SARPI, PIETRO, better known by his monastic appellation, Flt. PAOLO, or brother Paul, was b. at Venice In the year •352; became an early proficient in mathematics as well as in general literature, resolved to embrace the monastic life. and in his 20th year took the vows in the religions order of the Servites (q.v.). Soon afterward he was appointed by the duke of Mantua to a professorship of theology in that city; but he held it for a short time; and returning to his order, of which he was elected provincial in his 27th year, he continued to pursue in private his studies in languages, in mathematics. in astronomy, and in all the other branches of natural philosophy, including the medical and' physiological sciences, in which he attained to great proficiency, being by some writers regarded (although, as it would seem, without suqficient grounds) as entitled to at least a share in the glory of the discovery of the circulation of the blood. The freedom of some of his opinions led to his being charged at Rome with heterodox views, and although • held free from actual heresy, his opinions became an object of suspicion; and in the dispute between the republic of Venice and Paul V. (q.v.) or the subject of clerical immunities, Sarpi justified these suspicions by the energy with which he threw himself into the anti-papal party. On being summoned to Rome to account for his conduct. be refused to obey, and was accordingly excommunicated as being contumacious. zeal of Sarpi's opposition to Rome drew upon him the hostility of the partisans of the Roman claim; and an attempt was even made upon his life by a band of assassins, whom the ardor of party-spirit at the time did not hesitate, although upon mere pre sumption, to represent as emissaries of the Jesuits. Fra Paolo himself openly professed to share this suspicion, and believing his life in danger, confined lthnsclf thenceforward within the inclosure of his monastery. It was in this retirement that he composed his celebrated Hisiors of the antnea of Treat, which has long been the subject of controversy and criticism. It was published in London by Antonio de Dominis, the ex-bishop of Spalatro, who had recently conformed to Protestantism, at first tinder the pseudonym of.Pietro Soave Poland, an anagram of the real Dante of the author, Poe/c Sarre 1"eveto; and it almost immediately rose into popularity with the adversaries of Rome as well in England as throughout the continent. It is by no means a simple history of the pro
ceedings of the council, but rather a controversial narrative of the discussions. in which the writer freely enters into the merits of the doctrines tinder discussion, and in many cases displays a strong anti-Catholic bias. His judgment of the motives and of the con duct of the members of the council, especially of the representatives of the pope and Ids partisans in the assembly, is uniformly hostile, and has been accepted by Protestants as a strong testimony against Rome from a member of the Roman church. It must be confessed, however, that whatever judgment we may form of Sturpi's credibility on his own merits, it is idle to look upon him in the light of a member of the church of Rome., it is plain, from numberless declarations in his work, and from remains of his corre spondence published after his death, that his opinions were strongly biased, not nierely with an anti-Romao, but even with rationalistic leanings; and Ranke does not hesitate to declare that his unsupported statements cannot be accepted with security, when there is question of a damaging narrative of some intrigue of the legates in the council, or sonic cabal of the Italian 'bishops in the interest of Roman views. A voluminous counter of the council of Trent was written by the Roman Jesuit (afterward cardinal) Pallavutino, which follows him into the details as well of the history as of the contro versy. It would lie out of place here to enter into any comparison of these rival his tories of the council. The history of Sarpi has been translated into most of the European languages. The French translation is by the celebrated Courrayer, and is enriched with copious vindicatory and critical annotations. Sarpi lived in the full vigor of intellect to time age of 71, and died of at neglected cold, which led to a protracted illness, in the year 1623. His life as an ecclesiastic was without reproach; and his long-tried zeal in the cause of the republic had made him the idol of his fellow-citizens. lie was honored accordingly by the republic with a public funeral. His History of the council V Treat has been reprinted in numberless editions; and his collected works were published ht Verona in 8 vols. 4to, 1761-68, and again in Naples, in 24 vols. 8vo, in 1790.