to be a proper instrument for the legislator. The two greatest works of Savigny are his—"History of Roman Law during the Middle Ages," 6 vols., Heidelberg, 1815-31; and his "System of the Present Roman Law," 8 vols., Berlin, 1840-49. To the latter work, his "Law of Obligations," 2 vols., serves as a kind of continuation. The revolution of 1848 induced Savigny to retire from all offices, and to devote himself exclusively to literary labours. He died at an advanced age at Dresden, October 25, 1861.—(See Life by Rudorff, Berlin, 1862.)—K. E.
SAVILE, George, Marquis of Halifax. See Halifax.
SAVILE, Sir Henry, an eminent scholar and patron of learning, was born of a good family at Bradley, Yorkshire, 30th November, 1549. He entered Merton college, Oxford, in 1561, taking his degree of M.A. in 1570. He served as proctor for two years, and read voluntary lectures on Euclid, Ptolemæus, and other ancient mathematical writers. In 1578 he made a tour on the continent, that he might perfect himself in various spheres of mental culture; and on his return he was appointed tutor in Greek and mathematics to Queen Elizabeth. In 1585 he was chosen warden of Merton college, and he held the office for the long period of thirty-six years. In 1596 he became provost of Eton, and on the accession of James I. he was knighted. Other honours and preferments from royal patronage he refused, and the loss of an only son made him quite unsolicitous of promotion. He devoted himself and his fortune to the advancement of learning, and in 1619 founded two new professorships at Oxford—one of geometry and another of astronomy. Sir Henry Savile died on the 19th of February, 1622. He bequeathed his library to Oxford, and gave it many other benefactions. His favourite studies were mathematics and Greek. In 1613 was issued his famous edition of "Chrysostom," in 8 vols., folio, on which he had spent no less than £8000 in securing collations of the best MSS., and other literary preparations; in 1620 his "Prælectiones tredecim in Elementa Euclidis." He also published "Commentarii de militia Romana;" "Rerum Anglicarum post Bedam Scriptores," together with some translations from Tacitus. He also edited Bradwardine De Causa Dei. Immortal honour belongs to Sir Henry Savile as a munificent promoter of classical and patristic literature.—J. E.
SAVONAROLA, Girolamo, a distinguished monk, "a reformer before the Reformation," as he has been not inaptly designated, was born at Ferrara on the 1st of September, 1452. He was descended from a family of noble extraction, originally resident in Madrid. His father, who destined him for the medical profession, gave him every educational advantage, and the son indicated at an early age that acuteness of intellect and force of character for which he was afterwards celebrated. At the same time his tastes and tendencies even from childhood were strongly devotional; and as if prophetical of his after career, in one of his poems written by him at the age of twenty he described very graphically, and no less severely censured, the corruptions of the Church of Rome. When the time came for him to decide upon a profession, he felt an insufferable aversion to his father's choice, and an equally powerful predilection for the monastic life. In consequence, when twenty-three years of age, he secretly quitted his home and joined himself to a Dominican fraternity at Bologna. Here he expected to find not only seclusion from the world, but a state of angelic purity. Bitter, therefore, was his disappointment on discovering that selfishness, sensuality, and ambition were rife within conventual walls. At length he found his solace in the study of the Holy Scriptures, at the same time deriving much satisfaction from the works of Aquinas. At a subsequent period, urged by his superiors as well as prompted by inclination, he determined to make proof of his powers as a preacher. His first essays were anything but encouraging. Owing to awkardness of address and natural imperfection of articulation he failed signally, after reiterated trials returning to Bologna humbled and disheartened. He did not, however, abandon his purpose, but, like Demosthenes of old, he successfully grappled with his impediments; so successfully that when at the end of a twelvemonth he was appointed to preach at Brescia, hardly a trace of them remained. On that occasion, as well as on subsequent occasions, he electrified his audience by the scorching denunciations which he launched forth against the abuses and atrocities, ecclesiastical as well as civil, which abounded. During the following few years, whilst preaching occasionally, he was chiefly absorbed in qualifying himself more completely for his ministry; but in the year 1487, preaching at a provincial chapter of the Dominicans in Reggie, he was heard by the distinguished