SCIENCE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 



87 



high priest. As our astronomer had laid out nearly all his own fortune 

 on Uraniburg, the King, his patron, had granted him an annual pen- 

 sion, had given him an estate, and had appointed him to a sinecure 

 office. After enjoying with a thankful heart this long career of un- 

 paralleled prosperity, Tycho was overtaken by the Nemesis. 



His munificent patron, Frederick II., died, and was succeeded by 

 his son, then only eleven years of age. Although this prince had shown 

 himself favourably disposed towards Tycho, the latter became in a few 



FIG. 35. TYCHO BRAKE'S HOUSE AND OBSERVATORY. 



years painfully sensible that a new king had arisen in Denmark "which 

 knew not Joseph." The Danish nobility had merely shown a courtly 

 acquiescence by professing an interest in astronomy while Frederick II. 

 lived, and he being removed, the envious spirit with which they re- 

 garded the liberal endowment of scientific research at Uraniburg, and 

 the fame of its great possessor, had scope to display itself by success- 

 fully contriving that Tycho should be deprived of his pension, his 

 estate, and his sinecure office. Though not directly deprived of his 

 island, Tycho was by this blow deprived of the means of maintaining 

 his establishment there ; and as he had also to endure other persecu- 

 tions at the hands of his enemies, he resolved to quit his country. He 

 hired a ship to carry to some more hospitable shore all his astronomical 

 instruments, his alembics and crucibles, and his books. The bark 



