Page:Tycho brahe.djvu/293

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TYCHO AT WANDSBECK.
269

he might bring with him a copy of Everhard's Ephemerides, which he had seen mentioned in a Frankfurt book-list, but which could not be had at Hamburg.[1] Gassendi suggests that Tycho may have wanted the help of Longomontanus to complete the chapter of the Progymnasmata on the lunar theory, where some sheets were still unfinished, while the recent eclipses had shown that this theory was still capable of further improvement.

While Tycho Brahe was living at Wandsbeck, his host not only tried to make his stay there agreeable,[2] but also did his best to assist him in finding a permanent abode, and the pecuniary support necessary to enable him to resume his labours on the same scale as formerly. Rantzov wrote to the Elector of Cologne, and asked him, to use his influence with the Emperor in favour of Tycho, and to endeavour to interest the Austrian Privy Councillor, Barwitz, in the cause of the exiled astronomer. At the same time Tycho wrote himself to his friend Hagecius, and explained how he was situated, in order that the physician to the Emperor might speak to his master, and also enlist the sympathy of the Vice-Chancellor Corraduc. In order not to neglect any chance, Tycho also sent one of his disciples, Franz Tengnagel, a native of Westphalia, to Prince Maurice of Orange to present copies of the Mechanica and the star-catalogue to the Prince, together with a letter from the author. The Prince answered that he would endeavour to persuade the States General to invite Tycho to settle in the Netherlands, and a similar answer was sent by the Advocate of Holland

  1. Martini Everarti Ephemerides novæ et exactæ 1590–1610 ex novis tabulis Belgicis. Lugduni Batav., 1597.
  2. In the Museum of Northern Antiquities at Copenhagen there is a watch which is said to have been presented to Tycho Brahe by Rantzov. It is oval in shape, has two dials, one for hours and one for minutes, and Tycho's name, arms, and the motto, "Qvo fata me trahunt, A.D. 1597," are engraved on the inner case. In the same museum is a wooden easy-chair which is supposed to have belonged to T. Brahe.