The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler

David Brewster

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler, by David Brewster This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler Author: David Brewster Release Date: July 7, 2008 [EBook #25992] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARTYRS OF SCIENCE *** Produced by Bryan Ness, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) THE MARTYRS OF SCIENCE, OR THE LIVES OF GALILEO, TYCHO BRAHE, AND KEPLER. BY SIR DAVID BREWSTER, K.H. D.C.L., PRINCIPAL OF THE UNITED COLLEGE OF ST SALVATOR AND ST LEONARD, ST ANDREWS; FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON; VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE; AND MEMBER OF THE ACADEMIES OF ST PETERSBURG, STOCKHOLM, BERLIN, COPENHAGEN, GOTTINGEN, PHILADELPHIA, &c. &c. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1841. G. S. TULLIS, PRINTER, CUPAR. [v] TO THE RIGHT HON. FRANCIS LORD GRAY, F.R.S., F.R.S.E.

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• Publié par: veyb
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 48
• Langue: English

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler, by David Brewster This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler Author: David Brewster Release Date: July 7, 2008 [EBook #25992] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARTYRS OF SCIENCE ***

Produced by Bryan Ness, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)

THE MARTYRS OF SCIENCE, OR THE LIVES OF GALILEO, TYCHO BRAHE, AND KEPLER.

BY

SIR DAVID BREWSTER, K.H. D.C.L.,

PRINCIPAL OF THE UNITED COLLEGE OF ST SALVATOR AND ST LEONARD,

ST ANDREWS; FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON; VICE-PRESIDENT

OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH; CORRESPONDING MEMBER

OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE; AND MEMBER OF THE ACADEMIES OF ST PETERSBURG, STOCKHOLM, BERLIN, COPENHAGEN, GOTTINGEN, PHILADELPHIA, &c. &c.

LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1841. G. S. TULLIS, PRINTER, CUPAR.

TO THE RIGHT HON. FRANCIS LORD GRAY, F.R.S., F.R.S.E. My Lord, In submitting this volume to the public under your Lordship’s auspices, I avail myself of the opportunity thus afforded me of expressing the deep sense which I entertain of the friendship and kindness with which your Lordship has so long honoured me. Although in these days, when Science constitutes the power and wealth of nations, and encircles the domestic hearth with its most substantial comforts, there is no risk of its votaries being either persecuted or neglected, yet the countenance of those to whom Providence has given rank and station will ever be one of the most powerful incitements to scientific enterprise, as well as one of its most legitimate rewards. Next to the satisfaction of cultivating Science, and thus laying up the only earthly treasure which we can carry along with us into a better state, is that of having encouraged and assisted others in the same beneficent labours. That your Lordship may long continue to enjoy these sources of happiness is the earnest prayer of, My Lord, Your Lordship’s Most faithful and obedient servant, S T  L EONARDS , S T  A NDREWS , October 12, 1840.

CONTENTS. LIFE OF GALILEO.

DAVID BREWSTER.

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CHAPTER I. P ECULIAR   INTEREST   ATTACHED   TO   HIS  L IFE —H IS  B IRTH —H IS   EARLY   STUDIES —H IS PASSION   FOR  M ATHEMATICS —H IS   WORK   ON   THE  H YDROSTATIC  B ALANCE —A PPOINTED L ECTURER   ON  M ATHEMATICS   AT  P ISA —H IS   ANTIPATHY   TO   THE  P HILOSOPHY   OF  A RISTOTLE —H IS   CONTENTIONS   WITH   THE  A RISTOTELIANS —C HOSEN  P ROFESSOR   OF  M ATHEMATICS IN  P ADUA —A DOPTS   THE  C OPERNICAN   SYSTEM , BUT   STILL   TEACHES   THE  P TOLEMAIC DOCTRINE —H IS   ALARMING   ILLNESS —H E   OBSERVES   THE   NEW  S TAR   IN  1604—H IS Magnetical experiments,

CHAPTER II. C OSMO , G RAND  D UKE   OF  T USCANY , INVITES  G ALILEO   TO  P ISA —G ALILEO   VISITS V ENICE   IN  1609, WHERE   HE   FIRST   HEARS   OF   THE  T ELESCOPE —H E   INVENTS   AND CONSTRUCTS   ONE , WHICH   EXCITES   A   GREAT   SENSATION —D ISCOVERS  M OUNTAINS   IN   THE M OON , AND  F ORTY  S TARS   IN   THE  P LEIADES —D ISCOVERS  J UPITER ’ S  S ATELLITES   IN  1610 —E FFECT   OF   THIS   DISCOVERY   ON  K EPLER —M ANNER   IN   WHICH   THESE   DISCOVERIES WERE   RECEIVED —G ALILEO   APPOINTED  M ATHEMATICIAN   TO  C OSMO —M AYER   CLAIMS THE   DISCOVERY   OF   THE  S ATELLITES   OF  J UPITER —H ARRIOT   OBSERVES   THEM   IN  E NGLAND in October 1610,

