as it is still owing to him; and in conclusion he apologises for giving so much trouble, but he expects everything good from Valkendorf, and is sure that the latter will help him in everything just, and right, and feasible.[1] The whole tone of this letter seems to show with certainty that Valkendorf cannot have been a declared enemy of Tycho's, as the latter was of too haughty a disposition to condescend to write so pleasantly to an avowed and open enemy; but on the other hand, this does not prove that Valkendorf did not assist in depriving Tycho of his great endowments.
Some time before this last appeal was dispatched to Denmark, Tycho had on the 24th March 1598 written to Longomontanus. He had heard from the Jesuit Monavius of Breslau that Longomontanus had arrived there and had had a look at Wittich's books, and Tycho therefore wished to know whether there were any manuscripts among them, and whether they were to be sold. He also inquired whether Longomontanus had seen the recent slanderous publication of Reymers Bär, which was too far beyond the limits of decency to deserve a refutation; still it might be well for Longomontanus to put in writing all he had heard from his colleagues at Hveen about that person and his doings, as he himself might have forgotten some of the circumstances through all the troubles he had met with. Finally, he desired Longomontanus to come to him at Wandsbeck as quickly as possible, as he had something very important to discuss with him, and if he had not sufficient money, he was to borrow some or pawn something, and Tycho would settle about it afterwards, and he would not detain him long, as he did not himself intend to remain long at Wandsbeck. He had Johannes Müller from Brandenburg with him in charge of his observatory, but he hoped Longomontanus would not disappoint him, and
- ↑ This letter is printed in the Danske Magazin, 3rd Series, iii. pp. 79–80.
