which a draught is now preserved in the University Library at Basle, dated the 7th February 1598.[1] In this Tycho, after offering his congratulations on the king's marriage, remarks that the troubles which he had met with in the preceding year were perhaps ordained by fate, since it was the third annus climactericus (i.e., the twenty-first year), since the foundation of Uraniborg. He, however, thanked the king for not having impeded his journey when he found it necessary for his studies to go abroad, though he regretted that his letter from Rostock had not been found satisfactory; but to show his feeling for his country and king, he now forwarded two books which had been recently completed.
While Tycho in this manner paid his respects to the king, notwithstanding the want of consideration with which the latter had treated him, he did not hesitate to write to Valkendorf to try to obtain some arrears of rent still due to him. In this letter, dated the 28th May 1598, Tycho first thanks the Treasurer for all the kindness he has shown him, and for the help he has given the steward at Hveen, who had informed Tycho that he had in several cases concerning the tenants there been supported by the authority of the Treasurer. "If it were known how contrary and disobedient the peasants on that little land are, and what I have suffered from them all the time I lived there, and yet had patience with them, and been more kind to them than they deserve, then perhaps people would think differently about them than they have done." Tycho next asks the Treasurer to instruct the Governor of Bergen to order half a year's rent of the Nordfjord estate to be paid to him or his agent,
- ↑ Breve og Aktstykker, p. 34.
to Sophia Brahe (of 20th September 1599) the former writes that he would have sent her the books, but had to ask the king first, and his Majesty had said that though he did not understand or care much about them, still he would keep them as they were presented to him by Tycho Brahe (Breve og Aktstykker, p. 39). These books were possibly the Mechanica and the Catalogue of Stars.
