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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 too
wise to yield。 Only a few years previously he had seen Giordano
Bruno lured to Rome and burned alive on the Campo dei Fiori。 He
had seen his friend and correspondent； Fra Fulgentio Manfredi；
yield to similar allurements and accept a safe conduct to Rome；
which； though it solemnly guaranteed him against harm； proved as
worthless as that of John Huss at the Council of Constance； the
Inquisition torturing him to death on the spot where； six years
earlier； it had burned Bruno。 He had seen his friend； the
Archdeacon Ribetti； drawn within the clutch of the Vatican； only
to die of 〃a most painful colic〃 immediately after dining with a
confidential chamberlain of the Pope； and； had he lived a few
months longer； he would have seen his friend and confidant；
Antonio de Dominis； Archbishop of Spalato； to whom he had
entrusted a copy of his most important work； enticed to Rome and
put to death by the Inquisition。 Though the Vatican exercised a
strong fascination over its enemies； against Father Paul it was
powerless； he never yielded to it； but kept the even tenor of his
way。＇3＇
＇3＇ A copy of Manfredi's 〃safe conduct〃 is given by Castellani；
Lettere Inedite di F。 P。 S。； p。 12； note。 Nothing could be more
explicit。
In the dispatches which now passed； comedy was mingled with
tragedy。 Very unctuous was the expression by His Holiness of his
apprehensions regarding 〃dangers to the salvation〃 and of his
〃fears for the souls〃 of the Venetian Senators； if they persisted
in asserting their own control of their own state。 Hardly less
touching were the fears expressed by the good Oratorian； Cardinal
Baronius； that 〃a judgment might be brought upon the Republic〃 if
it declined to let the Vatican have its way。 But these
expressions were not likely to prevail with men who had dealt
with Machiavelli。
Uncompromising as ever； Father Paul continued to write letters
and publish treatises which clenched more and more firmly into
the mind of Venice and of Europe the political doctrine of which
he was the apostle；the doctrine that the State is rightfully
independent of the Church；and throughout the Christian world he
was recognized as victor。
Nothing could exceed the bitterness of the attacks upon him；
though some of them； at this day； provoke a smile。 While efforts
were made to discredit him among scholars by spurious writings or
by interpolations in genuine writings； efforts equally ingenious
were made to arouse popular hostility。 One of these was a
painting which represented him writhing amid the flames of hell；
with a legend stating； as a reason for his punishment； that he
had opposed the Holy Father。
Now it was indeed； in the midst of ferocious attacks upon his
reputation and cunning attempts upon his life； that he entered a
new and most effective period of activity。 For years； as the
adviser of Venice； he had studied； both as a historian and as a
statesman； the greatest questions which concerned his country；
and especially those which related to the persistent efforts of
the Vatican to encroach upon Venetian self…government。 The
results of these studies he had embodied in reports which had
shaped the course of the Republic； and now； his learning and
powers of thought being brought to bear upon the policy of Europe
in general； as affected by similar papal encroachments； he began
publishing a series of treatises； which at once attracted general
attention。＇1＇
＇1＇ For the extent to which these attacks were carried； see the
large number in the Sarpi collection at the Cornell University
Library； especially volume ix。