Norwasthisall。Hewasnotcontentwithbooksorconversations;
steadilyhewentoncollecting，collating，andtestingoriginaldocumentsbearinguponthegreateventsofhistime。Theresultofallthistheworldwastoseelater。
Hehadarrivedatmiddlelifeandwonwiderecognitionasascholar，scientificinvestigator，andjurist，whentherecamethesuprememomentofastrugglewhichhadinvolvedEuropeforcenturies，——astruggleinterestingnotonlytheItalyandEuropeofthosedays，butuniversalhumanityforalltime。
DuringtheperiodfollowingthefalloftheRomanEmpireoftheWesttherehadbeenevolvedthetemporalpoweroftheRomanBishop。Ithadmanyvicissitudes。Sometimes，asinthedaysofSt。LeoandSt。Gregory，itbaseditsclaimsuponnobleassertionsofrightandjustice，andsometimes，asinthehandsofpontiffslikeInnocentVIII。andPaulV。，itsoughttoforceitswaybyfanaticism。Sometimesitstrengtheneditsauthoritybyrealservicestohumanity，andsometimesbysuchmonstrousfraudsastheForgedDecretals。Sometimes，asunderPopeslikeGregoryVII。andInnocentIII。，itlaidclaimtothemastershipoftheworld，andsometimes，aswiththemajorityofthepontiffsduringthetwocenturiesbeforetheReformation，itbecamemainlytheappanageofapartyorfactionorfamily。
Throughoutallthishistory，thereappearedintheChurchtwogreatcurrentsofefficientthought。Ononesidehadbeendevelopedatheocratictheory，givingthepapacyapowersupremeintemporalaswellasinspiritualmattersthroughouttheworld。
LeadersinthisduringtheMiddleAgeswereSt。ThomasAquinasandtheDominicans;leadersinSarpi’sdaysweretheJesuits，representedespeciallyinthetreatisesofBellarmineatRomeandinthespeechesofLaynezattheCouncilofTrent。[1]
[1]ThishasbeenadmirablyshownbyN。R。F。BrowninhisTaylorianLecture，pages229—234，involumefor1889—99。
Butanothertheory，hostiletothedespotismoftheChurchovertheState，hadbeendevelopedthroughtheMiddleAgesandtheRenaissance;——ithadbeenstrengthenedmainlybytheutterancesofsuchmenasDante，aegidioColonna，JohnofParis，Ockham，MarsilioofPadua，andLaurentiusValla。Sarpirangedhimselfwiththelatteroftheseforces。Thoughdeeplyreligious，herecognizedtheGod—givenrightofearthlygovernmentstodischargetheirdutiesindependentofchurchcontrol。
AmongthemanycentresofthisstrugglewasVenice。Shewassplendidlyreligious——asreligionwasthenunderstood。Shewasmadesobyherwholeenvironment。Fromthebeginningshehadbeenaseafaringpower，andseafaringmen，fromtheirconstantwrestlewithdangersillunderstood，arepronetoseekandfindsupernaturalforces。Norwasthisall。Later，whenshehadbecomerich，powerful，luxurious，licentious，andrefractorytothepriesthood，hermostpowerfulcitizensfeltaneedofatoningfortheirmanysinsbysplendidreligiousfoundations。Soherpeoplecametoliveinanatmosphereofreligiousobservance，andthebloomandfruitageoftheirreligioushopesandfearsareseeninthewholehistoryofVenetianart，——fromtherudesculpturesofTorcelloandthenaivemosaicsofSanMarcototheglowingaltarpiecesandceilingsofJohnBellini，Titian，andTintorettoandtheilluminationsoftheGrimaniPsalter。NoclassinVeniceroseabovethisenvironment。DogesandSenatorswereassusceptibletoitaswerethehumblestfishermenontheLido。IneveryoneofthosegloriousfrescoesinthecorridorsandhallsoftheDucalPalacewhichcommemoratethevictoriesoftheRepublic，thetriumphantDogeorAdmiralorGeneralisseenonhiskneesmakingacknowledgmentofthedivineassistance。OneveryVenetiansequin，fromthedayswhenVenicewasapowerthroughouttheearthtothatfatalyearwhentheyoungBonapartetossedtheRepublicovertotheHouseofAustria，theDoge，crownedandrobed，kneelshumblybeforetheSaviour，theVirgin，orSt。Mark。InthatvastHalloftheFiveHundred，themostsumptuousroomintheworld，thereisspreadabovetheheadsoftheDogeandSenatorsandCouncilors，asanincentivetothedischargeoftheirdutiesonearth，arepresentationoftheblessedinHeaven。
