Congregation to the Grand Duke, and to himself as his ambassador, he pleaded Galileo's age and health,—he had again been suffering severely from a fresh attack of the gout,—and finally the deep grief he would feel, and earnestly begged that his eminence would consider whether it would not be possible to permit him to return every evening to sleep at the embassy. As to secrecy, the strictest silence might be enjoined on him under threat of the severest penalties. But the prelate was not of opinion that such a permission was to be expected; he proffered, however, every comfort for Galileo that could be desired, and said that he would neither, as was customary with accused persons, be treated as a prisoner, nor be placed in a secret prison; he would have good rooms, and perhaps even the doors would not be locked.
Niccolini reported this notification to Cioli on 9th April,[1] and added the following interesting information:—
"This morning I also conversed with his Holiness on the subject, after having expressed my thanks for the communication made to me; the Pope again gave vent to his displeasure that Galileo should have discussed this subject, which appears to him to be very serious, and of great moment to religion. Signor Galileo thinks, nevertheless, that he can defend his statements on good grounds; but I have warned him to refrain from doing so, in order not to prolong the proceedings, and to submit to what shall be prescribed to him to believe respecting the motion of the earth. He has fallen into the deepest dejection, and since yesterday has sunk so low that I am in great concern for his life."
From this, then, we learn that up to 8th April Galileo was still intending to defend his opinions before the Holy Tribunal; and that it was only on the urgent expostulation of the ambassador, whom he knew to be his sincere friend, that he gave up all idea of opposition, and resolved upon entire and passive submission. How hard it was for him to yield is evident from the concluding sentence of Niccolini's despatch.
- ↑ Op. ix. pp. 438, 439.
