In concluding the despatch of 13th March to Cioli, in which he reported this interview, he says:—[345]
“When I returned home I told Galileo in part the conversation with his Holiness, but not for the present, that it was intended to summon him to the Holy Office, because I am convinced that this news would cause him the deepest concern, and he would be in the greatest anxiety till the time came. I have thought all the more that it was best to act thus, as no further particulars are as yet known about his citation; for the Pope told me in reference to the speedy settlement of the business, that he did not know what hope there was of it, but that all that was possible would be done.”
Meanwhile, Ferdinand II., in spite of the increasingly unpromising aspect of affairs, continued indefatigably to sustain his ambassador’s efforts. The latter and Galileo, in two letters of 19th March,[346] asked the Grand Duke to send letters of recommendation to the eight other cardinals who composed the Holy Congregation, like those he had sent to their eminences Bentivoglio and Scaglia, lest they should feel themselves slighted, and the Grand Duke readily granted the request.[347] The prelates, however, received these letters with mixed feelings, and excused themselves from answering them, as it was forbidden them in their capacity as members of the Holy Office; some even hesitated to receive the letters at all, and it was not till Niccolini pointed out that Cardinal Barberini and others had received them, that they consented to do so.[348] These letters had evidently produced the happiest effect with the Cardinals Scaglia and Bentivoglio. They united, as Niccolini reported on the 19th to Cioli, in protecting Galileo. Scaglia even read the celebrated “Dialogues,” and, which was more to the purpose, that he might, with the help of Castelli,[349] who was best qualified to do it, explain the offending passages in a conciliatory spirit.
All this time Galileo, as is evident from his letters, was entertaining the most confident hopes of the favourable issue of his cause, and the final triumph of truth over falsehood.[350] Neither he nor his indefatigable friends, Niccolini and Castelli, could, it is true, learn anything definite about the actual state of the trial. The members of the Congregation, who alone could have given any information, kept the secrets of the Inquisition very close, as indeed they were bound to do under the heaviest penalties. The month of March passed by before the Holy Tribunal opened any direct official intercourse with Galileo. April was now come, and with it the storm which had been so long gathering burst over his head.
On the 7th, Niccolini went to Cardinal Barberini by his desire, and was informed on behalf of the Pope and the Congregation, that, in order to decide Galileo’s cause, they could not avoid citing him to appear before the Holy Office, and as it was not known whether it could be all settled in the course of two hours, perhaps it would be necessary to detain him there. Barberini continued that “out of respect for the house in which Galileo had been staying, and for Niccolini as grand ducal ambassador, and in consideration of the good understanding which had always existed between his Highness and the papal chair, especially in matters relating to the Inquisition, they had not failed to inform him (Niccolini) of this beforehand, not to be wanting in respect for a prince so zealous for religion.” After Niccolini had warmly thanked the cardinal for the attention shown by the Pope and the Congregation to the Grand Duke, and to himself as his ambassador, he pleaded Galileo’s age and health,—he had again been suffering severely from a fresh attack of the gout,—and finally the deep grief he would feel, and earnestly begged that his eminence would consider whether it would not be possible to permit him to return every evening to sleep at the embassy. As to secrecy, the strictest silence might be enjoined on him under threat of the severest penalties. But the prelate was not of opinion that such a permission was to be expected; he proffered, however, every comfort for Galileo that could be desired, and said that he would neither, as was customary with accused persons, be treated as a prisoner, nor be placed in a secret prison; he would have good rooms, and perhaps even the doors would not be locked.
Niccolini reported this notification to Cioli on 9th April,[351] and added the following interesting information:—
“This morning I also conversed with his Holiness on the subject, after having expressed my thanks for the communication made to me; the Pope again gave vent to his displeasure that Galileo should have discussed this subject, which appears to him to be very serious, and of great moment to religion. Signor Galileo thinks, nevertheless, that he can defend his statements on good grounds; but I have warned him to refrain from doing so, in order not to prolong the proceedings, and to submit to what shall be prescribed to him to believe respecting the motion of the earth. He has fallen into the deepest dejection, and since yesterday has sunk so low that I am in great concern for his life.”
From this, then, we learn that up to 8th April Galileo was still intending to defend his opinions before the Holy Tribunal; and that it was only on the urgent expostulation of the ambassador, whom he knew to be his sincere friend, that he gave up all idea of opposition, and resolved upon entire and passive submission. How hard it was for him to yield is evident from the concluding sentence of Niccolini’s despatch.