Ciampoli, Cesarini, and Castelli, been urging him for years to finish his work, the tendency of which they well knew?[1] And when it was at last complete, it was these same friends, as well meaning as they were influential, who had done their best to forward the publication. Besides, the book had appeared not only with the imprimatur and under the protection of the Inquisition at Florence, as prescribed, and with the permission of the political authorities of the city, but Galileo could show also the imprimatur of the Pater Magister Sacri Palatii, which was not at all usual with works not printed at Rome.[2] He considered this a double security; Jesuitism, on the contrary, contrived afterwards to forge an indictment out of this unusual circumstance. Not a word had appeared in print without having been read by the organs of papal scrutiny and having received the sanction of the Church. Might not the author well look forward to the publication of his work with perfect tranquillity, and feel himself secure from any collision with the ecclesiastical authorities? Undoubtedly, if he had not made the solemn promise sixteen years before, "entirely to renounce the opinion that the sun is the centre of the universe, and is stationary, and that the earth on the contrary moves, and neither to hold the same, nor in any way to teach or defend it in speaking or writing."
Galileo's proceedings at this time, as before and after, prove that he was totally unaware of this assumed prohibition; anyhow, he pays not the slightest attention to it. He sends
- ↑ See their letters to Galileo. (Op. ix. pp. 25, 72, 97, 166–168, 174–177, 210, 255; Suppl. p. 181.)
- ↑ On the reverse side of the title page of the "Dialogues"
stands:—
"Imprimatur, si videbitur Rever. P. Magistro Sacri Palatii Apostolici.
A. Episcopus Bellicastensis Vices gerens.
Imprimatur. Fr. Nicolaus Ricardus, Sacri Apostolici Palatii Magister.
Imprimatur Florentiæ; ordinibus consuetis servatis. 11 Septembris 1630.
Petrus Nicolinus Vic. Gen. Florentiæ.
Imprimatur. Die 11 Septembris 1630.
Fra Clemens Egidius Inquisit. Gen. Florentiæ.
Stampisi. A. di 12 di Settembre 1630. Niccolò dell 'Altella."
