On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres

[will] require more The text continues from the previous page: "magis requirēt" (will require more [certainty])., yet neither will grasp or teach anything for certain unless it has been divinely revealed to him. Therefore, let us allow these new hypotheses to become known alongside the ancient ones, being no less plausible, especially since they are both admirable and easy to use, and bring with them a vast treasury of highly learned observations. As far as hypotheses are concerned, let no one expect anything certain from astronomy, since it can provide nothing of the kind; otherwise, if he takes as true that which was constructed for another purpose, he will depart from this discipline more of a fool than when he arrived. Farewell.

NICHOLAS SCHÖNBERG, CAR-

dinal of Capua, to Nicolaus Copernicus, Greetings.

A decorative woodcut drop cap 'C' illustrating a figure (possibly a scholar or cleric) seated at a desk, surrounded by elaborate floral and architectural scrollwork.

Since reports of your excellence, through the constant talk of everyone, reached me several years ago, I began at that time to hold you in high regard and even to congratulate our countrymen among whom you flourished with such great glory. For I had understood that you were not only exceptionally skilled in the discoveries of the ancient mathematicians, but had also established a new system of the world. In this system, you teach that the Earth moves; that the Sun occupies the lowest original: "imum"; in the cosmological language of the time, the "lowest" point often referred to the center of the universe., and therefore the central place of the world; that the eighth sphere eighth sphere. The sphere of the "fixed stars," which in traditional geocentric cosmology was the outermost part of the universe; here, it is described as immobile. remains forever immobile and fixed; and that the Moon, together with the elements included within its sphere, situated between the heavens of Mars and Venus, revolves in an annual course around the Sun. I have also learned that you have completed commentaries Referring to the manuscript of the work itself. on this whole system of astronomy and have compiled the motions of the wandering stars The planets., calculated and set into tables, to the greatest admiration of everyone. Therefore, most learned man, unless I am being a burden to you, I beg you again and again most earnestly to communicate this discovery of yours to scholars, and to send to me at the earliest possible moment your nightly labors original: "lucubrationes"; a term for scholarly work produced by the light of a lamp, implying diligent study. concerning the sphere of the world, together with the tables and whatever else you have pertaining to this same subject. I have, moreover, given the task to Theodoric von Reden A colleague of Copernicus and a clerical official in Rome. that everything should be copied there at my expense and brought to me. If you grant me this favor, you will realize that you have dealt with a man who is concerned for your name and eager to do justice to such great virtue. Farewell. Rome, the Kalends of November, in the year 1536.