$ 126] The First Condemnation of Galilei 159 



systems has now lost most of its interest ; it may, however, 



be worth noticing that on the more general question Galilei 



quotes with approval the saying of Cardinal Baronius, 



tc That the intention of the Holy Ghost is to teach us not 



,j how the heavens go, but how to go to heaven," * and the 



' following passage gives a good idea of the general tenor 



'^ of his argument : 



"Methinks, that in the Discussion of Natural Problemes we 

 ought not to begin at the authority of places of Scripture ; but 

 at Sensible Experiments and Necessary Demonstrations. For 

 . . . Nature being inexorable and immutable, and never passing 

 the bounds of the Laws assigned her, as one that nothing careth, 

 whether her abstruse reasons and methods of operating be or 

 be not exposed to the capacity of men ; I conceive that that 

 concerning Natural Effects, which either sensible experience 

 sets before our eyes, or Necessary Demonstrations do prove unto 

 us, ought not, upon any account, to be called into question, 

 much less condemned upon the testimony of Texts of Scripture, 

 which may under their words, couch senses seemingly contrary 

 thereto." t 



1 26. Meanwhile his enemies had become so active that 

 Galilei thought it well to go to Rome at the end of 1615 

 to defend his cause. Early in the next year a body of 

 theologians known as the Qualifiers of the Holy Office 

 (Inquisition), who had been instructed to examine certain 

 Coppernican doctrines, reported : 



"That the doctrine that the sun was the centre of the world 

 and immoveable was false and absurd, formally heretical and 

 contrary to Scripture, whereas the doctrine that the earth was 

 not the centre of the world but moved, and has further a daily 

 motion, was philosophically false and absurd and theologically 

 at least erroneous." 



In consequence of this report it was decided to censure 

 Galilei, and the Pope accordingly instructed Cardinal 

 Bellarmine " to summon Galilei and admonish him to 



* Spiritni sanclo nienfcin Juisse nos docerc, quo tnodo ad Coeluin 

 catiir^ iion mttcm, quomodo Coeliim gradiaiitr. 



f From the translation by Salusbury, in Vol. I. of his Mathematical 

 Collections, 