CHAPTER III. G ALILEO   ANNOUNCES   HIS   DISCOVERIES   IN  E NIGMAS —D ISCOVERS   THE  C RESCENT   OF V ENUS — THE  R ING   OF  S ATURN — THE  S POTS   ON   THE  S UN —S IMILAR  O BSERVATIONS MADE   IN  E NGLAND   BY  H ARRIOT —C LAIMS   OF  F ABRICIUS   AND  S CHEINER   TO   THE DISCOVERY   OF   THE  S OLAR  S POTS —G ALILEO ’ S  L ETTERS   TO  V ELSER   ON   THE   CLAIMS   OF S CHEINER —H IS   RESIDENCE   AT   THE  V ILLA   OF  S ALVIATI —C OMPOSES   HIS   WORK   ON Floating Bodies, which involves him in new controversies,

CHAPTER IV. G ALILEO   TREATS   HIS  O PPONENTS   WITH   SEVERITY   AND   SARCASM —H E   IS   AIDED   BY   THE S CEPTICS   OF   THE   DAY —T HE  C HURCH  P ARTY   THE   MOST   POWERFUL —G ALILEO COMMENCES   THE   ATTACK , AND   IS   ANSWERED   BY  C ACCINI , A  D OMINICAN —G ALILEO ’ S L ETTER   TO   THE  G RAND  D UCHESS   OF  T USCANY , IN   SUPPORT   OF   THE   MOTION   OF   THE  E ARTH AND   THE   STABILITY   OF   THE  S UN —G ALILEO   VISITS  R OME —I S   SUMMONED   BEFORE   THE I NQUISITION —A ND   RENOUNCES   HIS   OPINIONS   AS  H ERETICAL —T HE  I NQUISITION DENOUNCES   THE  C OPERNICAN   SYSTEM —G ALILEO   HAS   AN   AUDIENCE   OF   THE  P OPE , BUT   STILL   MAINTAINS   HIS   OPINIONS   IN   PRIVATE   SOCIETY —P ROPOSES   TO   FIND   OUT   THE L ONGITUDE   AT  S EA   BY   MEANS   OF  J UPITER ’ S  S ATELLITES —H IS   NEGOTIATION   ON   THIS SUBJECT   WITH   THE  C OURT   OF  S PAIN —I TS   FAILURE —H E   IS   UNABLE   TO   OBSERVE   THE THREE  C OMETS   OF  1618, BUT   IS   INVOLVED   IN   THE   CONTROVERSY   TO   WHICH   THEY   GAVE rise,

CHAPTER V. U RBAN  VIII., G ALILEO ’ S   FRIEND , RAISED   TO   THE  P ONTIFICATE —G ALILEO   GOES   TO  R OME TO   OFFER   HIS   CONGRATULATIONS —T HE  P OPE   LOADS  G ALILEO   WITH   PRESENTS , AND PROMISES   A  P ENSION   TO   HIS  S ON —G ALILEO   IN   PECUNIARY   DIFFICULTIES , OWING   TO   THE DEATH   OF   HIS   PATRON , C OSMO —G ALILEO   AGAIN   RASHLY   ATTACKS   THE  C HURCH , NOTWITHSTANDING   THE  P OPE ’ S   KINDNESS —H E   COMPOSES   HIS  S YSTEM   OF   THE W ORLD , TO   DEMONSTRATE   THE  C OPERNICAN  S YSTEM —A RTFULLY   OBTAINS   A   LICENSE   TO PRINT   IT —N ATURE   OF   THE   WORK —I TS   INFLUENCE   ON   THE   PUBLIC   MIND —T HE  P OPE RESOLVES   ON   SUPPRESSING   IT —G ALILEO   SUMMONED   BEFORE   THE  I NQUISITION —H IS T RIAL —H IS  D EFENCE —H IS   FORMAL  A BJURATION   OF   HIS  O PINIONS —O BSERVATIONS   ON HIS   CONDUCT —T HE  P OPE   SHEWS   GREAT   INDULGENCE   TO  G ALILEO , WHO   IS   ALLOWED   TO return to his own house at Arcetri as the place of his confinement,