Fromhighesttolowest，theVenetianslived，moved，andhadtheirbeinginthisreligiousenvironment，and，hadtheirRepublicbeenlooselygoverned，itsexternalpolicywouldhavebeenlargelyswayedbythisall—pervadingreligiousfeeling，andwouldhavebecometheplaythingoftheRomanCourt。Butademocracyhasneverbeenmaintainedsavebythedelegationofgreatpowerstoitschosenleaders。ItwastheremarkofoneoftheforemostAmericanDemocratsofthenineteenthcentury，amanwhoreceivedthehighesthonorswhichhispartycouldbestow，thattheConstitutionoftheUnitedStateswasmade，nottopromoteDemocracy，buttocheckit。Thisstatementistrue，anditisastrueoftheVenetianConstitutionasoftheAmerican。[1]
[1]SeeHoratioSeymour’snotedarticleintheNorthAmericanReview。
ButwhileboththerepublicsrecognizedthenecessityofcurbingDemocracy，thedifferencebetweenthemeansemployedwasworld—wide。ThefoundersoftheAmericanRepublicgavevastpowersandresponsibilitiestoapresidentandunheard—ofauthoritytoasupremecourt;intheVenetianRepublictheDogewasgraduallystrippedofpower，buttherewasevolvedthemysteriousandunlimitedauthorityoftheSenateandCouncilofTen。
InthesesattheforemostVenetians，thoroughlyimbuedwiththereligiousspiritoftheirtime;but，religiousastheywere，theyweremenoftheworld，trainedinthepolitiesofallEuropeandespeciallyofItaly。
Inastrikingpassage，GuizothasshownhowtheCrusaderswhowenttotheOrientbywayofItalyandsawthepapacynearathandcamebackskeptics。ThissameinfluenceshapedthestatesmenofVenice。TheVenetianAmbassadorsweretheforemostinEurope。
TheirRelationsarestillstudiedastheclearest，shrewdest，andwiseststatementsregardingthemenandeventsinEuropeattheirtime。Allwerenotedforskill;butthemostskillfulwerekeptondutyatRome。Therewasthesourceofdanger。TheDoges，Senators，andcontrollingCouncilorshad，asarule，servedintheseembassies，andtheyhadformedlucidjudgmentsastoItaliancourtsingeneralandastotheRomanCourtinparticular。NomenhadknownthePopesandtheCuriamorethoroughly。TheyhadseenInnocentVIII。buythepapacyformoney。TheyhadbeenattheVaticanwhenAlexanderVI。hadwonrenownasasecretmurderer。Theyhadseen，closeathand，themercilesscrueltyofJuliusII。TheyhadcarefullynotedthecrimesofSixtusIV。，whichculminatedintheassassinationofJuliande’MedicibeneaththedomeofFlorenceatthemomenttheHostwasuplifted。TheyhadsatnearLeoX。whileheenjoyedtheobscenitiesoftheCalandriaandtheMandragora，——playswhich，inthemostcorruptofmoderncities，would，inourday，bestoppedbythepolice。Nowonderthat，inoneoftheirdispatches，theyspeakofRomeas"thecloacaoftheworld。"[1]
[1]ForSixtusIV。andhiscareer，withthetragedyintheCathedralofFlorenceseeVillari’sLifeofMachiavelli，EnglishEdition，vol。ii。pp。341，342。Forthepassagesinthedispatchesreferredto，videibid。vol。i。p。198。
Naturally，then，whiletheirreligionshoweditselfinwonderfulmonumentsofeverysort，theirpracticalsensewasshownbyasteadyoppositiontopapalencroachments。
OfthiscombinationofzealforreligionwithhostilitytoecclesiasticismwehavestrikingexamplesthroughoutthehistoryoftheRepublic。While，ineveryotherEuropeanstate，cardinals，bishops，priests，andmonksweregivenleadingpartsinciviladministrationand，insomestates，amonopolyofcivilhonors，theRepublicofVenicenotonlyexcludedallecclesiasticsfromsuchposts，but，incaseswhichtouchedchurchinterests，sheexcludedeventherelativesofecclesiastics。Whenchurchauthoritydecreedthatcommerceshouldnotbemaintainedwithinfidelsandheretics，theVenetianmerchantscontinuedtodealwithTurks，Pagans，Germans，Englishmen，andDutchmenasbefore。
