i VENICE AND THE POPE 85 



thereof to represent it to his Holiness as a mark of 

 the continued readiness of the Republic to do what 

 is pleasing to him." 1 The ambassador, Paruta, was 

 informed of the decision, and asked to present it to the 

 Pope as proceeding, in the words of the letter, " from 

 our reverend and filial regard for his Holiness, with 

 whom you should condole in our name on his indis- 

 position ; and if on the arrival of these presents he is 

 in good health, as with the grace of God we hope, 

 you shall congratulate him thereupon." His Holiness, 

 on Paruta's informing him of the decision, was highly 

 gratified, and replied with " courteous and kindly 

 words, saying how greatly he desired to remain always 

 in harmony with the Republic, and how he hoped it 

 might not give him bones that were very hard to gnaw, 

 in case others should cast up to him that he yielded 

 overmuch to the affection he bore it." 2 Clearly Venice 

 had no desire to quarrel with the Papal Government 

 just at that time, and the unfortunate Bruno was made 

 a political sacrifice. The persistency of the Pope's 

 representative at Venice in demanding Bruno's trans- 

 ference to Rome, and the Pope's evident relief when 

 Venice yielded, show how important the death or com- 

 plete recantation of Bruno had come to be thought by 

 the Catholic party. 



On the 2yth of February 1593 Bruno entered the 

 prison of the Inquisition at Rome. 3 



XVII 



Bruno's behaviour before the Venetian tribunal has 

 been regarded as a signal blot upon his character. In 



1 Doc. 25. State Archives. 

 2 Docs. 26, 27. 3 Roman Documents, III. 