CHAPTER VI. G ALILEO   LOSES   HIS   FAVOURITE  D AUGHTER —H E   FALLS   INTO   A   STATE   OF   MELANCHOLY   AND ILL   HEALTH —I S   ALLOWED   TO   GO   TO  F LORENCE   FOR   ITS   RECOVERY   IN  1638—B UT   IS PREVENTED   FROM   LEAVING   HIS  H OUSE   OR   RECEIVING   HIS  F RIENDS —H IS  friend C ASTELLI   PERMITTED   TO   VISIT   HIM   IN   THE   PRESENCE   OF   AN  O FFICER   OF   THE  I NQUISITION — H E   COMPOSES   HIS   CELEBRATED  D IALOGUES   ON  L OCAL  M OTION —D ISCOVERS   THE M OON ’ S  L IBRATION —L OSES   THE   SIGHT   OF   ONE  E YE —T HE   OTHER  E YE   ATTACKED   BY THE   SAME  D ISEASE —I S   STRUCK  B LIND —N EGOCIATES   WITH   THE  D UTCH  G OVERNMENT RESPECTING   HIS  M ETHOD   OF   FINDING   THE  L ONGITUDE —H E   IS   ALLOWED   FREE INTERCOURSE   WITH   HIS  F RIENDS —H IS  I LLNESS   AND  D EATH   IN  1642—H IS  E PITAPH —

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enci Snd al,raMo,retcarahC cifit COERSEURIT   WHIH   TNIS   ANLNESATH   D  D EEIDN   SR F  SL I— SI H s Hi H — AP , alciSo —2461  NITIP E  SI H

CHAPTER I. K EPLER ’ S  B IRTH   IN  1571—H IS  F AMILY —A ND   EARLY  E DUCATION —T HE  D ISTRESSES AND  P OVERTY   OF   HIS  F AMILY —H E   ENTERS   THE  M ONASTIC  S CHOOL   OF  M AULBRONN — A ND   IS   ADMITTED   INTO   THE  U NIVERSITY   OF  T UBINGEN , WHERE   HE   DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF , AND   TAKES   HIS  D EGREE —H E   IS   APPOINTED  P ROFESSOR   OF  A STRONOMY   AND G REEK   IN  1594—H IS   FIRST   SPECULATIONS   ON   THE  O RBITS   OF   THE  P LANETS —A CCOUNT OF   THEIR  P ROGRESS   AND  F AILURE —H IS  “C OSMOGRAPHICAL  M YSTERY ” PUBLISHED —H E M ARRIES   A  W IDOW   IN  1597—R ELIGIOUS   TROUBLES   AT  G RATZ —H E   RETIRES   FROM THENCE   TO  H UNGARY —V ISITS  T YCHO   AT  P RAGUE   IN  1600—R ETURNS   TO  G RATZ , WHICH

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CHAPTER II. F REDERICK  II. PATRONIZES  T YCHO —A ND   RESOLVES   TO   ESTABLISH   HIM   IN  D ENMARK — G RANTS   HIM   THE  I SLAND   OF  H UEN   FOR  L IFE —A ND  B UILDS   THE   SPLENDID  O BSERVATORY OF  U RANIBURG —D ESCRIPTION   OF   THE  I SLAND , AND   OF   THE  O BSERVATORY —A CCOUNT   OF ITS  A STRONOMICAL  I NSTRUMENTS —T YCHO   BEGINS   HIS  O BSERVATIONS —H IS  P UPILS — T YCHO   IS   MADE  C ANON   OF  R OTHSCHILD , AND   RECEIVES   A   LARGE  P ENSION —H IS H OSPITALITY   TO   HIS  V ISITORS —I NGRATITUDE   OF  W ITTICHIUS —T YCHO   SENDS   AN A SSISTANT   TO   TAKE   THE  L ATITUDE   OF  F RAUENBURG   AND  K ONIGSBERG —I S   VISITED   BY Ulric, Duke of Mecklenburg—Change in Tycho’s fortunes,

