GALILEO AND HIS JUDGES. 101 



higher than its source ; and the Inquisition itself, 

 having no other powers but those entrusted to it 

 by the Pope, had no authority to put any more 

 stringent interpretation on the decree of 1616 than 

 what it already bore. So far as its actual wording 

 goes, it is palpably a disciplinary decree, though 

 founded on a doctrinal reason ; and when the 

 Inquisition cited it as if it were more than this, their 

 language must be interpreted in accordance with the 

 facts of the case ; that is, as meaning that for the 

 purposes of discipline, and for all practical intents 

 and purposes, it had been defined that such a theory 

 as that of Copernicus was inadmissible, and on the 

 ground that it was contrary to Scripture as hitherto 

 understood. But a decision of that nature is not 

 irrevocable ; it holds good as long as the ecclesiastical 

 authorities determine it should do so, and no longer. 



Kome must know her own mind, Mr. Koberts 

 says ; and she has shown her own mind, and borne 

 oat the construction I am putting on her acts, by 

 further and subsequent action ; for, after suspending 

 the prohibitions against Copernicanism or modifying 

 them in 1757, a distinct permission was given in 

 1820 to teach the theory of the Earth's movement ; 

 and again, in 1822, the permission was repeated in a 

 more formal manner, and with the express sanction of 

 the Pope, Leo XII. 



Now we know that doctrinal decrees, once fully 

 sanctioned and promulgated by the Holy See, are 

 irreversible ; but disciplinary enactments are changed 



