[58]SeeTicknor，HistoryofSpanishLiterature，vol。iii。
Sucharetheconsequencesofplacingtheinstructionofmen’smindsinthehandsofthosemainlyabsorbedinsavingmen’ssouls。Nothingcouldbemoreinaccordancewiththeidearecentlyputforthbysundryecclesiastics，CatholicandProtestant，thattheChurchaloneisempoweredtopromulgatescientifictruthordirectuniversityinstruction。Butsciencegainedavictoryherealso。ObservationsofthesolarspotswerereportednotonlyfromGalileoinItaly，butfromFabriciusinHolland。FatherScheinerthenendeavouredtomaketheusualcompromisebetweentheologyandscience。Hepromulgatedapseudo-scientifictheory，whichonlyprovokedderision。
Thewarbecamemoreandmorebitter。TheDominicanFatherCaccinipreachedasermonfromthetext，“YemenofGalilee，whystandyegazingupintoheaven？”andthiswretchedpunuponthegreatastronomer’snameusheredinsharperweapons；for，beforeCacciniended，heinsistedthat“geometryisofthedevil。”andthat“mathematiciansshouldbebanishedastheauthorsofallheresies。”TheChurchauthoritiesgaveCaccinipromotion。
FatherLoriniprovedthatGalileo’sdoctrinewasnotonlyhereticalbut“atheistic。”andbesoughttheInquisitiontointervene。TheBishopofFiesolescreamedinrageagainsttheCopernicansystem，publiclyinsultedGalileo，anddenouncedhimtotheGrand-Duke。TheArchbishopofPisasecretlysoughttoentrapGalileoanddeliverhimtotheInquisitionatRome。TheArchbishopofFlorencesolemnlycondemnedthenewdoctrinesasunscriptural；andPaulV，whilepettingGalileo，andinvitinghimasthegreatestastronomeroftheworldtovisitRome，wassecretlymovingtheArchbishopofPisatopickupevidenceagainsttheastronomer。
ButbyfarthemostterriblechampionwhonowappearedwasCardinalBellarmin，oneofthegreatesttheologianstheworldhasknown。Hewasearnest，sincere，andlearned，butinsistedonmakingscienceconformtoScripture。TheweaponswhichmenofBellarmin’sstampusedwerepurelytheological。TheyheldupbeforetheworldthedreadfulconsequenceswhichmustresulttoChristiantheologyweretheheavenlybodiesprovedtorevolveaboutthesunandnotabouttheearth。Theirmosttremendousdogmaticenginewasthestatementthat“hispretendeddiscoveryvitiatesthewholeChristianplanofsalvation。”FatherLecazredeclared“itcastssuspiciononthedoctrineoftheincarnation。”