84 GIORDANO BRUNO PART 



procurator, Donato, who had meanwhile returned from 

 Rome, pressing the unconstitutional nature of the act, 

 the Nuncio pointed out that Bruno was a Neapolitan, 

 not a subject of the Venetian Republic at all ; that there 

 were earlier unfinished processes against him both in 

 Naples and in Rome ; and that in similar cases the 

 accused had been sent to the chief tribunal at Rome. 

 The Senate agreed to consider the matter, and expressed 

 their desire to give every possible satisfaction to his 

 Holiness. 



January 7, On the yth of January, their procurator, Contarini, 

 reported on Bruno to the College that " his faults were 

 extremely grave in respect of heresies, although in 

 other respects one of the most excellent and rarest 

 natures, and of exquisite learning and knowledge " ; 

 but) since the case was begun at Naples and Rome, was 

 one of extraordinary gravity, and Bruno a stranger, 

 not a subject, he thought it might be convenient to 

 satisfy his Holiness, as had been done before at times 

 in similar cases. He also hinted that Bruno himself, 

 on being informed that his case was to be brought to 

 a speedy conclusion, had said he would send a writing 

 in which he was to ask to be remitted to Rome, but 

 that this might have been intended merely to put off 

 time. His report he desired to have kept secret, both 

 for public and for private reasons. 1 It was successful 

 in its aim, for on the yth of January it was decided 

 that "to gratify the Pope, the said Giordano Bruno 

 be remitted to the Tribunal of the Inquisition at Rome, 

 being consigned to Monsignor the Nuncio that he may 

 be sent in what custody and by what means his Reverend 

 Lordship thinks best ; that the Nuncio be notified of 

 ^this, and that our ambassador at Rome be also advised 



1 Doc. 24. Venetian State Archives, 