WhentheChurchdecreedthatthetakingofinterestformoneywassin，andgreattheologianspublishedinVenicesomeoftheirmightiesttreatisesdemonstratingthisviewfromHolyScriptureandtheFathers，theVenetianscontinuedborrowingandlendingmoneyonusance。Wheneffortsweremadetoenforcethattremendousinstrumentfortheconsolidationofpapalpower，thebullInCoenaDomini，Veniceevadedandevendefiedit。WhentheChurchfrowneduponanatomicaldissections，theVenetiansallowedAndreasVesaliustomakesuchdissectionsattheirUniversityofPadua。WhenSixtusV。，thestrongestofallthePopes，hadbroughtallhispowers，temporalandspiritual，tobearagainstHenryIV。ofFranceasanexcommunicatedheretic，andseemedreadytohurlthethunderboltsoftheChurchagainstanypowerwhichshouldrecognizehim，theVenetianRepublicnotonlyrecognizedhim，buttreatedhisAmbassadorwithespecialcourtesy。WhentheotherCatholicpowers，saveFrance，yieldedtopapalmandatesandsentnorepresentativestothecoronationofJamesI。ofEngland，Venicewasthererepresented。WhenPopeafterPopeissuedendlessdiatribesagainstthehorrorsoftoleration，theVenetianssteadilytoleratedintheirseveralsortsofworshipJewsandGreeks，MohammedansandArmenians，withProtestantsofeverysortwhocametothemonbusiness。WhentheRomanIndexforbadethepublicationofmostimportantworksofleadingauthors，Venicedemandedandobtainedforherprintersrightswhichwereelsewheredenied。
Astothereligiousrestrictionswhichtouchedtrade，theVenetiansinthepubliccouncils，andindeedthepeopleatlarge，hadcometoknowperfectlywhatthepapaltheorymeant，——withsomeofitspromoters，fanaticism，butwiththecontrollingpoweratRome，revenue，revenuetobederivedfromretailingdispensationstoinfringetheholyrules。
Thispeculiarantithesis——nowheremorestrikingthanatVenice，ontheoneside，religiousfearsandhopes;ontheother，keeninsightintothewaysofecclesiasticism——ledtopeculiarcompromises。Thebankerswhohadtakeninterestuponmoney，themerchantswhohadtradedwithMoslemsandheretics，intheirlasthoursfrequentlythoughtitbesttoperfecttheirtitletosalvationbyturningoverlargeestatestotheChurch。Undertheswayofthisfeeling，andespeciallyoftheterrorsinfusedbypriestsatdeathbeds，mortmainhadbecomeinVenice，asinmanyotherpartsoftheworld，oneofthemostseriousofevils。ThusitwasthattheclergycametopossessbetweenonefourthandonethirdofthewholeterritoryoftheRepublic，andinitsBergamodistrictmorethanonehalf;andallthiswasexemptfromtaxation。HenceitwasthattheVenetianSenatefounditnecessarytodevisealegalcheekwhichshouldmakesuchabsorptionofestatesbytheChurchmoreandmoredifficult。
Therewasasecondcauseoftrouble。InthatreligiousatmosphereofVenice，monasticordersofeverysortgrewluxuriantly，notonlyabsorbingmoreandmorelandtobeheldbythedeadhand，thusescapingthepublicburdens，buteverabsorbingmoreandmoremenandwomen，andthusdeprivingthestateofanyhealthyandnormalservicefromthem。Here，too，theSenatethoughtitbesttointerposeacheck:itinsistedthatallnewstructuresforreligiousordersmustbeauthorizedbytheState。
Yetanotherquestionflamedforth。Ofthemonksofeverysortswarmingthroughthecity，manywereluxuriousandsomewerecriminal。Ontheselast，theVenetianSenatedeterminedtolayitshands，andinthefirstyearsoftheseventeenthcenturyallthesequestions，andvariousothermattersdistastefultotheVatican，culminatedintheseizureandimprisonmentoftwoecclesiasticschargedwithvarioushighcrimes，——amongtheserapeandmurder。
TherehadjustcometothepapalthroneCamilloBorghese，PaulV。，——strong，bold，determined，withthehighestpossibletheoryofhisdutiesandofhisposition。Inviewofhisdutytowardhimself，helavishedthetreasuresofthefaithfuluponhisfamily，untilitbecametherichestwhichhadyetriseninRome;
inviewofhisdutytowardtheChurch，hebuiltsuperbly，andanevidenceofthespiritinwhichhewroughtishisname，inenormousletters，stillspreadacrossthefacadeofSt。Peter’s。
Astohisposition，heacceptedfullythetheoriesandpracticesofhisboldestpredecessors，andinthishehadgoodwarrant;forSt。ThomasAquinasandBellarminehadfurnishedhimwithconvincingargumentsthathewasdivinelyauthorizedtorulethecivilpowersofItalyandoftheworld。[1]
[1]Fordetailsofthesecasesofthetwomonks，seePascolato。
FraPaoloSarpi，Milano，1893，pp。126—128。FortheBorgheseavarice，seeRanke’sPopes，vol。iii。pp。9—20。ForthedevelopmentofPopePaul’stheoryofgovernment，seeRanke，vol。
ii。p。345，andnoteinwhichBellarmine’sdoctrineiscitedtextually;alsoBellarmine’sSelbstbiographie，herausgegebenvonDollingerundRenschBonn，1887。pp。181，etseq。
