The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler

, and of the Observatory-Account of its Astronomical Instruments-Tycho begins his Observations-His Pupils-Tycho is made Canon of Rothschild, and receives a large Pension-His Hospitality

at he should return to Denmark, and his anxiety to promote the advancement of astronomy in his own dominions. Tycho had left Cassel when these messengers arrived, and had heard nothing of the King's intentions till he was about to quit Knudstorp with his family for Basle. At this time he was surprised at the arrival of a noble messenger, who brought a letter requesting him to meet the King as soon as possible at Copenhagen. Tycho lost no time in obeying the royal summons. The King received him with the most flattering kindness. He offered to give him a grant for life of th

form of a mountain, which, though very high, terminates in a plain. It is nowhere rocky, and even in the time of Tycho it produced the best kinds of grain, afforded excellent p

l Uraniburg, or The City of the Heavens. Having made the necessary arrangements, he repaired to the island on the 8th of August, and his fri

hi?, imprimisque Astrorum contemplationi, Regis decreto a nobili viro Tychone Brahe de Knudstrup e

ick, and upon the party of noblemen and philosophers who had assembled to testify their love of science. An entertainment

rth and south angles were erected turrets, of which one was a printing-house, and the other the residence of the servants. Gates were erected at the east and west angles, and above them were apartments for the reception of strangers. Within the rampart was a shrubbery with about three hundred varieties of trees; and at the centre of each semicircular part of the ra

the observatories which had windows in their roof, that could be opened towards any part of the heavens. The accommodations for the family were numerous and splendid. Under the observatory, in the south tower, was the museum and li

e construction of astronomical and other instruments, and the other to the south, which was occupied as a sort of farm-house. Th

and to be protected from the wind and the weather. This observatory, which he called Stiern-berg, or the mountain, of the stars, consisted of several crypts, separated by solid walls, and to these there was a subterranean passage from the laboratory in Uraniburg. The various buildings which Tycho

n preparing instruments for observation. These were of the most splendid description, and th

and greater

d iron, covered with br

f the same mat

alf cubits radius, and an az

rules, covered with brass

already describ

quadrant,

d brass, and turned out of the s

eel two cubits in diameter, and two smaller ones, wh

and lesser

s, with a steel meridian, whos

orth Obs

revolved in azimuth above a bras

tant, of four

steel

tant, with steel lim

lactic rules

orial arm

e of brass, five cubits in rad

the large globe made a

ern-berg O

rcle, with a brass limb, and three cloc

of seven cubits, with semi-

t of four cu

h an intercepted quadrant of five cub

ts radius, shewing ten seco

brass, with steel meridian

ews, and capable of being taken to pieces fo

llary sphere, three

one cubit radius, and divided

radius of solid bras

l ring of brass, a

ll brass

iagonal lines, a method which Tycho first brought into use, but which, in

science. In order to instruct the young in the art of observation, and educate assistants for his observatory, he had sometimes under his roof from six to twelve pupils, whom he boarded and educated. Some of these we

ick gave him an annual pension of 2000 dollars, beside an estate in Norway, and made him Canon of the Episcopal Church of Rothschild, or Prebend of St Laurence,[38] which

ared in the heavens, he observed with the greatest care; while he at the same time carried on regular series of observations for determining the places of the fixed stars, and for improving the tables of the sun, moon, and planets. Though almost wholly devoted to these noble

nd even made him acquainted with those views which he had not realised, and with instruments which he had not yet executed. When Witichius had thus obtained possession of the methods, and inventions, and views of Tycho, and had enjoyed his hospitality for three months, he pretended that he was obliged to return to Germany to receive an inheritance to which he had succeeded. After qu

nspach, to the King of Denmark, who was returning by sea to Germany; and after receiving the greatest attention and assistance from the noble Canons of Ermeland, he determined, from nearly a month's observations on the sun and stars, that the latitude of Frauenburg was 54° 22?′, in place of 54° 19?′, as given by Copernicus. In like manner he determined that the latitude of Konigsberg was 54° 43′, in place of 54° 17′, as adopted by Rheinhold. When Morsianus returned to Hu

al pursuits, and he was therefore peculiarly gratified in examining the splendid laboratory and extensive apparatus which Tycho possessed. It has been said by some of the biographers of Tycho, that the Landgrave of Hesse visited Uraniburg about this period; but this opinion is not correct, as it was only his astronomer and optician, Rothman, who made a journey to Huen in 1591 for the recovery of his health. Tycho had long carrie

erected in Europe; and a thriving family, an ample income, and a widely extended reputation were added to his blessings. Of the value of these gifts he was deeply sensible, and he enjoyed them the more that he received them with a grateful heart. Tych