[9] We append the estimate which Hallam himself forms of the Catholicity of this unfortunate friar: "Dupin observes that the long list of errors imputed by Pallavicini, which are chiefly in dates and such trifling matters, make little or no difference as to the substance of Sarpi's history; but that its author is more blamable for a malicious disposition to impute political motives to the members of the council, and idle reasonings which they did not employ. Ranke, who has given this a more minute scrutiny than Dupin could have done, comes nearly to the same result. Sarpi is not a fair, but he is, for those times, a tolerably exact historian.... Much has been disputed about the religious tenets of Father Paul: it appears to me quite out of doubt, both by the tenor of his history, and still more unequivocally, if possible, by some of his letters that he was entirely hostile to the church, in the usual sense, as well as to the court of Rome; sympathizing in affection, and concurring generally in opinion, with the reformed denomination." (_Lit. of Europe_, Part iii. ch. 2, § 3.) "This confirms the principal points in Pallavicini's main charge, that Sarpi was hostile to the church, and substituted his own malicious conjectures for the truth of history." (See _Apparatus_, ch. 1.) [10] _Literature of Eur._ Part i. ch. 6, § 25. [11] _Literature of Europe_, Part ii. ch. 2, § 18, note. [12] Pallav. _Hist. Appar._ ch. 9, § 4. [13] In a note, quoting Ranke as authority, he adds, "The number is rather startling." [14] _Lit. of Europe_, Part ii. c. 2, §§ 14, 15. [15] Mal. iii. 2-4. [16] One of these was the power of giving regular benefices _in commendam_, that is, conferring the style, title, rank, and revenues of abbot, or other religious superior, on some one not a member of the religious community, who enjoyed the advantages but never performed the duties of his office. Two evils followed: 1. An ecclesiastical benefice was a mere matter of political patronage, and liable to be conferred on unworthy persons. 2. Owing to the absence of the chief superior, discipline became very relaxed in religious communities so afflicted. At least one regular congregation, in France, entirely died out on this account. [17] Hallam. _Lit. of Eur._ Part ii. ch. 2, § 6. MATTHEW XXVII. "And He answered them nothing." O mighty Nothing! unto thee, Nothing, we owe all things that be. God spake once when He all things made, He saved all when He nothing said. The world was made of nothing then; 'Tis made by nothing now again. CRASHAW. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF CONRAD VON BOLANDEN. ANGELA. CHAPTER IV. THE BUREAUCRAT AND THE SWALLOWS.