Moreovertherewas，inhispride，somethingakintofanaticism。
Hehadbeenelectedbyoneofthosesuddenmovements，aswellknowninAmericancaucusesasinpapalconclaves，when，afteradeadlock，alltheoldcandidatesarethrownover，andthechoicesuddenlyfallsonanewman。Thecynicalobservermaypointtothisasshowingthatthelawsgoverningelections，undersuchcircumstances，arethesame，whetherinpartycaucusesorinchurchcouncils;butPaul，inthiscase，sawthedirectinterventionoftheAlmighty，andhisdispositiontomagnifyhisofficewasvastlyincreasedthereby。Hewasespeciallystrenuous，andoneofhisearliestpublicactswastosendtothegallowsapoorauthor，who，inanunpublishedwork，hadspokenseverelyregardingoneofPaul’spredecessors。
TheVenetianlawscheckingmortmain，taxingchurchproperty，andrequiringthesanctionoftheRepublicbeforetheerectionofnewchurchesandmonasteriesgreatlyangeredhim;butthecrowningvexationwastheseizureofthetwoclerics。Thisarousedhimfully。Heatoncesentordersthattheybedelivereduptohim，thatapologybemadeforthepastandguaranteesgivenforthefuture，andnoticewasservedthat，incasetheRepublicdidnotspeedilyobeytheseorders，thePopewouldexcommunicateitsleadersandlayaninterdictuponitspeople。Itwasindeedaseriouscontingency。FormanyyearsthenewPopehadbeenknownasahard，pedanticecclesiasticallawyer，andnowthathehadarrivedatthesupremepower，hehadevidentlydeterminedtoenforcethehighmediaevalsupremacyoftheChurchovertheState。Everythingbetokenedhissuccess。InFrancehehadbrokendownalloppositiontothedecreesoftheCouncilofTrent。InNaples，whenamagistratehadrefusedtodisobeythecivillawatthebiddingofpriests，andtheviceroyhadsupportedthemagistrate，PopePaulhadforcedtheviceroyandmagistratetocomplywithhiswillbythreatsofexcommunication。IneverypartofItaly，——inMalta，inSavoy，inParma，inLucca，inGenoa，——andfinallyeveninSpain，hehadpettifogged，bullied，threatened，untilhisopponentshadgivenway。Everywherehewastriumphant;
andwhilehewasinthemoodwhichsuchasuccessionoftriumphswouldgiveheturnedtowardVenice。[1]
[1]ForlettersshowingthecravensubmissionofPhilipIII。ofSpainatthistime，seeCornet，PaoloV。elaRepublicaVeneta，Vienna，1859，p。285。
TherewaslittleindeedtoencouragetheVenetianstoresist;
for，whiletheinterestsofotherEuropeanpowerswerelargelythesameastheirs，currentpoliticalintriguesseemedlikelytobringSpainandevenFranceintoaleaguewiththeVatican。
Toapeoplesodevotedtocommerce，yetsoreligious，thethreatofaninterdictwasseriousindeed。Allchurchservicesweretocease;thepeopleatlarge，nomatterhowfaithful，weretobeasbrutebeasts，——nottobelegallymarried，——nottobeconsoledbythesacraments，——nottobeshriven，andvirtuallynottobeburied;otherChristianpeoplesweretobeforbiddenalldealingswiththem，underpainofexcommunication;theircommercewastobedeliveredovertothetendermerciesofanyandeveryothernation;theirmerchantshipstobeascorsairs;theircargoes，thelegitimatepreyofallChristendom;andtheirpeople，onseaandland，tobeheldasenemiesofthehumanrace。Tothiswasadded，throughoutthewholemassofthepeople，avaguesenseofawfulpenaltiesawaitingtheminthenextworld。Despiteallthis，theRepublicpersistedinassertingitsright。
JustatthismomentcameadiplomaticpassagebetweenPopeandSenatelikeafarcebeforeatragedy，andithashistoricalsignificance，asshowingwhatresourcefuloldheadswereattheserviceofeitherside。TheDogeGrimanihavingdied，theVaticanthoughttoscoreapointbypromptlysendingnoticethroughitsNunciotoVenicethatnonewelectionofaDogecouldtakeplaceifforbiddenbythePope，andthat，untiltheSenatehadbecomeobedienttothepapacy，nosuchelectionwouldbesanctioned。ButtheSenate，havingthroughitsownAmbassadorreceivedausefulhint，wasquiteequaltotheoccasion。ItatoncedeclinedtoreceivethisoranydispatchfromthePopeontheplea，madewithredundantcourtesyandcordiality，that，therebeingnoDoge，therewasnopersoninVenicegreatenoughtoopenit。TheynextaspolitelydeclinedtoadmitthepapalNuncioonthegroundthattherewasnobodyworthytoreceivehim。ThentheyproceededtoelectaDogewhocouldreceivebothNuncioandmessage，——asturdyopponentoftheVaticanpretensions，LeonardoDonato。
