historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)
much； about himself； and much； though perhaps not too much； about poor
old Galen； and his substitution of an ape’s inside for that of a human being。
The storm which had been long gathering burst upon him。 The old
school； trembling for their time…honoured reign； bespattered； with all that
pedantry； ignorance； and envy could suggest； the man who dared not only
to revolutionise surgery； but to interfere with the privileged mysteries of
medicine； and； over and above； to bee a greater favourite at the court
of the greatest of monarchs。 While such as Eustachius； himself an able
discoverer； could join in the cry； it is no wonder if a lower soul； like that of
Sylvius； led it open…mouthed。 He was a mean； covetous； bad man； as
George Bachanan well knew； and； according to his nature； he wrote a
furious book 〃Ad Vesani calumnias depulsandas。〃 The punning change
of Vesalius into Vesanus （madman） was but a fair and gentle stroke for a
polemic； in days in which those who could not kill their enemies with steel
or powder； held themselves justified in doing so； if possible； by
vituperation； calumny； and every engine of moral torture。 But a far more
terrible weapon； and one which made Vesalius rage； and it may be for
once in his life tremble； was the charge of impiety and heresy。 The
Inquisition was a very ugly place。 It was very easy to get into it；
especially for a Netherlander： but not so easy to get out。 Indeed
Vesalius must have trembled； when he saw his master； Charles V。； himself
take fright； and actually call on the theologians of Salamanca to decide
whether it was lawful to dissect a human body。 The monks； to their
honour； used their mon sense； and answered Yes。 The deed was so
83
… Page 84…
Historical Lectures and Essays
plainly useful that it must be lawful likewise。 But Vesalius did not feel
that he had triumphed。 He dreaded； possibly； lest the storm should only
have blown over for a time。 He fell； possibly； into hasty disgust at the
folly of mankind； and despair of arousing them to use their mon sense；
and acknowledge their true interest and their true benefactors。 At all
events； he threw into the fire so it is saidall his unpublished
manuscripts； the records of long years of observation； and renounced
science thenceforth。
We hear of him after this at Brussels； and at Basle likewisein which
latter city； in the pany of physicians； naturalists； and Grecians； he must
have breathed awhile a freer air。 But he seems to have returned thence to
his old master Charles V。； and to have finally settled at Madrid as a court
surgeon to Philip II。； who sent him； but too late； to extract the lance
splinters from the eye of the dying Henry II。
He was now married to a lady of rank from Brussels； Anne van
Hamme by name； and their daughter married in time Philip II。’s grand
falconer； who was doubtless a personage of no small social rank。 Vesalius
was well off in worldly things； somewhat fond； it is said； of good living
and of luxury； inclined； it may be； to say； 〃Let us eat and drink； for to…
morrow we die；〃 and to sink more and more into the mere worldling；
unless some shock should awake him from his lethargy。
And the awakening shock did e。 After eight years of court life；
he resolved； early in the year 1564； to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem。
The reasons for so strange a determination are wrapped in mystery and
contradiction。 The mon story was that he had opened a corpse to
ascertain the cause of death； and that； to the horror of the bystanders； the
heart was still seen to beat； that his enemies accused him to the Inquisition；
and that he was condemned to death； a sentence which was muted to
that of going on pilgrimage。 But here； at the very outset； accounts differ。
One says that the victim was a nobleman； name not given； another that it
was a lady’s maid； name not given。 It is most improbable； if not
impossible； that Vesalius； of all men； should have mistaken a living body
84
… Page 85…
Historical Lectures and Essays
for a dead one； while it is most probable； on the other hand； that his
medical enemies would gladly raise such a calumny against him； when he
was no longer in Spain to contradict it。 Meanwhile Llorente； the
historian of the Inquisition； makes no mention of Vesalius having been
brought before its tribunal； while he does mention Vesalius’s residence at
Madrid。 Another story is； that he went abroad to escape the bad temper
of his wife； another that he wanted to enrich himself。 Another storyand
that not an unlikely oneis； that he was jealous of the rising reputation of
his pupil Fallopius； then professor of anatomy at Venice。 This
distinguished surgeon； as I said before； had written a book； in which he
added to Vesalius’s discoveries； and corrected certain of his errors。
Vesalius had answered him hastily and angrily； quoting his anatomy from
memory； for； as he himself plained； he could not in Spain obtain a
subject for dissection； not even； he said； a single skull。 He had sent his
book to Venice to be published； and had heard； seemingly； nothing of it。
He may have felt that he was falling behind in the race of science； and that
it was impossible for him to carry on his studies in Madrid； and so； angry
with his own laziness and luxury； he may have felt the old sacred fire flash
up in him； and have determined to go to Italy and bee a student and a
worker once more。
The very day that he set out； Clusius of Arras； then probably the best
botanist in the world； arrived at Madrid； and； asking the reason of
Vesalius’s departure； was told by their fellow…countryman； Charles de
Tisnacq； procurator for the affairs of the Netherlands； that Vesalius had
gone of his own free will； and with all facilities which Philip could grant
him； in performance of a vow which he had made during a dangerous
illness。 Here； at least； we have a drop of information； which seems taken
from the stream sufficiently near to the fountain…head： but it must be
recollected that De Tisnacq lived in dangerous times； and may have found
it necessary to walk warily in them； that through him had been sent； only
the year before； that famous letter from William of Orange； Horn； and
Egmont； the fate whereof may be read in Mr。 Motley’s fourth chapter； that
85
… Page 86…
Historical Lectures and Essays
the crisis of the Netherlands which sprung out of that letter was ing
fast； and that； as De Tisnacq was on friendly terms with Egmont； he may
have felt his head at times somewhat loose on his shoulders； especially if
he had heard Alva say； as he wrote； 〃that every time he saw the despatches
of those three senors； they moved his choler so； that if he did not take
much care to temper it； he would seem a frenzied man。〃 In such times；
De Tisnacq may have thought good to return a diplomatic answer to a
fellow…countryman concerning a third fellow…countryman； especially
when that countryman； as a former pupil of Melancthon at Wittemberg；
might himself be under suspicion of heresy； and therefore of possible
treason。
Be this as it may； one cannot but suspect some strain of truth in the
story about the Inquisition； for； whether or not Vesalius operated on Don
Carlos； he had seen with his own eyes that miraculous Virgin of Atocha at
the bed’s foot of the prince。 He had heard his recovery attributed； not to
the operation； but to the intercession of Fray； now Saint Diego； ｛12｝ and