356 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



quoted the dictum of Tycho Brahe that the system of Copernicus was 

 ' absurd and contrary to Holy Writ ' since the judgment recites these 

 very words. On March 5, 1616, the ' De Revolutionisms ' of Coper- 

 nicus and another work by Diego di Zuniga were suspended by the Con- 

 gregation of the Index 'until they be corrected/ and Foscarini's book 

 was ' altogether prohibited and condemned ' as well as ' all other works ' 

 in which the Copernican opinion is taught. On February 25 the Pope 

 directed ' Cardinal Bellarmine to summon before him the said Galileo 

 and to admonish him to abandon the said opinion; and, in case of his 

 refusal to obey, that the Commissary is to intimate to him, before a 

 notary and witnesses, a command to abstain altogether from teaching 

 or defending this opinion and doctrine, and even from discussing it; 

 and if he do not acquiesce therein, that he is to be imprisoned.' This 

 document is followed in the Vatican MS. by another : " Friday, the 

 26th (February, 1616). At the Palace, the usual residence of the 

 Lord Cardinal Bellarmine, the said Galileo, having been summoned 

 and brought before the said Lord Cardinal, was in the presence of the 

 Most Eev'd Michael Angelo Segnezzio, . . . Commissary-General of 

 the Holy Office, by the said Cardinal warned of the error of the afore- 

 said opinion and admonished to abandon it; and immediately there- 

 after, before me and before witnesses, the Lord Cardinal Bellarmine 

 being still present, the said Galileo was by the said Commissary com- 

 manded and enjoined ... to relinquish altogether the said opinion 

 . . . ; nor henceforth to hold, teach or defend it in any way whatso- 

 ever, verbally or in writing; otherwise proceedings would be taken 

 against him in the Holy Office; which injunction the said Galileo 

 acquiesced in and promised to obey. Done at Rome in the place above 

 said, in presence of (two persons named) witnesses." This annotation 

 was long supposed to have been fabricated in 1632 to meet new condi- 

 tions then arising. It is, however, entirely genuine. ( Gebler's ' Gali- 

 leo,' Appendix III.) 



The exact wording is to be noted. Upon this admonition the sub- 

 sequent fate of Galileo hangs. 



(To he continued.) 