TheSenatenowgaveitselfentirelytoconsideringwaysandmeansofwardingoffthethreatenedcatastrophe。ItsfirststepwastoconsultSarpi。Hisanswerwaspromptandpithy。Headvisedtwothings:first，toprevent，atallhazards，anypublicationofthepapalbullsinVeniceoranyobediencetothem;secondly，toholdinreadinessforuseatanymomentanappealtoafutureCounciloftheChurch。
Ofthesetwomethods，thefirstwouldnaturallyseembyfarthemoredifficult。Soitwasnotinreality。IntheletterwhichSarpipresentedtotheDoge，hedevotedlessthanfourlinestothefirstandmorethanfourteenpagestothesecond。Astothefirstremedy，severeasitwasandbristlingwithdifficulties，itwas，asheclaimed，asimple，natural，straightforwarduseofpolicepower。Astothesecond，theappealtoafutureCouncilwastotheVaticanasaredflagtoabull。Theveryuseofitinvolvedexcommunication。TohardenandstrengthentheDogeandSenateinorderthattheymightconsideritasanultimatepossibility，SarpiwasobligedtoshowfromtheScriptures，theFathers，theCouncils，theearlyPopes，thattheappealtoaCouncilwasamatterofright。Withwonderfulbreadthofknowledgeandclearnessofstatementhemadehispointsandansweredobjections。Tothisday，hisletterremainsamasterpiece。[1]
[1]ForSarpi’sadvicetotheDoge，seeBianchiGiovini，vol。i。
pp。216，etseq。ThedocumentisgivenfullyintheLetterediF。
P。S。，Firenze，1863，vol。i。pp。17，etseq。;alsoinMachi，StoriadelConsigliodeiDieci，cap。xxiv。，wherethebullofexcommunicationisalsogiven。
TheRepublicutterlyrefusedtoyield，andnow，in1606，PopePaullaunchedhisexcommunicationandinterdict。Inmeetingthem，theSenatetookthecourselaiddownbySarpi。ThepapalNunciowasnotifiedthattheSenatewouldreceivenopaperfromthePope;allecclesiasties，fromthePatriarchdowntothelowestmonk，wereforbidden，underthepenaltiesofhightreason，tomakepublicoreventoreceiveanypaperwhateverfromtheVatican;additionalguardswereplacedatthecitygates，withorderstosearcheverywanderingfriarorothersuspiciouspersonwhomight，byanypossibility，bringinaforbiddenmissive;aspecialpatrolwaskept，nightandday，topreventanypostingoftheforbiddennoticesonwallsorhouses;anypersonreceivingorfindingonewastotakeitimmediatelytotheauthorities，undertheseverestpenalties，andanypersonfoundconcealingsuchdocumentswastobepunishedbydeath。
Atfirstsomeoftheclergywererefractory。TheheadofthewholechurchestablishmentofVenice，thePatriarchhimself，gavesignsofresistance;buttheSenateatoncesilencedhim。Sundryotherbishopsandhighecclesiasticsmadeashowofopposition;
andtheywereplacedinconfinement。Oneofthemseemingreluctanttoconducttheusualchurchservice，theSenatesentanexecutionertoerectagibbetbeforehisdoor。Another，havingaskedthathebeallowedtoawaitsomeintimationfromtheHolySpirit，receivedanswerthattheSenatehadalreadyreceiveddirectionsfromtheHolySpirittohanganypersonresistingtheirdecree。Thethreereligiousorderswhichhadshowedmostopposition——Jesuits，Theatins，andCapuchins——wereinasemi—politemannervirtuallyexpelledfromtheRepublic。[2]
[2]ForinterestingdetailsregardingthedepartureoftheJesuits，seeCornet，PaoloV。elaRepublicaVeneta，pp。277—279。
Nottheleastcuriousamongtheresultsofthisstateofthingswasthewarofpamphlets。FromRome，Bologna，andothercentresofthought，evenfromParisandFrankfort，polemictractatesrainedupontheRepublic。ThevastmajorityoftheirauthorswereonthesideoftheVatican，andofthismajoritytheleaderswerethetwocardinalssoeminentinlearningandlogic，BellarmineandBaronius;but，single—handed，Sarpiwas，bygeneralconsent，amatchforthewholeopposingforce。[3]
[3]InthelibraryofCornellUniversityarenolessthanninequartosfilledwithselectedexamplesofthesepolemicsonbothsides。