Giovanni Pico, prince of Mirandola, who was so captivated by his eloquence that he wrote in praise of him to the illustrious Lorenzo de' Medici, who in consequence invited Savonarola to take up his abode in Florence. This after the lapse of two years he did, and then his grand career of influence and usefulness commenced. He united himself to the great Dominican convent of San Marco, and here, in the garden of the establishment, he preached to vast and accumulating multitudes. On the death of the prior in 1491, to such a degree of power and esteem had he attained that he was appointed to the vacant dignity, a post of no small honour and emolument. More zealous than ever in his vocation as a preacher, the large church of San Marco, and ultimately the spacious cathedral itself, proved insufficient to contain the vast concourse who flocked from all the city and neighbourhood to hear his glowing addresses. Nor did the impressions made on the minds of his hearers evaporate in transient excitement. The duties of religion were more earnestly attended to than before, and striking reformations in life and manners took place. Meantime, the simplicity, self-denial, benevolence, and independence of his character gave point and power to his ministrations. So great was the influence he thus attained, that Lorenzo de' Medici himself not only admired his oratory, but sought to conciliate his support. He found the disinterested monk, however, too free from covetousness to be bribed by wealth, and too devoid of ambition to be captivated by favour. Neither was he able to induce him by the suggestions of worldly caution to adopt a less unsparing style in lashing the abuses of the clerical order and the vices of the court of Rome. Yet, to the honour of Lorenzo be it said, he continued to treat the uncompromising prior with special respect, and on his deathbed sent for him, hearkened solemnly to his counsels, and asked for his prayers and parting blessing. Throughout the subsequent scenes of confusion which harassed Florence, Savonarola demeaned himself with befitting patriotism, dignity, and disinterestedness. He showed what has so often been shown, that the love of truth goes hand in hand with the love of liberty. When Charles VIII. invaded Italy and approached the gates of Florence, the fearless prior was chosen as the spokesman of the delegates sent forth to confer with the conqueror. Far from quailing or crouching before the monarch, he entered his presence clothed in his official vestments, with an air and mien of undaunted confidence, bearing in his hand the open gospel, and as he pointed to it, addressing him in a tone of admonition and authority rather than of fawning adulation. Charles listened with astonishment yet displayed no anger, and granted the city not unfavourable terms of peace. Upon his withdrawal, the citizens were left at liberty to frame their own form of government. Amid the collision and struggle of parties which ensued, Savonarola acted as the counsellor and pacificator. Through his commanding influence and energetic efforts a constitution was adopted based on these noble principles, which he laid down as fundamental—"1st, That whatever they resolved on should be done in the fear of God. 2nd, That they should act on a patriotic preference of the public to private interests. 3rd, That a general amnesty should be proclaimed. And 4th, That the government should be fixed on a popular basis." A constitution resting on such pillars could not but work beneficially, and for a season Florence wore a new aspect. The monastic institutions were reformed, morality and order were promoted, and sound education was largely extended. Such a state of things was, however, too bright to be long left unmolested in those days of darkness and of despotism. The continued and augmented freedom with which the reformer denounced the abuses of the church, and called for their redress, brought down upon him the indignation of the papacy. He was cited to Rome; brief followed brief forbidding him to preach any longer in Florence, and commanding him to retire from the city. Upheld, however, by the magistracy, and more than ever prized by the people, he pursued his course, neither daunted by the menaces nor fascinated by the secret promises of Rome. Indeed his power and influence became for a season paramount in the state, as well as in the church of his city. It must be conceded, however, that though the efforts of his enemies had only enhanced his ascendancy, he himself about this time materially weakened it, at least amongst the reflective and judicious, by allowing his monkish fanaticism to betray him into certain extravagances, the fruits of a sincere but indiscriminating zeal. As a consequence his political power gradually waned; his enemies were emboldened; his friends disheartened.
