In a "Monitum ad Nicolai Copernici lectorem, ejusque emendatio, permissio, et correctio," dated 1620 without the month or day, permission is given to reprint the work of Copernicus with certain alterations; and, by implication, to read existing copies after correction in writing. In the preamble the author is called _nobilis astrologus_; not a compliment to his birth, which was humble, but to his fame. The suspension was because: "Sacrae Scripturae, ejusque verae et Catholicae interpretationi repugnantia (quod in homine Christiano minime tolerandum) non _per hypothesin_ tractare, sed _ut verissima_ adstruere non dubitat!"[141] And the corrections relate: "Locis in quibus non _ex hypothesi_, sed _asserendo_ de situ et motu Terrae disputat."[142] That is, the earth's motion may be an hypothesis for elucidation of the heavenly motions, but must not be asserted as a fact. (In Pref. circa finem.) "_Copernicus._ Si fortasse erunt [Greek: mataiologoi], qui cum omnium Mathematum ignari sint, tamen de illis judicium sibi summunt, propter aliquem locum scripturae, male ad suum propositum detortum, ausi fuerint meum {92} hoc institutum reprehendere ac insectari: illos nihil moror adeo ut etiam illorum judicium tanquam temerarium contemnam. Non enim obscurum est Lactantium, celebrem alioqui scriptorem, sed Mathematicum parum, admodum pueriliter de forma terrae loqui, cum deridet eos, qui terram globi formam habere prodiderunt. Itaque non debet mirum videri studiosis, si qui tales nos etiam videbunt. Mathemata Mathematicis scribuntur, quibus et hi nostri labores, si me non fallit opinio, videbuntur etiam Reipub. ecclesiasticae conducere aliquid.... _Emend._ Ibi _si fortasse_ dele omnia, usque ad verbum _hi nostri labores_ et sic accommoda--_Coeterum hi nostri labores_."[143] All the allusion to Lactantius, who laughed at the notion of the earth being round, which was afterwards found true, is to be struck out. (Cap. 5. lib. i. p. 3) "_Copernicus._ Si tamen attentius rem consideremus, videbitur haec quaestio nondum absoluta, et ideireo minime contemnenda. _Emend._ Si tamen attentius rem consideremus, nihil refert an Terram in medio Mundi, an extra Medium existere, quoad solvendas coelestium motuum apparentias existimemus."[144] {93} We must not say the question is not yet settled, but only that it may be settled either way, so far as mere explanation of the celestial motions is concerned. (Cap. 8. lib. i.) "Totum hoc caput potest expungi, quia ex professo tractat de veritate motus Terrae, dum solvit veterum rationes probantes ejus quietem. Cum tamen problematice videatur loqui; ut studiosis satisfiat, seriesque et ordo libri integer maneat; emendetur ut infra."[145] A chapter which seems to assert the motion should perhaps be expunged; but it may perhaps be problematical; and, not to break up the book, must be amended as below.