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acknowledged there a few years before。 It was doubtless felt that
this most pious of all countries； which had previously been so
docile； and which had stood steadily by the Vatican against
Venice in the recent struggle； would again set an example of
submission。 Never was there a greater mistake： the Vatican
received from Spanish piety a humiliating refusal。
Next it tried the old weapons against the little government at
Turin。 For many generations the House of Savoy had been dutifully
submissive to religious control； nowhere out of Spain had heresy
been treated more cruelly； yet here； too； the Vatican claim was
spurned。 But the final humiliation took place some years later
under Urban VIII。；the same pontiff who wrecked papal
infallibility on Galileo's telescope。 He tried to enforce his
will on the state of Lucca； which； in the days of Pope Paul； had
submitted to the Vatican decrees abjectly； but that little
republic now seized the weapons which Sarpi had devised； and
drove the papal forces out of the field： the papal
excommunication was； even by this petty government； annulled in
Venetian fashion and even less respectfully。＇1＇
＇1＇ The proofsand from Catholic sourcesthat it was the Pope
who condemned Galileo's doctrine of the earth's movement about
the sun； and not merely the Congregation of the Index； the
present writer has given in his History of the Warfare of Science
with Theology； vol。 i。 chap。 iii。
Thus the world learned how weak the Vatican hold had become。 Even
Pope Paul learned it； and； from being the most strenuous of
modern pontiffs； he became one of the most moderate in everything
save in the enrichment of his family。 Thus ended the last serious
effort to coerce a people by an interdict； and so； one might
suppose； would end the work of Father Paul。 Not so。 There was to
come a second chapter in his biography； more instructive；
perhaps； than the first；a chapter which has lasted until our
own day。 A。 D。 White。
｛February； 1904； number DLVI。｝ II。
The Venetian Republic showed itself duly grateful to Sarpi。 The
Senate offered him splendid presents and entitled him 〃Theologian
of Venice。〃 The presents he refused； but the title with its duty；
which was mainly to guard the Republic against the encroachments
of the Vatican； he accepted； and his life in the monastery of
Santa Fosca went on quietly； simply； laboriously； as before。 The
hatred now felt for him at Rome was unbounded。 It corresponded to
the gratitude at Venice。 Every one saw his danger； and he well
knew it。 Potentates were then wont to send assassins on long
errands； and the arm of the Vatican was especially far…reaching
and merciless。 It was the period when Pius V； the Pope whom the
Church afterwards proclaimed a saint； commissioned an assassin to
murder Queen Elizabeth。＇1＇
＇1＇ This statement formerly led to violent denials by
ultramontane champions； but in 1870 it was made by Lord Acton； a
Roman Catholic； one of the most learned of modern historians； and
when it was angrily denied； he quietly cited the official life of
Pope Pius in the Acta Sanctorum； published by the highest church
authority。 This was final； denial ceased； and the statement is no
longer questioned。 For other proofs in the line of Lord Acton's
citation； see Bellarmine's Selbstbiographie； cited in a previous
article； pp。 306； et seq。
But there was in Father Paul a trust in Providence akin to
fatalism。 Again and again he was warned； and among those who are
said to have advised him to be on his guard against papal
assassins was no less a personage than his greatest controversial
enemy；Cardinal Bellarmine。 It was believed by Sarpi's friends
that Bellarmine's Scotch ideas of duty to humanity prevailed over
his Roman ideas of fealty to the Vatican； and we may rejoice in
the hope that his nobler qualities did really assert themselves
against the casuistry of his brother prelates which sanctioned
assassination。
These warnings were soon seen to be well founded。 On a pleasant
evening in October； 1607； a carefully laid trap was sprung。
Returning from his day's work at the Ducal Palace； Father Paul；
just as he had crossed the little bridge of Santa Fosca before
reaching his convent； was met by five assassins。 Two of his usual
attendants had been drawn off by the outburst of a fire in the
neighborhood； the other two were old men who proved useless。 The
place was well chosen。 The descent from the bridge was so narrow
that all three were obliged to march in single file； and just at
this point these ruffians from Rome sprang upon him in the dusk；
separated him from his companions； and gave him； in a moment；
fifteen dagger thrusts； two in his throat and onea fearful gash
on the side of his head； and then； convinced that they had
killed him； escaped to their boats； only a few paces distant。
The victim lingered long in the hospital； but his sound
constitution and abstemious habits stood him in good stead。 Very
important among the qualities which restored him to health were
his optimism and cheerfulness。 An early manifestation of the
first of these was seen when； on regaining consciousness； he
called for the stiletto which had been drawn from the main wound
and； running his fingers along the blade； said cheerily to his
friends； 〃It is not filed。〃 What this meant； any one knows who
has seen in various European collections the daggers dating from
the 〃ages of faith〃 cunningly filed or grooved to hold poison。＇1＇
＇1＇ There is a remarkable example of a beautiful dagger； grooved
to contain poison； in the imperial collection of arms at Vienna。
As an example of the second of these qualities； we may take his
well…known reply when； to the surgeon dressing the wound made by
the 〃style〃 or stiletto； who spoke of its 〃extravagance；〃
rudeness； and yet ineffectiveness；Fra Paolo quietly answered
that in these characteristics could be recognized the style of
the Roman Curia。
Meantime the assassins had found their way back to Rome； and were
welcomed with open arms； but it is some comfort to know that
later； when such conscience as there was throughout Italy and
Europe showed intense disgust at the proceeding； the Roman Court
treated them coldly and even severely。
The Republic continued in every way to show Sarpi its sympathy
and gratitude。 It made him many splendid offer； which he refused；
but two gifts he accepted。 One was full permission to explore the
Venetian archives； and the other was a little doorway； cut
through the garden wall of his monastery； enabling him to reach
his gondola without going through the narrow and tortuous path he
had formerly taken on his daily journey to the public offices。
This humble portal still remains。 Beneath few triumphal arches
has there ever passed as great or as noble a conqueror。＇2＇
＇2＇ The present writer has examined with care the spot where the
attack was made； and found that never was a scoundrelly plot
better conceived or more fiendishly executed。 He also visited
what was remaining of the convent in April； 1902； and found the
little door as serviceable as when it was made。
Efforts were also made to cajole him；to induce him to visit
Rome； with fine promises of recognition and honor； and with
solemn assurances that no harm should come to him； but he was to