(Robert), an Italian Jesuit, one of the best controversial writers of his time. In 1576, he read lectures at Rome on controversies; which he did with such applause, that Sixtus V. sending a legate into France in 1590, appointed him as a divine, in case any dispute in religion should happen to be discussed. He returned to Rome, and was raised successively to different offices, till at last, in 1599, he was honoured with a cardinal's hat; to accept of which dignity, it is said, they were obliged to force him by the threats of an anathema. It is certain, that no Jesuit ever did greater honour to his order than he; and that no author ever defended the cause of the Roman church in general, and that of the pope in particular, to more advantage. The Protestants have owned this sufficiently; for, during the space of 50 years, there was scarcely any considerable divine among them who did not fix upon this author for the subject of his books of controversy. Notwithstanding the zeal with which this Jesuit maintained the power of the pope over the temporality of kings, he displeased Sixtus V. in his work De Romano Pontifice, by not insisting that the power which Jesus Christ gave to his vicegerent, was direct, but only indirect; and had the mortification to see it put into the index of the inquisition, though it was afterwards removed. He left, at his death, to the Virgin Mary one half of his soul, and to Jesus Christ, the other.—Bellarmine is said to have been a man of great charity and temperance, and remarkable for his patience. His stature was low, and his mien very indifferent; but the excellence of his genius might be discovered from the traces of his countenance. He expressed himself with great perspicuity; and the words which he first made use of to explain his thoughts were generally so proper, that there appeared no nature in his writings.