B ®jP k ^*s heart, and gave many whimfical reafons for preferring a
— v——t woman of low birth. He dreaded a wife who lliould be under
the neceifity of living at court, a life to him the moft detefta-
ble; he therefore preferred one whofe fituation neceflarily precluded
her from what he ftiles a painful honour, who, grateful
to her benefedar, would be dependent on himfelf alone, would
be happy to accompany him in his travels, would confider a
fubferviency to his inclinations as a duty, and would not objedt
to his continued application. Whatever effect thefe reafons
might have in inducing our philofopher to marry, yet it may be
imagined they had none on a proud family, who conceived them-
felves dilgraced by Tycho’s mif-alliance, and refufed to hold any
intercourfe with him, until Frederic the Second commanded
them to be reconciled. Tycho never feems to have repented of
his choice j but ever found in his beloved Chriitina a grateful
companion and an obedient wife.
About this period of his life he firil appeared as a public
teacher, and read ledures on aftronomy at Copenhagen at the
exprefs defire of the king. He explained the theory of the
planets, and preceded his explanation by a very learned oration
concerning the hiftory and excellency of aftronomy and its fifter-
feiences, with feme remarks in favour of judicial aflrology, a
ltudy as congenial to the times as to the inclinations of our
Í philofopher.
Offended with his relations, and difgufied with his countrymen,
men, he had long determined to quit Denmark, and to fettle
abroad; and after travelling through Germany and Italy, he at
length fixed upon Bafil; to the choice of which place he was
influenced by the wholefomenefs of the air, the ch'eapnefs of
the living, and the celebrity of the univerfity; and from whence
he might hold a regular and eafy correfpondence with the aftro-
nomers of France, Germany, and Italy.
On his return to Denmark he was preparing with the ut-
moft fecrecy to tranfport his library and aftronomical apparatus,
but was prevented carrying his defign into execution by an unexpected
fummons from the king. Frederic, being fecretly ap-
prifed of his intentions, was unwilling that Denmark fhould be
deprived of fo great an ornament, kindly embraced him, offered
his protection and encouragement, prefented him with the ifland
o f Huen as a proper retirement, and promifed to ereCt, at his
expence, whatever buildings and apparatus fhould be found ne-
ceflary for his aftronomical purfuits. He fettled upon him a
penfion of iooo crowns a year, and gave him a canonry of Rof-
child worth not le'fs than 2000 crowns.
Tycho, aftonifhed and tranfported at this inftance o f his fove-
reign’s liberality, did not hefitate accepting the king’s offer. He
immediately repaired to the ifle of Huen, and on the eighth of
Auguft, 1576, was prefent at the laying of the firft ftone of a
magnificent houfe, which he afterwards called Uranienburgh, or
the Caftle of the Heavens.
This