24 GALILEO AND HIS JUDGES. 



Pontifical Decrees against the Doctrine of the 

 Earth's Movement, and the Ultramontane Defence 

 of them/' by the Rev. William W. Roberts, a work 

 written with ability and moderation as well as con- 

 siderable knowledge of the subject, since the author, 

 though determined to make all the controversial 

 capital that is possible out of the case of Galileo, 

 rises superior to the vulgar atmosphere of fable and 

 false accusation ; never alleges anything like personal 

 cruelty or ill-treatment as against the Pope or the 

 Inquisition, and scarcely alludes to the mythical 

 story of " E pur si muove." 



Moreover, even were the intrinsic value of the 

 work less than it is, attention has been publicly 

 drawn to it by a writer whom, both from a religious 

 and scientific point of view, we feel bound to treat 

 with respect Professor Mivart although he has 

 formed, on the other hand, an exaggerated estimate 

 of the importance of Mr. Roberts' facts and arguments. 



Here I wish to introduce an observation, as a 

 sort of anticipatory self-defence, which is that I 

 do not feel bound to enter into all the theological 

 minutise which learned disputants have introduced 

 into this case. Those who wish to sift such argu- 

 ments in detail can read the articles in The Dublin 

 Review by the late Dr. Ward (since republished) 

 on the one hand, and Mr. Roberts' book on the other. 

 I myself venture to look at the question as a lay 

 theologian, employing this expression not by any 

 means in the sense of one who, having read two or 



