Page:Galileo Galilei and the Roman Curia (IA cu31924012301754).pdf/142

 Cesi, Mgrs. Cesarini and Ciampoli—the latter of whom meanwhile had become Secretary of the Papal Briefs to Gregory XV., a post which he also held under his successor, Urban VIII., until he fell into disgrace about Galileo—urged him repeatedly to finish his reply.

Francesco Stelluti, a member of the Accadémia dei Lincei, a learned friend of Galileo's, did indeed at this time (June, 1622) bring out a work against "Lothario Sarsi," but he only defended Guiducci, and studiously avoided touching on the reproaches cast on Galileo, in order not to anticipate him.

At length, in October of the same year, Galileo sent the MS. of his celebrated work, "Il Saggiatore" (The Assayer), to Mgr. Cesarini, at Rome. For five months it passed from hand to hand among the members of the Accadémia dei Lincei, who carefully criticised it, and with Galileo's consent, altered the passages which might possibly have been taken advantage of by his enemies to renew their intrigues against him. The Jesuits meanwhile had got wind of the completion of the reply, and did their utmost to get hold of one of the numerous copies of the MS.; but Cesarini, Cesi, Ciampoli, and the other "Lynxes," took good care of them, well knowing that if the Jesuits once made acquaintance with this crushing reply, they would use every endeavour to prevent its receiving the imprimatur. This was granted on 2nd February, 1623, by the supreme authorities of the censorship, not only without hesitation, but they spoke of the work in very favourable and flattering terms. The opinion—