606 Galileo, and the Copernican System. [June, 



who had not attended the schools of one or other of them. While Copernicus 

 was a student at the former of these, Domenico Maria Novara, of Ferrara, one 

 of the most learned astronomers which that age produced, was a professor 

 there. Whether or no he was an advocate for the motion of the earth, it is 

 impossible to determine; although it is certain he maintained that the pole of 

 the world had changed its position since the age of Ptolemy, an erroneous 

 opinion much canvassed about that period. But if Copernicus were indebted to 

 any one for the idea which first gave rise to his system, it is much more 

 probable that it was to Novara than to Girolamo Tagliavia of Calabria, who 

 was then living, and to whom a very dubious report has sometimes assigned an 

 honour to which he does not appear to have the slightest claim. From the 

 testimony of George Joachim Rheticus, the scholar and inseparable companion 

 of Copernicus, we learn that this latter, together with Novara, frequently em- 

 ployed himself at Bologna in astronomical observations, as in 1497 of the occul- 

 tation of Aldebaran by the moon; and that thus having made known his 

 proficiency' in these studies, he was, about the jear 1500, invited to Rome, and 

 nominated public professor of mathematics. " Bononiae non tarn discipulus quam 

 adjutor et testis observationum doctissimi viri Dominici Mariae, RomjE autem 

 circa annum Domini M.D. natus annos plus minus vigintiseptem. Professor 

 Mathematum, in magna scholasticorum frequentia, et corona niagnorum 

 virorum et artificum in hoc doctrinae genere." — ( Geor. J. Rheticus, Narrat. de 

 Copernic. ^-c.) In this city Copernicus continued his astronomical observations, 

 and it is not improbable that at Rome he first conceived the idea of the system 

 ■which bears his name : but this is merely a conjecture. After some time, 

 Copernicus left Rome and Italy, where, however, the remembrance of his great 

 astronomical attainments remained so strong, that a few years afterwards, that 

 is in 1516, when the reform of the calendar was discussed in the Lateran 

 council during the pontificate of Leo X., Copernicus was one of the learned 

 men who were consulted by letter on the occasion. He in the mean time 

 having been made a canon of Frauenburg, the see of his maternal uncle who 

 was Bishop of Ermeland, there pursued his studies in peace, and reflecting upon 

 and bringing to perfection his ingenious system, composad his great work " De 

 revolutionibus orbium celestium." But he well knew that a system in which he 

 ventured to contravene an opinion for so many centuries established in the 

 world, and sanctioned by the authority of such eminent philosophers, must 

 meet with serious opposition, and have to contend with numerous enemies. 

 He made interest therefore with persons in authority, who encouraged him not 

 to be apprehensive of popular prejudices, against which their protection should 

 render him secure. Now who were they to whom Copernicus was indebted 

 for the publication of his work, and for security against jealousy, envy, and 

 ignorance ? A cardinal, a bishop, and a pope. 



Cardinal Nicholas Schonberg, bishop of Capua, is the person to whom the 

 world is indebted for the first edition of the works of Copernicus. This prelate 

 was born in the same year with Copernicus, and afterwards, at the age of twenty, 

 entered into the order of Saint Dominic, or of friars predicant ; a circumstance 

 worthy of remark, and which should lead us to be indulgent to those of the 

 fraternity who afterwards, in the excess of their zeal, declaimed from the pulpit 

 against Galileo, who illustrated and completed the system which had been 

 supported and sanctioned by a former member of the societ}'. It appears that 

 the Cardinal was never personally acquainted with this distinguished astronomer, 

 since in a letter dated November 1, 1536, which he addressed to him from 

 Rome, and which is prefixed to the great work of Copernicus, he only says, 

 that he has heard his profound learning much celebrated, and the astronomical 

 system which he had conceived, explained ; and of this he gives a compendium 

 in the letter itself. He then entreats him earnestly not to suppress any longer 

 so valuable a work, to transmit to him his book upon the sphere, and whatever 

 else might have a connexion with the subject; adding, that he had desired a 

 certain Theodoric of Redek to copy the whole at his expence, and to send the 

 transcript to him at Rome. Copernicus was perhaps disposed to gratify the 



