roduce anatomical study from the human subject. Cardan's liberality
of temper led him to sympathize with the innovator. His account of
Edward VI.'s disposition and understanding is extremely favourable, and
is entitled to credit as that of a competent observer without bias
towards either side of the religious question. He cast the king's
nativity, and indulged in a number of predictions which were effectually
confuted by the royal youth's death in the following year.

Cardan had now attained the summit of his prosperity, and the rest of
his life was little but a series of disasters. His principal misfortunes
arose from the crimes and calamities of his sons, one of whom was an
utter reprobate, while the tragic fate of the other overwhelmed the
father with anguish. This son, Giovanni Battista, also a physician, had
contracted an imprudent marriage with a girl of indifferent character,
Brandonia Seroni, who subsequently proved unfaithful to him. The injured
husband revenged himself with poison; the deed was detected, and the
exceptional severity of the punishment seems to justify Cardan in
attributing it to the rancour of his medical rivals, with whom he had
never at any time been on good terms. The blow all but crushed him; his
reputation and his practice waned; he addicted himself to gaming, a vice
to which he had always been prone; his mind became unhinged and filled
with distempered imaginations. He was ultimately banished from Milan on
some accusation not specified, and although the decree was ultimately
rescinded, he found it advisable to accept a professorship at Bologna
(1562). While residing there in moderate comfort, and mainly occupied
with the composition of supplements to his former works, he was suddenly
arrested on a charge not stated, but in all probability heresy. Though
he had always been careful to keep on terms with the Church, the bent of
his mind had been palpably towards free thought, and the circumstance
had probably attracted the attention of Pius V., who then ruled the
Church in the spirit, as he had formerly exercised the functions, of an
inquisitor. Through the intercession, as would appear, of some
influential cardinals, Cardan was released, but was deprived of his
professorship, prohibited from teaching and publishing any further, and
removed to Rome, where he spent his remaining years in receipt of a
pension from the pope. It seems to have been urged in his favour that
his intellect had been d