned the ten (the seven had increased
to this number) to Venice, 1537, Bobadilla accompanied the others
habited as a pilgrim, all his worldly 'goods in a knapsack on his
back, and his Bible, breviary and rosary suspended around his neck.
He had intended to accompany Loyola and the little company to
Jerusalem, but he was hindered by the war between Turkey and
Venetia, and the ten went to Rome, 1538, Where they met with
great opposition from the Cardinal Giudici on account of the vast
increase of new Orders. At length Paul III approved the Society of
Jesuits by a bull dated the 27th of September 1540, but with this
proviso, that their number should not exceed sixty persons. The Jesuits
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? 54 THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1585.
professed poverty, but their profession and practice were at variance.
Loyola was created General of the Order on the 14th of March 1541,
and by a second bull of Paul III, the Society was allowed to be
composed of unlimited numbers, with liberty not only to make any
additions to the former constitutions, but also to change them ad
Mbitum. Many other privileges were also granted to Loyola, who
demanded and enforced a stricter obedience than had ever been re-
quired or exacted from any members of any monastic body. Pope
Julius III confirmed the privileges of the Jesuits, on the 22nd of
October 1552. In lb55 Loyola died, but not before he liad seen
his Society overspread the world. Roderigo and Xavier had the
Indies for their province; Faber, Germany; Aranez, Spain; Lainez Pas-
quier and Bobadilla, Italy; the seventh was sent with some youths to
France; Salmeron to Great Britain and Ireland, and several to Ame-
rica. In 1543 there were only eighty eight Jesuits, in 1545 they had
ten religious houses, in 1549 they had two provinces, one in Portugal,
and twenty two houses, in 1556 twelve provinces.
There can be no doubt ofthe honesty of Ignatius Loyola, his er-
rors were the result of a neglected education and a heated imagination,
usurping command over a weaker judgment. This is very evident in
his work called" Spiritual Exercises. " Sarpi never charged Loyola
with the intrigues and errors of his followers, but he did not hesitate
to condemn his theology. It was opposed to the theology of the Holy
Scriptures and of Saint Augustine.
Devotion to Ignatius appeared to be the mainspring of the obedience of
his followers, and the world witnessed= a self-abnegation founded on the
observation of the Spiritual Exercises which was a just cause of astonish-
ment. Ignatius aimed at nothing less than the spread of his Society, and
an entire subjugation of the will, understanding, and affection of each
member to him and to each successive General. The Jesuits were not a
body of which the members were actuated by separate impulse, one pulse
vibrated through the whole. The General could command the whole body
or the least member, equally certain that his command was law that
must be implicitly obeyed. The constitutions enlarged and recast (it is
believed by Lainez) certainly tended to the absolute bondage of the
conscience, it was made over to another, in strict parlance that so-
vereign was hurled from his throne, and the man was led captive
by another, until the hour when that dethroned sovereign asserted
its forgotten rights, and demanded to be reinstated in its high place.
But by long habitude and training, the conscience Was oftimes lul-
led to sleep, and the Jesuits were almost unconsiously slaves and ac-
customed by degrees to a novel and farlulty svstem of morals and of
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? ET. 33. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 55
theologynjhey did what once they would have been loath to do,
not because they judged it to be right, but because it was their
duty to obey their superior, when for the weal of the Pope or of the
Church. Men 'so sworn to the interests of the Court of Rome were
justly feared by Fra Paolo Sarpi, and this is the reason why their rise
and progress have been entered into here. They formed an important
feature of his times, and the reader will mark the different path of
these Reformers and of Sarpi. To a lover of free thought, of liberty of
conscience, of integrity, and of justice like him the Jesuits were op'-
POSe(l,'IlTB sighed for true reform within the Church of Rome, and
saw the Jesuits assume the name of Reformed when he knew they had
no right to such a title. Any reform which would tend to an abroga-
tion of their novel doctrines was distasteful to an Order who were the
servants of the Popes, or rather of the Papacy, for some of the Pon-
tiffs did not approve of the Jesuits, and in later times the Order was
abolished by Clement XIV ' who partook largely of the opinions of
Sarpi as to the reform of the Church of Rome. Of the reformed Church
and its members whom the Jesuits deemed "heretics" they were the
opponents, and as they ignored all human ties, their hearts were steeled
against the voice of supplication. Sarpi, both in his letters and other
writings, complains bitterly of their obduracy. They were strict obser-
vers of human nature, and were distinguished for their tact, address,
and good manners. They were generally of pleasing exterior, and to
this " letter of recommendation" ' they added considerable power of
bending those whom they addressed to their purpose.
