32 GIORDANO BRUNO PART 



supporter of the Scottish Queen, and seems to have 

 had a finger in almost every conspiracy that was 

 planned or formed by the English Catholics. He 

 became unbearable to Queen Elizabeth ; his recall was 

 demanded and refused; but in January of 1584 he 

 was compelled to leave England, and a formal rupture 

 with Spain was the consequence, which became actual 

 war four years afterwards. Philip of Spain did not 

 desert his champion, in whom he had the highest 

 confidence. In October of 1584 Mendo^a became 

 Ambassador to France, and there in 1855 Bruno 

 renewed acquaintance with him. 



Like all his contemporaries, Bruno came under the 

 Sidney, spell of Sir Philip Sidney's charm. He had already 

 heard in Milan and in France of that " most illustrious 

 and excellent cavalier, one of the rarest and brightest 

 spirits in the world. " To Sir Philip are dedicated the 

 two chief ethical writings of Bruno, the Spaccio, and 

 the Heroici Furori, with the expressed assurance that 

 the author is not presenting a lyre to a deaf man, nor 

 a mirror to a blind. " The Italian reasons with one 

 who can understand his speech ; his verses are under 

 the censure and the protection of a poet. Philosophy 

 displays her form unveiled to so clear an eye as yours. 

 The way of heroism is pointed out to a heroic and 

 generous spirit." Sidney was one of the first to take 

 an interest in the Italian on his arrival in England, 

 and when the Spaccio was published, on the eve, as 

 Bruno thought, of his departure from England towards 

 the close of 1584,* Bruno could not turn his back 

 upon Sidney's "beautiful, fortunate, and chivalrous 

 country, without saluting him with a mark of recogni- 



1 Mauvissiere's successor was nominated in Nov. 1584, although he did not leave 

 until a year later. 



