APPENDIX E: GALILEO 419 



ical depravity, having before my eyes the Holy Gospels, which I 

 touch with my own hands, swear, that I have always believed, and 

 now believe, and with the help of God will in future believe, every 

 article which the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Rome holds, 

 teaches and preaches. But because I had been enjoined by this Holy 

 Office altogether to abandon the false opinion which maintains that 

 the sun is the centre and immovable, and forbidden to hold, defend, 

 or teach the said false doctrine in any manner, and after it had been 

 signified to me that the said doctrine is repugnant with the Holy 

 Scripture, I have written and printed a book, in which I treat of 

 the same doctrine now condemned, and adduce reasons with great 

 force in support of the same, without giving any solution, and 

 therefore, have been judged grievously suspected of heresy; that 

 is to say, that I have held and believed that the sun is the centre 

 of the world and immovable, and that the earth is not the centre and 

 movable. 



Wishing, therefore, to remove from the mind of Your Emi- 

 nences, and of every Catholic Christian, this vehement suspicion 

 rightfully entertained towards me, with a sincere heart and un- 

 feigned faith, I abjure, curse and detest the said errors and here- 

 sies, and generally every other error and sect contrary to the said 

 Holy Church; and I swear that I will nevermore in future say 

 or assert anything verbally, or in writing, which may give rise 

 to a similar suspicion of me; but if I shall know any heretic, 

 or anyone suspected of heresy, that I will denounce him to this 

 Holy Office, or to the Inquisitor and Ordinary of the place in which 

 I may be. 



I swear, moreover, and promise, that I will fulfill, and observe 

 fully, all the penances which have been or shall be laid to me by this 

 Holy Office. But if it shall happen that I violate any of my said 

 promises, oaths and protestations (which God avert!), I subject 

 myself to all the pains and punishments which have been de- 

 creed and promulgated by the sacred canons, and other general 

 and particular constitutions, against delinquents of this description. 

 So may God help me, and His Holy Gospels, which I touch with my 

 own hands. 



I, the above-named Galileo Galilei, have abjured, sworn, promised 

 and bound myself, as above, and in witness thereof with my own hand 

 have subscribed this present writing of my abjuration, which I have 



