A large mass of documentary evidence, letters, reports, etc., had accumulated in the case, and on the 16th of June a preliminary decree was entered, by which Galileo was enjoined from writing either for or against the theory of the earth's motion, ("injuncto ei ne de cetero scripto vel verbo tractet amplius quovis modo de mobilitate terrae nec de stabilitate soils et e contra" etc.)
On the 21st of June, Galileo was interrogated, and stated in his replies that, before the decree of 1616, he had held both opinions as to the sun or the earth being the centre of the world; but that since that time, convinced of the prudence of his superiors, all doubt had ceased in his mind, and he had adopted as true and undoubted the opinion of Ptolemy; that in his Dialogues he had explained the proofs that might be urged against one or the other system, but without deciding for either.
To this he was answered that he asserts positively the immobility of the sun and the movement of the earth, and that he must make up his mind to acknowledge the truth, or that he should be proceeded against according to the law and the facts of the case, "devenietur contra ipsum ad remedia juris et facti opportuna."
Again Galileo replies that he neither holds nor has held that opinion of Copernicus since he received the order to abandon it.
Being admonished that, if he does not tell the truth, he refuses under penalty of torture, "et ei dicto quod dicat veritaiem alias devenietur ad torturam," he replies, "Io son qua per far l'obedienza e non ho tennta questa opinione dopo la determinatione fatta come ho detto," "I am here to make my submission. I do not hold and have not held this opinion since the determination taken as I have already stated."
"Et cum nihil aliud" proceeds the record, "posset haberi in executionem decreti, habita ejus subscriptione, remissus fuit ad locum suum." [Footnote 142]
(Signed) Io, Galileo-Galilei,
"ho deposto come di sopra.."
[Footnote 142: "And as nothing else remained to be done, he signed the record, and was sent back to his place of abode.">[
On the following day, (Wednesday, June 22d, 1633,) Galileo appeared again before the Congregation to hear the decree in his case, and pronounce his abjuration.