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Rh not all, of Galileo's previous suffering, responsibility not as Pope, for no "Ex Cathedrâ" pronouncement was made, and the doctrines were not condemned by the Church, but as a man who listened too readily to insinuations touching his dignity, and used his official position to avenge a fancied slight, not perceiving that it was not Galileo but his enemies that were really "scoring off him".

Galileo naturally was much depressed, not at the prohibition of his book, but at the personal proceedings which had impelled him to do such violence to his conscience. The sentence and abjuration were published as widely as possible, especially in Padua and Florence, and all the Papal officials who had favoured Galileo during the course of the proceedings were punished, including Castelli, Riccardi, and the Florentine Censor.

Galileo petitioned the Pope to allow him to return to Florence or its neighbourhood, and though this was not immediately granted, he was permitted to retire to Siena on June 30, and after further pressure exerted in his favour, to his villa at Arcetri on December 9, after an absence of nearly a year.