Page:Galileo Galilei and the Roman Curia (IA cu31924012301754).pdf/90

 sages your reverence will find underlined by me in the said letter, of which I send an exact copy); and, finally, that when Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, we must only understand that the command was addressed to the primum mobile, as this itself is the sun." In these statements Lorini perceives great peril for the Church; he is indignant "that they (the Galileists) should explain the Holy Scriptures after their own fashion, and differently from the usual interpretation of the fathers, and should defend an opinion which the Holy Scriptures appear to be entirely opposed to They tread the entire philosophy of Aristotle, of which scholastic philosophy has made so much use, under foot," he exclaims: "in short, to show how clever they are, they (the Galileists) say a thousand shameless things and scatter them abroad in our city, which holds fast to the Catholic faith, both from its own good spirit and the watchfulness of our august rulers." He feels moved to inform the cardinal of all this, that he may keep an eye on it, and that if any remedy seems called for he may take the necessary measures. After this ominous hint he hypocritically adds: "I, who hold that all those who call themselves Galileists are orderly men and good Christians, but a little over wise and self conceited in their opinions, declare that I am actuated by nothing in this business but zeal for the sacred cause." After this assurance he begs that this letter of his, ("I do not say the enclosed letter,") he hastens to add in a parenthesis, "may be kept secret and considered merely a friendly exchange of opinion between servant and master," and not as a legal deposition. In conclusion, he expressly mentions the celebrated sermon of Caccini, probably in order that he might be called as a