86 GIORDANO BRUNO PART 



the course of his cross-examination he entirely changed 

 his attitude, which was at first one of defiant self- 

 confidence, open confession of his (philosophic) differ- 

 ences from the Church, and of indirect attacks upon 

 the faith in his writings ; insistence upon his right to 

 use "the natural light" of sense and reason, so long 

 as the doctrines of the Church were accepted by way 

 of faith. Later he passed from this attitude to one of 

 anxious and angry denial of all charges of heterodoxy, 

 of trafficking with heretics, and the like ; and finally to 

 one of almost cringing submission and professed readi- 

 ness to undergo any punishment for his misdeeds. It 

 is possible that he began by overrating the tolerance 

 of the Venetian Republic. In Morosini's circle, of 

 which Fra Paolo Sarpi was afterwards a member, he 

 had heard enlightened talk and free criticism of the 

 Church, and especially of Rome. One of the reputed 

 sayings of Morosini, "we were born Venetians before 

 we became Christians," makes one hesitate to accept as 

 quite honest his evidence before the tribunal. But 

 Bruno's trial occurred at a time when tolerance had 

 given way to diplomacy. Had Bruno been a Venetian 

 or of another nationality the result would have been 

 different. They had adopted a policy of friendship 

 towards the Papal government, and in consequence 

 dealt during that period much more severely with 

 heretical doctrine than with looseness of life. Bruno 

 may have discovered this in the course of his trial, and 

 changed his position in order to save his life. Sigwart 

 comes to the conclusion that "it is impossible to believe 

 in his entire genuineness and truthfulness ; it is clear 

 that he was now trying to save himself and escape con- 

 demnation by submission." Numberless quotations 

 might be made from his writings which give the lie 



