GALILEO AND HIS JUDGES. 45 



probable that some such scene took place as here 

 represented, and, if it did, it is surely wholly incom- 

 patible with the idea that the decree was a decision 

 in matters of faith. No Pope, no well-informed 

 ecclesiastic of any rank, would express himself so 

 in such a case ; but it is quite consistent with what 

 we might expect in a question of simple discipline. 



It will now be convenient, before discussing the 

 matter further, to resume the narrative, and to touch 

 upon the questions connected with the condemnation 

 of Galileo by the Inquisition, and his enforced abju- 

 ration. It is, indeed, these latter proceedings that 

 have left so deep an impression upon the popular 

 mind, though, strictly speaking, they were of less 

 importance than the decree of the Index of less im- 

 portance, that is, to all others besides Galileo himself. 



It seems that our philosopher overrated the effect 

 of the reaction that had taken place in his favour, 

 real though it was so far as it went. He thought he 

 might now safely publish the work on which he had 

 been labouring, and on which he probably relied as 

 likely to influence the minds of learned men, ecclesias- 

 tical as well as lay, in the direction of Copernicanism. 



He came in May in the year 1630 to Kome, and 

 had a very long audience with the Pope, who treated 

 him with great kindness and even increased a pension 

 he had already bestowed upon him ; but we do not 

 know what passed as to other matters on this occa- 

 sion. He had also an interview with Father Kiccardi, 

 who had now become Master of the Sacred Palace, 



