The first attack against the new system, as being contrary to Holy Writ, came not from Catholic but from Protestant circles. Among the latter the opposition against _Copernicus_ was being agitated, while peaceful calm reigned among the former. Twelve Popes succeeded _Paul III._, and not one interfered with this doctrine. _Luther_, even in _Copernicus’_ time, hurled his anathema against the “Frauenberg Fool,” and six years after the publication of _Copernicus’_ chief work, _Melanchthon_ declared it a sin and a scandal to publish such nonsensical opinions, contrary to the divine testimony of the Scriptures. In fear of his religious community the Protestant publisher _Osiander_ smuggled in the spurious preface already mentioned, “On the hypothesis of this work.” The Protestant _Rheticus_, a friend and pupil of _Copernicus_, got into disfavour with _Melanchthon_ and had to discontinue his lectures at Wittenberg. The genial _Kepler_, finally, was prosecuted by his own congregation, because of his defence of the theory. And when on the Catholic side the Index decree of 1616 was already beginning to be regarded as obsolete, Protestant theology still held to the old view even up to the nineteenth century: a long list of names could be adduced in proof. Certainly no fair-minded person can see wilful hostility against astronomy in this procedure. Likewise there should not be imputed dishonourable intentions to Catholics, if in the course of history they rendered tribute to human limitation. But did not the decrees of 1616 and 1633 do _great harm to research_? Not at all. That this was hardly the case with _Galileo_ himself we have shown above. Soon after we find in Italy a goodly number of distinguished scientists; the Church in no way opposed the newly awakened life, nor even held aloof from it. _Galileo_ himself was honoured in ecclesiastical circles. Soon after _Galileo’s_ conviction the Jesuit _Grimaldi_ named a mountain on the moon after him.