For this the book _De Magnete_ was considered by many as heretical. Many of the copies existing in Italy are found to be either mutilated or else branded with a cross. For example, the copy in the library of the Collegio Romano in Rome has book VI. torn out. Galileo states that the Book of Gilbert would possibly never have come into his hands "if a Peripatetick Philosopher, of great fame, as I believe to free his Library from its contagion, had not given it me." In England Barlowe, in his _Magneticall Aduertisements_ (1616), expressly repudiated Gilbert's Copernican notions, while praising his discoveries in magnetism. Marke Ridley, while upholding Gilbert's views, in his _Magneticall Animadversions_ (1617) did not consider him "skilfull in Copernicus." The Jesuit writers, Cabeus, Kircher, Fonseca, Grandamicus, Schott, Leotaudus, Millietus, and De Lanis, one and all, who followed Gilbert in their magnetic writings, repudiated the idea that the magnetism of the globe gave support to the heretical modern Astronomy.
Cabeus, _Philosophia Magnetica, in qua Magnetis natura penitus explicatur ... auctore Nicolao Cabeo Ferrarensi Soc. Jesv._ (Ferrariæ, 1629).
Kircher, _Magnes, Siue de Arte Magnetica, Libri tres, Authore Athanasio Kirchero ... e Soc. Iesv._ (Romæ, 1641).
Grandamicus, _Nova Demonstratio immobilitatis terræ petita ex virtute magnetica_ (Flexiæ, 1645). This work is most beautifully illustrated with copper-plate etchings of cupids making experiments with terrellas.
Schott, Gaspar, _Thaumaturgus Physicus_ (Herbipolis, 1659).
Leotaudus, _R. P. Vincentinii Leotavdi Delphinatis, Societ. Iesv., Magnetologia; in qva exponitvr Nova de Magneticis Philosophia_, (Lvgdvni, 1668).
Millietus (Milliet Deschales), _Cursus seu Mundus Mathematicus_ (Lugd., 1674), _Tomus Primus, Tractatus de Magnete_.
De Lanis, _Magisterium Natvræ et Artis. Opus Physico-Mathematicvm P. Francisci Tertii de Lanis, Soc. Jesv._ (Brixiæ, 1684).
[253] PAGE 240, LINE 24. Page 240, line 31. _hic finem & periodum imponimus._
On February 13 [1601] Gilbert wrote to Barlowe (see _Magneticall Aduertisements_, p. 88):
"I purpose to adioyne an appendix of six or eight sheets of paper to my booke after a while, I am in hand with it of some new inventions, and I would haue some of your experiments, in your name and inuention put into it, if you please, that you may be knowen for an augmenter of that arte."