About the year 1556, the Jesuits had obtained such knowledge
of state affairs at Venice through the confessional, that it was se-
riously mooted that they should be banished from the city; but they
used all their talents and skill in persuasion to remain, and effected
their purpose, the Senators contenting themselves' with forbidding their
wives and daughters to confess to them, though unfortunately some of
the Senators at a later period had recourse themselves to these attrac-
tive but unsafe teachers. We shall have occasion to notice their pro-
gress from time to time, their first introduction to Venice was sin-
gular. Duriug the infancy of Fra Paolo, Trevisano was Doge, he was
a good but superstitious man, and many years previous to his holding
the highest office in the state he lived in' S. Marco. It is said that he
dreamed that a saint stood at his door. He awoke, went to it, and
found Loyola. Trevisano sheltered him, presented him to the Doge
1 Restored by Pius VII.
2 Lord Bacon.
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? 56 THE LIFE OF [A. E. 1587.
Gritti, who gave him a free passage to Palestine, but Trevisano did
not know the effect of that introduction, it was not long before the
Jesuits made Venice a stronghold. The genius and intelligence of
the Venetians would be a powerful instrument to the Society, and it
was not neglected, but they never Won Fra Paolo to be one of their
number.
The heart of Fra Paolo was_deeply touched by the war against the
Reformed in Germany and in France. How would he have been glad-
dened had Henry III remembered the parting advice given to him by
the Doge and Senate, to sheath his sword against his subjects, whose
only demand was in liberty of conscience to serve their God. It is a
spot of earth on which the eye loves to rest, that where the tolerant
Servite craved of Heaven's High King, thatfi would permit a gen-
tler rule, and it may well be believed that all the persecutions and
misery that Fra Paolo either saw or heard of for the sake of religion,
not only awakened his deepest sympathy, but nerved him for the con-
test which he was one day to wage against papal aggression and
wrong.
He had many objects of interest; books and rare MSS. which few
saw were open to him/for example, he was at Rome when the Codex
Amiatinus, was borrowed for the correction of the Sixtine Bible. ' Fra
Paolo speaks of the readings of Sixtus, but not in commendation; the
edition of the Scriptures published by this Pope. was too much in ac-
cordance with the papal interpretation of the volume to be approved by
an unprejudiced scholar. Sixtus published not only an edition of the
Vulgate, but a Bible in the Italian language against the wishes of the
Cardinals. To the people the Sacred Book was still prohibited, which was
a source of regret to Fra Paolo because there were Bibles of Venice 1471,
1477, and 1481, and Brucciolo's of 1541, and it must never be lost sight of
in his biography, that the Holy Scriptures were his guide in life, his con-
solation in afiiiction, his refuge in danger, his support in death.
Sixtus had made large additions to the Library of the Vatican, which
at the end of the sixteenth century was esteemed the richest public library
in the world, and Fra Paolo availed himself of its treasures, Ilia chief
families of Rome had also amassed many volumes, and the learned honor-
ed him by presents of books. His eagerness to see works lately published,
or that he had not previously met with, is apparent throughout his let-
ters, and as his reputation increased, authors were ambitions to send their
1 The New Testament of this valuable Copy of the Latin Vulgate was published
by Dr. Tischendorf, and the whole is about to be prepared for publication by
Dr. Heyse an accurate German scholar for Brockhaus Leipzig. The Codex was
restored A. D. 1590, and is now in the Laurentian Library.
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? A? '1'. 35. ] ERA PAOLO SARPI 57
'-wwwm
works to him, and to await his opinion of them before they were sent to
the press.
