THE PATH OF EVOLUTION 



for them died. It can hardly be doubted that in 

 Bruno's case the aim of the Inquisition wa's to pre- 

 vent the dissemination of his doctrines, and that 

 his death by fire after seven years' imprisonment 

 was intended not only to stop their teaching, but to 

 serve as a prominent example of the power of the 

 Church and of its determination to forcibly root out 

 all who were persistent in spreading their heresies 

 throughout the land. Only fourteen years later (in 

 1619) Vanini was burned alive in Genoa for 

 blasphemy ! 



Galileo's submission was absolute. If it had not 

 been so, there can be little doubt that he would have 

 been closely imprisoned until death relieved him. 

 As it was, the Church obtained -all it wished for the 

 suppression of his revolutionary philosophy, and the 

 absolute denial of his belief in the trjith thereof. 

 He seemed not to have troubled himself as to the 

 main doctrines of the Church, and never questioned 

 or deviated from its other authoritative theological 

 teaching ; therefore his punishment was light and 

 his even nominal imprisonment of short duration. 

 Within the same year he was permitted to reside at 

 his country-seat near Florence. When seventy-four 

 years of age he lost his sight. He died January 8, 

 1642, aged seventy-eight years, the same year in which 

 Isaac Newton was born. 



104 



