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 that men of such views and necessities as belong to every Papal corporation, when they talk freely and confidentially among themselves, often, without being sensible of it. use language which appears very like the ridicule of their opponents. And it must be admitted that, in trying matters of fact, mere internal evidence is frequently very insufficient and delusive. A clever speculator in this way might easily prove to his own satisfaction, that every action in the life of Julius Cæsar, or any other well-known individual, was highly improbable; and perhaps bring himself, and others like himself, to the conclusion, that no such person ever existed. But there is reason in things; and we have in the present case some data of facts, which may serve as a guide and test.

Vergerio himself might have settled the business; and in the preface to his collected works he has done something. After correcting the mistake of some, who thought his Actiones a real transaction, he says of the other contents, one of which is the Bolognese Consilium — ''Quid in aliis Tractatibus agatur, non opus est dicere, cum apertissime & sine ullo fuco impetatur [scil. Papa], dignissimus qui impeteretur cum omnibus suis creaturis, ego hic''