When the usual term of his office as Procurator was completed, Fra
Paolo retraced his steps to Venice. Poor he had entered the vast city
of Rome, poor he quitted it, but he had gained deep insight into the
policy of Sixtus V, he had seen that although there were men of deep
religious thought at his Court yet there was scarcely any advancement
but through intrigue, the liberality of his sentiments was even then sus-
pected, as the issue proved, notwithstanding his silence and prudence. He
was little likely to follow the faulty precepts of those desirous of place, he
had early shown that a Court was uncongenial to him, and the Court of
Rome partook too much of the nature of other Courts to be relished by a
man whose highest ambition was to follow the steps of a King whose
kingdom is not of this world. " Regnum meum non est de hoc mondo, "
was often repeated by him. Nor could his non-reception of the doctrines
of the Jesuits pass unnoticed at Romejhey had the power by means of
constant confession as well as otherwise, of discovering the most hidden
secrets, and as Fra Paolo was acquainted with Bobadilla and Bellarmine,
either they or other members of their Society knew his opinion of it.
It has been well observed that among those who dwelt within the walls
of convents and monasteries, " religion was usually either all or nothing, "
/issuredly, that in such institutions there have been reared many of su-
perior talent and vast acquirements, of great and varied science and
extensive erudition, men of whom human nature might be justly proud, is
a fact which needs no proof, but it is equally true, that within these walls
have been found others in whom that life of seclusion has fostered the
worst passions; who first corrupted by idleness have brooded over mis-
chievous designs from which they would once have recoiled, until carried
on from step to step by ambition, love of gain, or other evil incentives
they have come to feel no compunction even in jeopardizing the life of an
innocent person. '
But lest the reader suppose from this that in the narrative which follows
concerning Gabriello there is any desire to overcharge the failings of an
enemy of Fra Paolo, we quote from the faithful pen of Fra Fulgenzio.
" The latter part of the charge of Fra Paolo as Procurator at Rome was
during the early part of the Pontificate of Sixtus V, who having been
himself a Friar, knew those among the Friars who were remarkable for
their talents. And knowing the Padre's genius, he eniployed him in the
Congregations and in other affairs more than had been usually done. On one
occasion when the Pope was being carried on his litter through the streets,
he summoned P. Paolo to him and conversed with him for some time.
Although the subject of this conversation was nothing more than some me-
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? as THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1587-
morials against the Generals of the Order of the Servi, this unusual oc-
currence was remarked by the whole Court, and it was quickly rumoured
how much the Padre was in favor with the Pontiff. Idle gossip had already
created him a Cardinal. But the flattering incident, which he had never
sought or coveted, entailed on him a long and harassing persecution. On
first leaving Venice, he had commended his friends to the counsel and
direction of Gabriello Colissoni, who had formerly been associated with
him in the removal of certain abuses from the Provinces. But it often
happens that what we condemn in others we justify in ourselves, and as
Gabriello's ruling, principal passion was self interest, he carried on a
system of extortion during the Padre's absence from his Province to such
excess, as to acquire there an almost absolute power. There remained in
fact but one impediment in his way: the expectation of the Padre's speedy
return to Venice, by whom he knew such malpractices would not be ap-
proved. He therefore thought his safest course would be to endeavour to
persuade him to remain at Rome, and to this object he at once 'applied
himself, and procured some of the Padre's best friends to advise him that
by a further sojourn his credit at the Court of Rome might probably ad-
vance his fortunes. But the Padre, not only reproved him for the advice,
but to cut short the correspondence, answered him once for all by a letter
written in cypher (the same which was usually employed between them)
in these words; " Would you have me place confidence in Rome, where"
only " Cenedi " and other ministers of pleasure or of gain prosper? "
This unfortunate letter and the cypher with it were carefully treasured
up by Gabriello, and when at the end of three years the Padre returned
to his Convent, he found the extortions of Gabriello throughout the Pro-
vince had been carried to such an excess as he could not possibly sanc-
tion. A venal countenance of them was however obtained with some diffi-
culty, and at a cost of no less than 20,000 . Ducats, part of the accumu-
. lated plunder, from some who were paying court to the Cardinal S. Se-
verina; and when at last the Padre expressed his disapproval, Gabriello
at once came to an open rupture with him. Then it was, that to save
himself and carry his point, Gabriello, who was already in favor with
the Court, and, which is yet more surprising, especially With the Car-
dinal Protector, at that time Head of the Holy Office, presented to
that Court the letter of the Padre and its cypher above mentioned.
