[6] This is the writing referred to when Gherardi is quoted.
[7] Compare Nelli, vol. i. pp. 24, 25, and Opere xv. p. 384. The strange mistake, which is without any foundation, that Galileo was an illegitimate child, was set afloat soon after his death by Johann Victor Rossi (Janus Nicius Erythræus) in his “Pinacotheca Illustrium Virorum,” Cologne, Amsterdam, 1643-1648, and afterwards carelessly and sometimes maliciously repeated. Salviati has published the marriage certificate of 5th July, 1563, of Vincenzio di Michel Angelo di Giovanni Galilei and Giulia degli Ammanati Pescia.
[8] Many of these essays, which have never been printed, are among the valuable unpublished MSS. in the National Library at Florence.
[9] Galileo had a younger brother, Michel Angelo, and three sisters, Virginia, Elenor, and Livia. The former married a certain Benedetto Landucci, the latter Taddeo Galetti. Galileo was very kind to his brother and sisters all his life, assisted them in many ways, and even made great sacrifices for their sakes.
[10] Nelli, vol. i. pp. 26, 27.
[11] Op. xv. (Viviani), p. 330; and Op. vi. p. 18.
[12] Op. xv. (Viviani), p. 328.
[13] The correctness of this date is indisputable, as according to Nelli, vol. i. p. 29, it was found in the university registers. It is a pity that Albèri, editor of the “Opere complete di Galileo Galilei,” Florence, 1842-1856, relied for the date on Viviani, who is often wrong.
[14] Op. xv. (Viviani), p. 331; also Jagemann, p. 5.
[15] Op. xv. (Viviani), p. 332; also Nelli, vol. ii. pp. 722, 723.