hypothesis. He therefore assumed that the other
planets revolved about the sun, while the sun, moon,
and stars revolved about the earth as a centre.
Geometrically this is much the same as the Copernican
system, but physically it involves the grotesque demand
that the whole system of stars revolves round our
insignificant little earth every twenty-four hours.
Since his previous small book on the comet, Tycho
had evidently considered more fully its possible astrological
significance, for he foretold a religious war, giving
the date of its commencement, and also the rising of
a great Protestant champion. These predictions
were apparently fulfilled almost to the letter by
the great religious wars that broke out towards the
end of the sixteenth century, and in the person of
Gustavus Adolphus.
King Frederick’s death did not at first affect
Tycho’s position, for the new king, Christian,
was only eleven years old, and for some years the
council of regents included two of his supporters.
After their deaths, however, his emoluments began
to be cut down on the plea of economy, and as he took
very little trouble to carry out any other than scientific
duties it was easy enough for his enemies to find fault.
One after another source of income was cut off, but
he persevered with his scientific work, including
a catalogue of stars. He had obtained plenty
of good observations of 777 stars, but thought his
catalogue should contain 1000 stars, so he hastily
observed as many more as he could up to the time of
his leaving Hveen, though even then he had not completed
his programme. About the time that King Christian
reached the age of eighteen, Tycho began to look about
for a new patron, and to consider the prospects offered
by transferring himself with his instruments and activities
to the patronage of the Emperor Rudolph II. In
1597, when even his pension from the Royal treasury
was cut off, he hurriedly packed up his instruments
and library, and after a few weeks’ sojourn at
Copenhagen, proceeded to Rostock, in Mecklenburg, whence
he sent an appeal to King Christian. It is possible
that had he done this before leaving Hveen it might
have had more effect, but it can be readily seen from
the tone of the king’s unfavourable reply that
his departure was regarded as an aggravation of previous
shortcomings. Driven from Rostock by the plague,
Tycho settled temporarily at Wandsbeck, in Holstein,
but towards the end of 1598 set out to meet the Emperor
at Prague. Once more plague intervened and he
spent some time at Dresden, afterwards going to Wittenberg
for the winter. He ultimately reached Prague in
June, 1599. Rudolph granted him a salary of at
least 3000 florins, promising also to settle on him
the first hereditary estate that should lapse to the
Crown. He offered, moreover, the choice between
three castles outside Prague, of which Tycho chose
Benatek. There he set about altering the buildings
in readiness for his instruments, for which he sent
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