and certainly your Grace will be surprised. I say this to you, most honoured sir, in case any false accusations of the kind should reach your ears from any quarter; and I hope that credit will be given to a party not adverse to me, so that a more just understanding may be arrived at."

Meanwhile Galileo's position became more favourable, because the Pope received the submissive philosopher very graciously on 11th March, and gave him an audience which lasted three-quarters of an hour. He seized the opportunity of speaking to Paul V. of the intrigues of his enemies, and of some of the false accusations against him; to which the Pope replied that he was well aware of the rectitude and sincerity of his sentiments. And when Galileo, in conclusion, expressed his fears of the perpetual persecutions of relentless malice, the Pope consoled him by saying that he need not fear, for he was held in so much esteem by himself and the whole Congregation, that they would not listen to these calumnies, and as long as he occupied the chair of St. Peter, Galileo might feel himself safe from all danger. Paul V. also repeatedly expressed his readiness to show his favour by his

actions.

Galileo hastened on the very next day to make known the favourable result of this audience to Picchena, the Secretary of State, in a long letter. The effect of it, however, was quite different from what he probably expected. The Court of Tuscany, which had been not a little disquieted by Guiccardini's alarming despatch, thought it a good opportunity to press upon Galileo, now that his fame was so brilliantly re-established, to leave Rome and return to Florence. This was the tenor of Picchena's reply of 20th March. Their highnesses, evidently still under the impression of Guiccardini's letter, implored Galileo to be quiet, and no longer to discuss this dangerous subject, but to return.

Encouraged by the Pope's friendly words, however, Galileo

1 See Galileo's letter to Picchena, from Rome, of 12th March. (Op. vi. pp. 233-235.)

Wolynski's "Lettere inedite," etc., p. 36.

showed no disposition to take these plain hints, and we learn from his further correspondence that his tarriance at Rome was fully approved by the Tuscan Court. Thus we read in a letter of 26th March: "As to my return, unless his Highness wishes it otherwise, I shall, in accordance with your commands, await the arrival of his Reverence the Cardinal." And further on: "After the arrival of the Cardinal I shall stay here as long as his Highness or the Cardinal pleases." I

To the great annoyance of Guiccardini, Galileo remained. three months longer at Rome-beneath those skies which, according to the ambassador, must prove dangerous to him in consequence of his vehement temperament, " especially at a time when the ruler of the eternal city hates science and polite scholars, and cannot endure these innovations and subtleties." This portrait of Paul V. was undoubtedly a correct one. He cared very little for learning, and displayed a harsh and sometimes savage character; while the inviolability of the dogmas of the Church, ecclesiastical privileges, and blind obedience to the faith, were supreme in his eyes. We will just remind our readers that it was Paul V. who, just after his elevation to the papacy, had a poor wretch, named Piccinardi, beheaded, because, for his private amusement, he had written a biography of Clement VIII., in which he was not very aptly compared with the Emperor Tiberius, although the work was not intended for publication,—a sentence which occasioned great consternation.

At a time, therefore, when the tiara was worn by a man of this character, the atmosphere of Rome might certainly have been dangerous to an ardent explorer in the fields of natural science. But as Galileo did not suffer any sort of papal persecution during his stay there, it is obvious that the character drawn of him by Guiccardini was very much exaggerated. This also refutes the constantly reiterated fable that Galileo was eagerly trying to get the decree of 5th March repealed. The vehement agitation imputed to him by

1 Op. vi. pp. 235-237.

the ambassador, and this bold attempt, would have been speedily followed by penalties. But history knows nothing at this period of misunderstandings between Galileo and the Church; indeed we possess a document which entirely contradicts the reports of Guiccardini. This is a letter from Cardinal del Monte to the Grand Duke at the time of Galileo's departure from Rome, written expressly "to bear witness that he was leaving with the best reputation and the approval of all who have had transactions with him; for it has been made manifest how unjust the calumnies of his enemies have been." The cardinal adds, "that having conversed much with Galileo, and being intimate with those who were cognisant of all that had taken place, he could assure his Highness that there was not the least imputation attaching to the philosopher."1

But to return to the course of events. The Tuscan ambassador continued to send disquieting letters to the Grand Duke about Galileo in order that he might be recalled. He wrote in a despatch of 13th May: ". . . Galileo seems disposed to emulate the monks in obstinacy, and to contend with personages who cannot be attacked without ruining yourself; we shall soon hear at Florence that he has madly tumbled into some abyss or other." 2

Cosmo II., not a little alarmed by these gloomy prognostications of his ambassador, and really in care for the revered philosopher, at length issued the order for his long-desired Picchena then wrote the following drastic letter to Galileo, on 23rd May :

return.

"You have had enough of monkish persecutions, and know now what the flavour of them is. His Highness fears that your longer tarriance at Rome might involve you in difficulties, and would therefore be glad if, as you have so far come honourably out of the affair, you would not tease the sleeping dog any more, and would return here as soon as possible. For

1 Op. viii. p. 385.

Op. vi. p. 238, note 2. See these despatches verbatim in Wolynski's La Diplomazia Toscana e Gal. Galilei," p. 22.

there are rumours flying about which we do not like, and the monks are all powerful. I, your servant, would not fail to warn you, and to inform you, as in duty bound, of the wishes of our ruler, wherewith I kiss your hand." 1

Galileo complied without delay with Cosmo's wishes, and set out on his homeward journey on the 4th of the following month.

1 Op. vi. p. 238, note 2.

H

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CONTROVERSY ON COMETS.

Studious Seclusion.-Waiting for the Correction of the Work of Copernicus. Treatise on Tides.-Sends it to Archduke Leopold of Austria. The Letter which accompanied it.-The three Comets of 1618.- Galileo's Opinion of Comets.-Grassi's Lecture on them.— Guiducci's Treatise on them inspired by Galileo.-Grassi's "Astronomical and Philosophical Scales.”—Galileo's Reply.—Paul V.-His Death. - Death of Cosmo II.-Gregory XV.-"Il Saggiatore finished. Riccardi's "Opinion" on it.-Death of Gregory XV.Urban VIII.

SEVEN years passed by, during which Galileo lived a secluded and studious life in the Villa Segni, at Bellosguardo, near Florence, without publishing any new work. How could he do so? The acceptance and further application of the Copernican system was the mainspring of all his scientific pursuits, of which, multifarious as they were, the principle of the double motion of the earth was both foundation and keystone. The general permission to employ the theory as a working hypothesis was of little service to him. The lofty structure of correct knowledge of our universe could not be raised on a pedestal of sand; it required the imperishable marble of truth. Galileo was compelled to withhold the results of his researches until, perchance, some altered state of things should change the mind of the papal court, at present so inimical to the Copernican cause. publication of any researches in accordance with the Copernican system appeared especially dangerous, until the promised corrections had been made in the famous work of the Canon of Frauenburg, which had been temporarily placed on the Index. These corrections would give more

The