CHAPTER III. T YCHO ’ S  L ABOURS   DO   HONOUR   TO   HIS  C OUNTRY —D EATH   OF  F REDERICK  II.—J AMES  VI. OF  S COTLAND   VISITS  T YCHO   AT  U RANIBURG —C HRISTIAN  IV. VISITS  T YCHO —T HE  D UKE OF  B RUNSWICK ’ S   VISIT   TO  T YCHO —T HE  D ANISH  N OBILITY , JEALOUS   OF   HIS   FAME , CONSPIRE   AGAINST   HIM —H E   IS   COMPELLED   TO   QUIT  U RANIBURG —A ND   TO   ABANDON HIS  S TUDIES —C RUELTY   OF   THE  M INISTER  W ALCHENDORP —T YCHO   QUITS  D ENMARK WITH   HIS  F AMILY   AND  I NSTRUMENTS —I S   HOSPITABLY   RECEIVED   BY  C OUNT  R ANTZAU — W HO   INTRODUCES   HIM   TO   THE  E MPEROR  R UDOLPH —T HE  E MPEROR   INVITES   HIM   TO P RAGUE —H E   GIVES   HIM   A  P ENSION   OF  3000 C ROWNS —A ND   THE  C ASTLE   OF B ENACH   AS   A  R ESIDENCE   AND   AN  O BSERVATORY —K EPLER   VISITS  T YCHO —W HO obtains for him the Appointment of Mathematician to Rudolph,

CHAPTER IV. T YCHO   RESUMES   HIS  A STRONOMICAL  O BSERVATIONS —I S   ATTACKED   WITH   A  P AINFUL Disease—His Sufferings and Death in 1601—His Funeral—His Temper—His T URN   FOR  S ATIRE   AND  R AILLERY —H IS  P IETY —A CCOUNT   OF   HIS  A STRONOMICAL D ISCOVERIES —H IS  L OVE   OF  A STROLOGY   AND  A LCHYMY —O BSERVATIONS   ON   THE C HARACTER   OF   THE  A LCHYMISTS —T YCHO ’ S  E LIXIR —H IS  F ONDNESS   FOR   THE M ARVELLOUS —H IS  A UTOMATA   AND  I NVISIBLE  B ELLS —A CCOUNT   OF   THE  I DIOT , CALLED L EP , WHOM   HE   KEPT   AS   A  P ROPHET —H ISTORY   OF  T YCHO ’ S  I NSTRUMENTS —H IS  G REAT Brass Globe preserved at Copenhagen—Present state of the Island of Huen,

LIFE OF JOHN KEPLER.

LIFE OF TYCHO BRAHE.

CHAPTER I. T YCHO ’ S  B IRTH , F AMILY , AND  E DUCATION —A N  E CLIPSE   OF   THE  S UN   TURNS   HIS ATTENTION   TO  A STRONOMY —S TUDIES  L AW   AT  L EIPSIC —B UT   PURSUES  A STRONOMY   BY STEALTH —H IS  U NCLE ’ S  D EATH —H E   RETURNS   TO  C OPENHAGEN , AND   RESUMES   HIS O BSERVATIONS —R EVISITS  G ERMANY —F IGHTS   A  D UEL , AND   LOSES   HIS  N OSE —V ISITS A UGSBURG , AND   MEETS  H AINZEL —W HO   ASSISTS   HIM   IN   MAKING   A   LARGE  Q UADRANT —R EVISITS  D ENMARK —A ND   IS   WARMLY   RECEIVED   BY   THE  K ING —H E   SETTLES   AT   HIS U NCLE ’ S  C ASTLE   OF  H ERRITZVOLD —H IS  O BSERVATORY   AND  L ABORATORY —D ISCOVERS THE   NEW  S TAR   IN  C ASSIOPEIA —A CCOUNT   OF   THIS   REMARKABLE  B ODY —T YCHO ’ S M ARRIAGE   WITH   A  P EASANT  G IRL —W HICH   IRRITATES   HIS  F RIENDS —H IS  L ECTURES   ON A STRONOMY —H E   VISITS   THE  P RINCE   OF  H ESSE —A TTENDS   THE  C ORONATION   OF   THE Emperor Rudolph at Ratisbon—He returns to Denmark,

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HE   AGAIN   QUITS   FOR  P RAGUE —H E   IS   TAKEN   ILL   ON   THE   ROAD —I S   APPOINTED  T YCHO ’ S A SSISTANT   IN  1601—S UCCEEDS  T YCHO   AS  I MPERIAL  M ATHEMATICIAN —H IS  W ORK on the New Star of 1604—Singular specimen of it,

