before, and addressed himself directly to King Christian IV. As it is of great interest, we shall give a translation of the letter, keeping as closely as possible to the words of the Danish original.[1]
"Most puissant, noble King, my most gracious Lord! with my willing and bounden duty most humbly declared. I beg most humbly to inform your Majesty, that whereas I had no opportunity of appearing before your Majesty before my departure, neither knew whether it might be agreeable to your Majesty or not, I am now obliged shortly to let your Majesty know in writing what I should otherwise humbly have stated verbally.
"Whereas from my youth I have had a great inclination thoroughly to study and understand the laudable astronomical art, and to put it on a proper foundation, and for that purpose formerly hoped to remain in Germany in order conveniently to do so, then your Majesty's father of laudable memory, when H. M. learned this, graciously desired and induced me to undertake and carry out the same at Hveen. Which I have done for more than twenty-one years with the greatest diligence, and at great expense, believing to have thereby shown that I liked best to do it to the honour of my own Lord and King and of my country. And your Majesty's father graciously intended and promised that whatever I started in the said art should by a foundation be sufficiently endowed and perpetuated on several good conditions which were graciously promised me, which your Majesty's Lady mother, my most gracious Queen, doubtless still remembers, and formerly has stated to the Privy Council of Denmark. For that I have received the public act of the Privy Council on parchment, confirming and further assuring me of this. Therefore I have
- ↑ The original is printed in Danske Magazin, ii. pp. 327–330, translated in Weistritz, i. p. 122 et seq.