Ofalltheweaponsthenused，themosteffectivethroughoutEuropewasthesolemnprotestdrawnbySarpiandissuedbytheDoge。ItwasaddressednominallytotheVenetianecclesiastics，butreallytoChristendom，andbothastomatterandmanneritwasFatherPaulathisbest。Itwasweighty，lucid，pungent，anddeeplyinearnest，——ineverypartassertingfidelitytotheChurchandloyaltytothepapacy，butsettingcompletelyatnaughtthemainclaimofPopePaul:theDogesolemnlydeclaringhimself"aprincewho，intemporalmatters，recognizesnosuperiorsavetheDivineMajesty。"
Thevictoryofthefriarsoonbegantoberecognizedfarandnear。Mencalledhimbythenameafterwardsogenerallygivenhim，——the"terribilefrate。"TheVaticanseemedparalyzed。Noneofitsmeasuresavailed，anditwashurt，ratherthanhelped，byitseffortstopesterandannoyVeniceatvariouscapitals。AtRome，itburnedFatherPaul’sbooksanddeclaredhimexcommunicated;itevensoughttopunishhisprinterbyputtingintotheIndexnotonlyallworksthathehadeverprinted，butallthathemighteverprint。AtVienna，thepapalNunciothoughttoscoreapointbydeclaringthathewouldnotattendacertainreligiousfunctionincasetheVenetianAmbassadorshouldappear;
whereupontheVenetianannouncedthathehadtakenphysicandregrettedthathecouldnotbepresent，——whereatallEuropelaughed。
JudiciousfriendsinvariousEuropeancabinetsnowurgedbothpartiestorecedeortocompromise。FranceandSpainbothprofferedtheirgoodoffices。TheofferofFrancewasfinallyaccepted，andtheFrenchAmbassadorwaskeptrunningbetweentheDucalPalaceandtheVaticanuntilpeoplebeganlaughingathimalso。TheemissariesofHisHolinessbeggedhardthat，atleast，appearancesmightbesaved;thattheRepublicwouldundosomeofitsmeasuresbeforetheinterdictwasremoved，oratleastwouldseemtodoso，andespeciallythatitwouldwithdrawitsrefusalsbeforethePopewithdrewhispenalties。Allinvain。TheVenetiansinsistedthattheyhadcommittednocrimeandhadnothingtoretract。TheVaticanthenurgedthattheSenateshouldconsenttoreceiveabsolutionforitsresistancetothePope’sauthority。ThistheSenatesteadilyrefused;itinsisted，"LetHisHolinessputthingsasbefore，andwewillputthingsasbefore;astohisabsolution，wedonotneeditorwantit;toreceiveitwouldbetoacknowledgethatwehavebeeninthewrong。"Eventhelastpoorsopofallwasrefused:theSenatewouldhavenogreat"function"tocelebratetheterminationoftheinterdict;theywouldnotevengotothemasswhichCardinalJoyeusecelebratedonthatoccasion。TheonlyappearanceofconcessionwhichtheRepublicmadewastogiveupthetwoecclesiasticstotheFrenchAmbassadorasamatterofcourtesytotheFrenchking;andwhenthiswasdone，theAmbassadordeliveredthemtothePope;butVeniceespeciallyreservedalltherightsshehadexercised。Alltheessentialdemandsofthepapacywererefused，andthuswasforeverendedthepapalpoweroflayinganinterdictuponacityorapeople。Fromthatincubus，Christendom，thankstoFatherPaulandtoVenice，wasatlastandforeverfree。
TheVaticandid，indeed，tryhardtokeepitsoldclaiminbeing。
AfewyearsafteritsdefeatbyFraPaolo，itendeavoredtoreassertinSpainthesameauthoritywhichhadbeensohumblyacknowledgedthereafewyearsbefore。Itwasdoubtlessfeltthatthismostpiousofallcountries，whichhadpreviouslybeensodocile，andwhichhadstoodsteadilybytheVaticanagainstVeniceintherecentstruggle，wouldagainsetanexampleofsubmission。Neverwasthereagreatermistake:theVaticanreceivedfromSpanishpietyahumiliatingrefusal。
NextittriedtheoldweaponsagainstthelittlegovernmentatTurin。FormanygenerationstheHouseofSavoyhadbeendutifullysubmissivetoreligiouscontrol;nowhereoutofSpainhadheresybeentreatedmorecruelly;yethere，too，theVaticanclaimwasspurned。ButthefinalhumiliationtookplacesomeyearslaterunderUrbanVIII。，——thesamepontiffwhowreckedpapalinfallibilityonGalileo’stelescope。HetriedtoenforcehiswillonthestateofLucca，which，inthedaysofPopePaul，hadsubmittedtotheVaticandecreesabjectly;butthatlittlerepublicnowseizedtheweaponswhichSarpihaddevised，anddrovethepapalforcesoutofthefield:thepapalexcommunicationwas，evenbythispettygovernment，annulledinVenetianfashionandevenlessrespectfully。[1]
