could be corrected, if it was thought that the book to which such favour should be shown were of any value."
Immediately after this follows the seventh point, saying that "the author had transgressed the mandate of the Holy Office of 1616, 'that he should relinquish the said opinion,' etc.—down to, 'and promised to obey.'"[1]
Herewith the memorial of the preliminary commission concludes. It draws no conclusions from the facts adduced, but leaves that to his Holiness the Pope. The last count confirms Galileo's chief offence: he is guilty of having disobeyed a special mandate of the ecclesiastical authorities, has broken a solemn promise made before a notary and witnesses. Such a crime, according to inquisitorial usage, demanded severe punishment. The perfidy of 1616 had signally triumphed.
- ↑ Vat. MS. fol. 387 ro.–389 vo.