On this the Cardinal, though he did not venture to cite the Padre
before the Inquisition, evinced the most implacable anger, and as the
multitude always veer with the wind as it changes, although Fra Paolo,
seeing the abuses in his Province were now incurable, withdrew from all
further concern in its government to the privacy of his cell, he became
from this time a constant mark for persecution, if not in his own person
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? ar. 35. ] FRA PAOLO SARPI 69
(where it was difiicult to find a vulnerable point), yet in the person of his
friends, who were not only excluded from degrees and honors on the
most trifling pretences, but every fault, even the most venial, was ma-
gnified into a mortal sin. " '
No doubt, this letter and cypher were never forgotten at the Court of
Rome. The resentment of such a spirit as that of the Cardinal S. Seve-
rina was no light matter, but he had not at present declared himself
openly against Fra Paolo. Perhaps conscience might have admonished
him how strictly true had been the stricture against Rome expressed in
the Padre's letter, whom all her blandishments had not been able to
seduce from the path of honor and rectitude. '
At all events, the tide of public opinion was not wholly against him.
He had still many friends, friends even within the " Council of the Ten,"
friends within the Senate, friends among the nobles, friends among the
merchants, citizens and people. Free and independant Venice was still
proud of Fra Paolo, and had any ventured to carry that letter before the
Inquisition at Venice, the charge would have fallen utterly powerless,
for the Republic still required three of her patricians to be present
there to see justice done, and to control the papal officials. In all
Venice there never was found one noble capable of dragging Fra
Paolo before the Inquisition. Rome reserved to herself the shame of de-
manding his presence before that most iniquitous tribunal, a tribunal
against which the outraged people of Naples, Mantua and many others
towns of Italy had often risen, but were powerless till modern times to
effect its destruction.
The Republic, or more properly speaking the Doge and Senate, knew all
that was going on at Rome, and the treachery of Gabriello had doubtless
been communicated to them by their Ambassador at that city, but it had
created no prejudice in their minds against Fra Paolo, and he was still
welcomed as usual by his friends at the Ridotto Morosini, an interesting
association which is thus described by one who frequented it. " This con-
versazione had become numerous, not only as men of Worth and letters
made it their resort, some of whom have since become distinguished Sena-
tors and stars in the firmament of the most serene Republic, but all vir-
tuosi, seculars and men of religious orders were admitted, as well as all
lovers of literature who came to Venice from Italy or from any other
country. . . Ceremony which in our times is so much affected, and yet is so
superfluous, was debarred: because it wearies the brains of the most quick
sighted and consumes time by an artificial method of telling untruths,
unmeaning because it means so much. But politeness, freedom and confi-
1 MS.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-11 22:53 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc1. 31158010289923 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 60 _ THE LIFE OF [A. D. 1588.
dence prevailed, each person was permitted to introduce his own subject,
without any restriction as to passing from one topic to another, thus
there was always new matter, the object in discussion being the discovery
of truth.
Whatever subject was introduced, Paolo could not only discourse on
it without premeditation, but was equally ready to maintain a proposition,
or to impugn it, after the manner of the schools. This he did to the sur-
prise of all present, and if in his riper years any one recalled these thing
to his remembrance, he smiled and treated them as trifles. "
The illustrious Andrea Morosini and Sarpi had been school-fellows as
well as companions in their maturer years, and the courteous manners, as
well as the learning of the Servite, could not fail to ensure respect under
the roof of the future senator and historian of Venice. The calm dignified
and grave but not morose expression, which pervades the portrait of
Morosini is but a faithful mirror of the mind of that eloquent and distin-
guished patriot. Deep thought dwells in that steadfast eye, and the whole
countenance as well as the bearing of the head bespeak, not only high birth,
but noble qualities.
Another member of the society was Leonardo Donato, he too
had been the school-fellow of Fra Paolo, and had studied at Bologna
and at Padua. He was a man of prudent and upright character, loyal
to his God and to his country. He had beensent on several embassies
to foreign powers, had given promise of the wisdom of his future career,
and no one could so well inform the society at the Morosini of the
state of affairs at the Court of Rome as Donato, who had resided
there officially.