[1]Theproofs——andfromCatholicsources——thatitwasthePopewhocondemnedGalileo’sdoctrineoftheearth’smovementaboutthesun，andnotmerelytheCongregationoftheIndex，thepresentwriterhasgiveninhisHistoryoftheWarfareofSciencewithTheology，vol。i。chap。iii。
ThustheworldlearnedhowweaktheVaticanholdhadbecome。EvenPopePaullearnedit，and，frombeingthemoststrenuousofmodernpontiffs，hebecameoneofthemostmoderateineverythingsaveintheenrichmentofhisfamily。Thusendedthelastseriousefforttocoerceapeoplebyaninterdict，andso，onemightsuppose，wouldendtheworkofFatherPaul。Notso。Therewastocomeasecondchapterinhisbiography，moreinstructive，perhaps，thanthefirst，——achapterwhichhaslasteduntilourownday。A。D。White。
{February，1904，numberDLVI。}II。
TheVenetianRepublicshoweditselfdulygratefultoSarpi。TheSenateofferedhimsplendidpresentsandentitledhim"TheologianofVenice。"Thepresentsherefused，butthetitlewithitsduty，whichwasmainlytoguardtheRepublicagainsttheencroachmentsoftheVatican，heaccepted，andhislifeinthemonasteryofSantaFoscawentonquietly，simply，laboriously，asbefore。ThehatrednowfeltforhimatRomewasunbounded。ItcorrespondedtothegratitudeatVenice。Everyonesawhisdanger，andhewellknewit。Potentateswerethenwonttosendassassinsonlongerrands，andthearmoftheVaticanwasespeciallyfar—reachingandmerciless。ItwastheperiodwhenPiusV，thePopewhomtheChurchafterwardsproclaimedasaint，commissionedanassassintomurderQueenElizabeth。[1]
[1]Thisstatementformerlyledtoviolentdenialsbyultramontanechampions;butin1870itwasmadebyLordActon，aRomanCatholic，oneofthemostlearnedofmodernhistorians，andwhenitwasangrilydenied，hequietlycitedtheofficiallifeofPopePiusintheActaSanctorum，publishedbythehighestchurchauthority。Thiswasfinal;denialceased，andthestatementisnolongerquestioned。ForotherproofsinthelineofLordActon’scitation，seeBellarmine’sSelbstbiographie，citedinapreviousarticle，pp。306，etseq。
ButtherewasinFatherPaulatrustinProvidenceakintofatalism。Againandagainhewaswarned，andamongthosewhoaresaidtohaveadvisedhimtobeonhisguardagainstpapalassassinswasnolessapersonagethanhisgreatestcontroversialenemy，——CardinalBellarmine。ItwasbelievedbySarpi’sfriendsthatBellarmine’sScotchideasofdutytohumanityprevailedoverhisRomanideasoffealtytotheVatican，andwemayrejoiceinthehopethathisnoblerqualitiesdidreallyassertthemselvesagainstthecasuistryofhisbrotherprelateswhichsanctionedassassination。
Thesewarningsweresoonseentobewellfounded。OnapleasanteveninginOctober，1607，acarefullylaidtrapwassprung。
Returningfromhisday’sworkattheDucalPalace，FatherPaul，justashehadcrossedthelittlebridgeofSantaFoscabeforereachinghisconvent，wasmetbyfiveassassins。Twoofhisusualattendantshadbeendrawnoffbytheoutburstofafireintheneighborhood;theothertwowereoldmenwhoproveduseless。Theplacewaswellchosen。Thedescentfromthebridgewassonarrowthatallthreewereobligedtomarchinsinglefile，andjustatthispointtheseruffiansfromRomespranguponhiminthedusk，separatedhimfromhiscompanions，andgavehim，inamoment，fifteendaggerthrusts，twoinhisthroatandone——afearfulgash——onthesideofhishead，andthen，convincedthattheyhadkilledhim，escapedtotheirboats，onlyafewpacesdistant。
Thevictimlingeredlonginthehospital，buthissoundconstitutionandabstemioushabitsstoodhimingoodstead。Veryimportantamongthequalitieswhichrestoredhimtohealthwerehisoptimismandcheerfulness。Anearlymanifestationofthefirstofthesewasseenwhen，onregainingconsciousness，hecalledforthestilettowhichhadbeendrawnfromthemainwoundand，runninghisfingersalongtheblade，saidcheerilytohisfriends，"Itisnotfiled。"Whatthismeant，anyoneknowswhohasseeninvariousEuropeancollectionsthedaggersdatingfromthe"agesoffaith"cunninglyfiledorgroovedtoholdpoison。[1]
