tion, he made vast additions to astronomical
science. In order to instruct the young in the art of observation, and
educate assistants for his observatory, he had sometimes under his roof
from six to twelve pupils, whom he boarded and educated. Some of these
were named by the King, and educated at his expense. Others were sent
by different academies and cities; and several, who had presented
themselves of their own accord, were liberally admitted by the generous
astronomer.

As Tycho had spent nearly a ton of gold (about 100,000 dollars) in his
outlay at Uraniburg, his own income was reduced to very narrow limits.
To supply this defect, Frederick gave him an annual pension of 2000
dollars, beside an estate in Norway, and made him Canon of the Episcopal
Church of Rothschild, or Prebend of St Laurence,[39] which had an annual
income of 1000 dollars, and which was burdened only with the expense of
keeping up the chapel containing the Mausolea of the Kings of the family
of Oldenburg.

[39] This office had been usually conferred on the King's
Chancellor.

It would be an unprofitable task, and one by no means interesting to the
general reader, to give a detailed history of the various astronomical
observations and discoveries which were made by Tycho during the twenty
years that he spent at Uraniburg. Every phenomenon that appeared in the
heavens, he observed with the greatest care; while he at the same time
carried on regular series of observations for determining the places of
the fixed stars, and for improving the tables of the sun, moon, and
planets. Though almost wholly devoted to these noble pursuits, yet he
kept an open house, and received, with unbounded hospitality, the crowds
of philosophers, nobles, and princes who came to be introduced to the
first astronomer of the age, and to admire the splendid temple which the
Danish Sovereign had consecrated to science.

Among the strangers whom he received under his roof, there were some who
returned his kindness with ingratitude. Among these was Paul Witichius,
a mathematician; who, under the pretence of devoting his whole life to
astronomy, insinuated himself into the utmost familiarity with Tycho.
The unsuspecting astronomer explained to his guest all his inventions,
described all his methods, and even made him acquainted with those views
which he had not realised, and with instruments which he had not yet
executed. When Witichius had thus obtained possessio