While admitting 'faults of grave importance' and 'vacillation in the service of his prince,' he maintains that his secret foes have exaggerated these offenses, and have succeeded in prejudicing the magnanimous and clement spirit of Alfonso.

He is particularly anxious about the charge of heresy.

Nothing indicates that any guilt of greater moment weighed upon his conscience.[31] After scrutinizing all accessible sources of information, we are thus driven to accept the prosaic hypothesis that Tasso was deranged, and that his Court-rivals had availed themselves of a favorable opportunity for making the duke sensible of his insanity.
After the middle of July, the Convent of S.Francis became intolerable to Tasso.

His malady had assumed the form of a multiplex fear, which never afterwards relaxed its hold on his imagination.

The Inquisition, the duke, the multitude of secret enemies plotting murder, haunted him day and night like furies.