CHAPTER II. 



GALILEO GALILEI LLNCEO for such was his name in 

 full was born at Pisa, the 18th February, 1564. 

 When about seventeen years old he commenced study- 

 ing mathematics and physical science at the University 

 of Pisa, and later on, in 1585, he came to Florence, 

 in order to go through a mathematical course. 



He seems to have been wholly free from the scep- 

 tical and irreligious spirit which unhappily warps the 

 judgment of some scientific men in our own day. 

 His moral conduct, however, in early life was not 

 irreproachable, and it is recorded of him that he had 

 a liaison with a lady named Maria Gamba, who be- 

 came the mother of three children ; but this illicit 

 attachment did not last very long, and a separation 

 took place, after which he saw Maria Gamba no more, 

 and she was subsequently married to some other 

 person. He then entered the celebrated monastery 

 of Vallombrosa, where he was a novice for a short 

 period ; but, having apparently no vocation for the 

 religious life, he left the monastery, and resumed his 

 former pursuits. At the age of twenty-five he was 



