GALILEO. 353 



Office, who pronounced that some phrases of it looked ill at first sight, 

 but that they were capable of interpretation in a good sense, and did 

 not deviate from Catholic doctrine. Caccini was summoned to Eome 

 as a witness and gave evidence, most of which was found to be baseless 

 (November, 1615) and was disregarded. 



Early in the same year Galileo had sent copies of the letter to Cas- 

 telli to friends in Eome. It was greatly admired ; but his friends, one 

 and all, strenuously advised him to keep to philosophy and to avoid 

 religious discussion. Prince Cesi expressly warns him to avoid all 

 mention of the Copernican theory, for Cardinal Bellarmine — a good, 

 great and powerful prince of the Church — had told him that in his 

 opinion the theory was heretical and contrary to scripture. Cardinals 

 Barberini, Del Monte and Bellarmine assured Galileo's Boman friends 

 that so long as he confined himself to scientific questions and did not 

 enter into theological interpretations of the Bible he had nothing to 

 fear (August, 1615). All these cardinals were very friendly to Galileo 

 personally, and their friendship stood him in good stead. Their atti- 

 tude was representative of that of the church. So long as religion was 

 not attacked science was to be free. Any assault on doctrine was to be 

 repelled with vigor, and at all costs. Theological interpretation was 

 not to be permitted to laymen. That was a business reserved by the 

 church. 



A Carmelite monk, Foscarini, printed in 1615 a letter on 'the 

 opinion of the Pythagoreans and of Copernicus of the mobility of the 

 earth and the stability of the sun/ which was widely read and quickly 

 came to a second edition. The Inquisition was at this time consid- 

 ering Foscarini's book also. Galileo felt that his presence at Rome 

 would be advantageous, and in December, 1615, he set out provided 

 with letters of introduction from the Grand Duke to dignitaries, in- 

 cluding the Tuscan ambassador, Guicciardini. He was received with 

 honor as a celebrity. With no great effort he freed himself from all 

 personal difficulties and was able to report (February 6, 1616) that 

 the monk Caccini had made him a formal visit to ask his pardon. On 

 the same day he writes to the Tuscan Secretary of State, Piechena: 

 " My business, so far as it relates to myself, is completed. All the 

 exalted personages who have been conducting it have told me so plainly 

 and in a most obliging manner. ... So far as this point is concerned, 

 therefore, I might return home without delay." 



He goes on to say that it is proposed to pass judgment upon the 

 Copernician doctrine, and that it is his conviction that he may be of 

 use in the investigation of the matter, on account of his scientific 

 knowledge. Accordingly he proposes to stay. He had been personally 

 vindicated. It was his ardent desire to convert the Bomans to the 

 heliocentric theory. This he attempted by giving private lectures in 



