Contarini will more than once arrest our notice in the course of this volume.

Of all the Italians of the time, he was perhaps the greatest, wisest, and most sympathetic.

Had it been possible to avert the breach between Catholicism and Protestantism, to curb the intolerance of Inquisitors and the ambition of Jesuits, and to guide the reform of the Church by principles of moderation and liberal piety, Contarini was the man who might have restored unity to the Church in Europe.

Once, indeed, at Regensburg in 1541, he seemed upon the very point of effecting a reconciliation between the parties that were tearing Christendom asunder.

But his failure was even more conspicuous than his momentary semblance of success.