considered as an established fact, contradicted Holy Scripture, and was only admissible as a conjecture (ex suppositione), as it was held by Copernicus."[1]
Inquisitor: "Was this decision then communicated to you, and by whom?"
Galileo: "This decision of the Holy Congregation of the Index was made known to me by Cardinal Bellarmine."
Inquisitor: "You must state what his Eminence Cardinal Bellarmine told you about the aforesaid decision, and whether he said anything else on the subject, and what?"
Galileo; "Signor Cardinal Bellarmine signified to me that the aforesaid opinion of Copernicus might be held as a conjecture, as it had been held by Copernicus, and his eminence was aware that, like Copernicus, I only held that opinion as a conjecture, which is evident from an answer of the same Signor Cardinal to a letter of Father Paolo Antonio Foscarini, provincial of the Carmelites, of which I have a copy, and in which these words occur: 'It appears to me that your reverence and Signor Galileo act wisely in contenting yourselves with speaking ex suppositione, and not with certainty.' This letter of the cardinal's is dated 12th April, 1615.[2] It means, in other words, that that opinion, taken absolutely, must not be either held or defended."
Galileo was now requested to state what was decreed in February, 1616, and communicated to him.
Galileo: "In the month of February, 1616, Signor Cardinal Bellarmine told me that as the opinion of Copernicus, if adopted absolutely, was contrary to Holy Scripture, it must neither be held nor defended, but that it might be held hypothetically, and written about in this sense. In accordance with this I possess a certificate of the said Signor Cardinal Bellarmine, given on 26th May, 1616, in which he says that the Copernican opinion may neither be held nor defended, as it is opposed to Holy Scripture, of which certificate I herewith submit a copy."[3]
Inquisitor: "When the above communication was made to you, were any other persons present, and who?".
Galileo: "When Signor Cardinal Bellarmine made known to me what I have reported about the Copernican views, some Dominican- ↑ We have before stated that Copernicus did not at all consider his doctrine a hypothesis, but was convinced of its actual truth. It was Osiander's politic introduction which had given rise to the error which was then generally held.
- ↑ Prof. Berti has first published this interesting letter in full in his "Copernico e le vicende Sistema Copernicano in Italia," pp. 121-125.
- ↑ Vat. MS. fol. 423 ro.
