COPERNICUS. in 



1509. This was the only work published by him in his lifetime. The 

 translation is said to be elegant, but the book itself is of comparatively 

 little importance. He had studied it at the university and utilized 

 his knowledge. The book upon which his fame rests — 'De Revolu- 

 tionibus Orbium Coelestium' — did not appear until the very day of 

 his death, and was published by the care of others. Scipione dal Ferro, 

 the discoverer of the general method of solving the cubic equation, was 

 in residence at Bologna at the same time, and there is little doubt that 

 Copernicus met him also, although there is no record of the meeting. 

 In recording this name we seem to be well out of the middle age. A 

 general solution of the cubic belongs to the modern period, although the 

 Arabs were working on the question in the tenth century. 



In 1497 Copernicus was appointed Canon of Frauenburg, which 

 assured to him, for life, an income corresponding to about $2,250 of 

 our money of to-day, and a leave of absence of three years was granted 

 him to continue his studies in Italy. At a later date he also received 

 a sinecure appointment at Breslau. He had already taken the lesser 

 vows; to the higher he never was dedicated. In 1499 his brother 

 Andreas was likewise consecrated Canon of Frauenburg, and he also 

 matriculated at Bologna (1498) in the faculty of law. Both brothers 

 were represented at home by substitutes, and considerable expense 

 may have attached to this, but it is curious to note that on account of 

 the 'costly living' at the university they needed, and received, remit- 

 tances from the bishop, their uncle. 



In the summer of 1500 his leave of absence expired, and in com- 

 pany with his brother he crossed the Alps to Frauenburg, where both 

 received a new permission to return to Italy. It was stipulated that 

 Nicolaus should study medicine after the completion of his courses in 

 law, in order that he might serve as physician to the Frauenburg 

 chapter. In the autumn of 1501 both brothers were again in Italy, 

 Andreas at Rome, Nicolaus at Padua. The doctor's degree in juris- 

 prudence was conferred upon Nicolaus in 1503, but he remained in 

 Italy till the year 1505 or 1506 — nine or ten years in all. 



In the archives of Ferrara we read : 



1503. Die ultima mensis Maij. Ferrarie in episcopali palatio, sub lodia 

 horti presentibus testibus vocatis et rogatis Spectibili viro domino Joanne 

 Andrea de Lazaris sieulo panormito almi Juristarum gymnasii Ferrariensis 

 Magnifico Rectore, Ser Bartholomeo de Silvestris, eive et notario Ferrariensi. 

 Ludovico quondam Baldassaris de Regio cive Ferrariensi et bidello Universitatis 

 Juristarum civitatis Ferrarie, et alijs. 



m: Venerabilis, ac doctissimus vir Nicholaus Copernich de Prusia 

 Canonicus Varmensis et Scholasticus ecclesie S. crucis Vratislaviensis: qui 

 studuit Bononie et Padue, fuit approbatus in Jure canonico nemine penitus 

 discrepante, et doetoratus per prefatum dominum Georgium Vicarium ante- 

 dictum etc. 