[1]Thereisaremarkableexampleofabeautifuldagger，groovedtocontainpoison，intheimperialcollectionofarmsatVienna。
Asanexampleofthesecondofthesequalities，wemaytakehiswell—knownreplywhen，tothesurgeondressingthewoundmadebythe"style"orstiletto，——whospokeofits"extravagance，"
rudeness，andyetineffectiveness，——FraPaoloquietlyansweredthatinthesecharacteristicscouldberecognizedthestyleoftheRomanCuria。
MeantimetheassassinshadfoundtheirwaybacktoRome，andwerewelcomedwithopenarms;butitissomecomforttoknowthatlater，whensuchconscienceastherewasthroughoutItalyandEuropeshowedintensedisgustattheproceeding，theRomanCourttreatedthemcoldlyandevenseverely。
TheRepubliccontinuedineverywaytoshowSarpiitssympathyandgratitude。Itmadehimmanysplendidoffer，whichherefused;
buttwogiftsheaccepted。OnewasfullpermissiontoexploretheVenetianarchives，andtheotherwasalittledoorway，cutthroughthegardenwallofhismonastery，enablinghimtoreachhisgondolawithoutgoingthroughthenarrowandtortuouspathhehadformerlytakenonhisdailyjourneytothepublicoffices。
Thishumbleportalstillremains。Beneathfewtriumphalarcheshasthereeverpassedasgreatorasnobleaconqueror。[2]
[2]Thepresentwriterhasexaminedwithcarethespotwheretheattackwasmade，andfoundthatneverwasascoundrellyplotbetterconceivedormorefiendishlyexecuted。HealsovisitedwhatwasremainingoftheconventinApril，1902，andfoundthelittledoorasserviceableaswhenitwasmade。
Effortswerealsomadetocajolehim，——toinducehimtovisitRome，withfinepromisesofrecognitionandhonor，andwithsolemnassurancesthatnoharmshouldcometohim;buthewastoowisetoyield。OnlyafewyearspreviouslyhehadseenGiordanoBrunoluredtoRomeandburnedaliveontheCampodeiFiori。Hehadseenhisfriendandcorrespondent，FraFulgentioManfredi，yieldtosimilarallurementsandacceptasafeconducttoRome，which，thoughitsolemnlyguaranteedhimagainstharm，provedasworthlessasthatofJohnHussattheCouncilofConstance;theInquisitiontorturinghimtodeathonthespotwhere，sixyearsearlier，ithadburnedBruno。Hehadseenhisfriend，theArchdeaconRibetti，drawnwithintheclutchoftheVatican，onlytodieof"amostpainfulcolic"immediatelyafterdiningwithaconfidentialchamberlainofthePope，and，hadhelivedafewmonthslonger，hewouldhaveseenhisfriendandconfidant，AntoniodeDominis，ArchbishopofSpalato，towhomhehadentrustedacopyofhismostimportantwork，enticedtoRomeandputtodeathbytheInquisition。ThoughtheVaticanexercisedastrongfascinationoveritsenemies，againstFatherPaulitwaspowerless;heneveryieldedtoit，butkepttheeventenorofhisway。[3]
[3]AcopyofManfredi’s"safeconduct"isgivenbyCastellani，LettereIneditediF。P。S。，p。12，note。Nothingcouldbemoreexplicit。
Inthedispatcheswhichnowpassed，comedywasmingledwithtragedy。VeryunctuouswastheexpressionbyHisHolinessofhisapprehensionsregarding"dangerstothesalvation"andofhis"fearsforthesouls"oftheVenetianSenators，iftheypersistedinassertingtheirowncontroloftheirownstate。HardlylesstouchingwerethefearsexpressedbythegoodOratorian，CardinalBaronius，that"ajudgmentmightbebroughtupontheRepublic"ifitdeclinedtolettheVaticanhaveitsway。ButtheseexpressionswerenotlikelytoprevailwithmenwhohaddealtwithMachiavelli。
Uncompromisingasever，FatherPaulcontinuedtowritelettersandpublishtreatiseswhichclenchedmoreandmorefirmlyintothemindofVeniceandofEuropethepoliticaldoctrineofwhichhewastheapostle，——thedoctrinethattheStateisrightfullyindependentoftheChurch，——andthroughouttheChristianworldhewasrecognizedasvictor。
Nothingcouldexceedthebitternessoftheattacksuponhim，thoughsomeofthem，atthisday，provokeasmile。Whileeffortsweremadetodiscredithimamongscholarsbyspuriouswritingsorbyinterpolationsingenuinewritings，effortsequallyingeniousweremadetoarousepopularhostility。Oneofthesewasapaintingwhichrepresentedhimwrithingamidtheflamesofhell，withalegendstating，asareasonforhispunishment，thathehadopposedtheHolyFather。