36 GALILEO AND HIS JUDGES. 



and we may add, about seven months before the 

 referring of Galileo's writings to the Consultors of the 

 Inquisition. 



Now we may admit that there would be some force 

 in this argument if Cardinal Bellarmine, instead of 

 being what he was, had been a private individual, 

 having nothing to do but to listen submissively to 

 what his ecclesiastical superiors decided, whether in 

 doctrine or discipline. He was, however, one of the 

 most trusted advisers of the Pope ; he had no small 

 share in bringing about the censure of the Copernican 

 theory, such as it was ; and it is almost certain that 

 at the time when he wrote the letter he foresaw that 

 some proceedings of that nature would follow, if 

 indeed the proceedings had not already begun. We 

 have no sort of intimation that he ever afterwards 

 changed his opinion, and the way in which he was 

 quoted by subsequent writers points to this conclusion. 

 I have thought it better to answer the objection made 

 by Mr. Eoberts before stating what Bellarmine's letter 

 contains. I must leave my readers to judge the value 

 of the argument. All I say is, that my own belief is 

 that Cardinal Bellarmine's opinion, as recorded in this 

 letter to Father Foscarini, represents his permanent 

 judgment. It is a most curious letter, and is a 

 singular illustration of the danger that a man, how- 

 ever able and learned, may incur by attempting to 

 grapple with subjects of which he knows absolutely 

 nothing. Bellarmine, when writing on theological or 

 controversial subjects, though he might make an occa- 