CHAPTER II. K EPLER ’ S  P ECUNIARY  E MBARRASSMENTS —H IS  I NQUIRIES   RESPECTING   THE  L AW   OF R EFRACTION —H IS  S UPPLEMENT   TO  V ITELLIO —H IS  R ESEARCHES   ON  V ISION —H IS T REATISE   ON  D IOPTRICS —H IS  C OMMENTARIES   ON  M ARS —H E   DISCOVERS   THAT   THE ORBIT   OF  M ARS   IS   AN  E LLIPSE , WITH   THE  S UN   IN   ONE   FOCUS —A ND   EXTENDS   THIS DISCOVERY   TO   ALL   THE   OTHER  P LANETS —H E   ESTABLISHES   THE   TWO   FIRST   LAWS   OF P HYSICAL  A STRONOMY —H IS  F AMILY  D ISTRESSES —D EATH   OF   HIS  W IFE —H E   IS APPOINTED  P ROFESSOR   OF  M ATHEMATICS   AT  L INZ —H IS  M ETHOD   OF  C HOOSING   A S ECOND  W IFE —H ER  C HARACTER , AS   GIVEN   BY  H IMSELF —O RIGIN   OF   HIS  T REATISE   ON G AUGING —H E   GOES   TO  R ATISBON   TO   GIVE   HIS  O PINION   TO   THE  D IET   ON   THE   CHANGE of Style—He refuses the Mathematical Chair at Bologna,

CHAPTER III. K EPLER ’ S   CONTINUED  E MBARRASSMENTS —D EATH   OF  M ATHIAS —L IBERALITY   OF F ERDINAND —K EPLER ’ S  “H ARMONIES   OF   THE  W ORLD ”—T HE  E PITOME   OF   THE Copernican Astronomy—It IS   PROHIBITED   BY   THE  I NQUISITION —S IR  H ENRY  W OTTON , the British Ambassador, invites Kepler to England—He declines the Invitation —N EGLECT   OF  G ENIUS   BY   THE  E NGLISH  G OVERNMENT —T RIAL   OF  K EPLER ’ S  M OTHER — H ER   FINAL  A CQUITTAL —A ND  D EATH   AT   THE   AGE   OF  S EVENTY - FIVE —T HE  S TATES   OF S TYRIA   BURN   PUBLICLY  K EPLER ’ S  C ALENDAR —H E   RECEIVES   HIS  A RREARS   OF  S ALARY FROM  F ERDINAND —T HE  R UDOLPHINE  T ABLES   PUBLISHED   IN  1628—H E   RECEIVES   A G OLD  C HAIN   FROM   THE  G RAND  D UKE   OF  T USCANY —H E   IS  P ATRONISED   BY   THE  D UKE OF  F RIEDLAND —H E   REMOVES   TO  S AGAN , IN  S ILESIA —I S   APPOINTED  P ROFESSOR   OF M ATHEMATICS   AT  R OSTOCH —G OES   TO  R ATISBON   TO   RECEIVE   HIS  A RREARS —H IS D EATH , F UNERAL , AND  E PITAPH —M ONUMENT  E RECTED   TO   HIS  M EMORY   IN  1803— H IS  F AMILY —H IS  P OSTHUMOUS  V OLUME , ENTITLED  “T HE  D REAM , OR  L UNAR Astronomy,”

CHAPTER IV. N UMBER   OF  K EPLER ’ S   PUBLISHED  W ORKS —H IS   NUMEROUS  M ANUSCRIPTS   IN  22 FOLIO VOLUMES —P URCHASED   BY  H EVELIUS , AND   AFTERWARDS   BY  H ANSCH —W HO PUBLISHES  K EPLER ’ S  L IFE   AND  C ORRESPONDENCE   AT   THE   EXPENSE   OF  C HARLES  VI.— T HE  H ISTORY   OF   THE   REST   OF   HIS  M ANUSCRIPTS , WHICH   ARE   DEPOSITED   IN   THE  L IBRARY of the Academy of Sciences at St Petersburg—General Character of Kepler— H IS  C ANDOUR   IN   ACKNOWLEDGING   HIS  E RRORS —H IS  M ORAL   AND  R ELIGIOUS C HARACTER —H IS  A STROLOGICAL  W RITINGS   AND  O PINIONS   CONSIDERED —H IS C HARACTER   AS   AN  A STRONOMER   AND   A  P HILOSOPHER —T HE  S PLENDOUR   OF   HIS Discoveries—Account of his Method of Investigating Truth,

LIFE OF GALILEO.

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CHAPTER I. Peculiar interest attached to his Life—His Birth—His early studies—His passion for Mathematics—His work on the Hydrostatic Balance—Appointed Lecturer on Mathematics at Pisa—His antipathy to the Philosophy of Aristotle—His contentions with the Aristotelians—Chosen professor of Mathematics in Padua—Adopts the Copernican system, but still teaches the Ptolemaic doctrine—His alarming illness—He observes the new Star in 1604—His magnetical experiments.

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