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334 coxr’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK.
cry out, “ Come hither, Peter,’ ‘Come hither, Chriftian,” and was pleafed to obferve
the aftonifhment of the company, who, not hearing the bells, were furptized at the ap-
pearance of the perfon thus fummoned. 3
He was equally devoted to the ftudy of chymiftry, and expended as much‘on the
terreftrial aftronomy, as he ftyles it, as on the celeftial. He left, indeed, no writings on
that fcience, although he intended to publifh a felection of his experiments, made with
ereat labour and expence ; yet he adds, in the true cant of alchymy, “ On confidera-
tion, and by the advice of the moft illuftrious as well as the moft learned men, I deem it
improper to unfold the fecrets of the art to the vulgar, as few people are capable of ufing
its myfteries to advantage, and without detriment.”
His foibles were as prominent as his virtues and capacity. He was of a morofe and
unbending difpofition, indulged himfelf in two great freedom of fpeech * ; .but while
he rallied others was not pleafed to be rallied himfelf.
He was greatly addicted to judicial aftrology, and prone to credulity and fuperttition
unbecoming his learning and judgment. If he met an old woman, he would inftantly
return home, and confidered an hare asan ill omen. At Uranienburgh he had a fool,
by name Sep, who was accuftomed during dinner to ‘fit at his fect, and whom he fed
with his own hand. ‘This mart was continually uttering incoherent expreflions, which
Tycho noted down, from a perfuafion that the mind, ina {tate of emotion, was capable
of predicting future events; and even believed, if any inhabitant of the ifland was taken
ill, that this idiot could predié&t his recovery or deceafe. He maintained, that the cabala
and magic, if they did not aét to the offence of God or man, could lay open many abftrufe
things by figures, images, and marks.
But to turn from the unfavourable to the brighter parts of his character, we may
affent to the truth of the eulogium given by his panegyrift ; to Tycho Brahe his ftudies
were life, meditation delight, fcience riches, virtue nobility, and religion his conftant
guide tf.
Cuap. Vill.—-Journey through the Ile of Zealand.—Rykild.—Cathedral.—Sepulchres
and Charaéiers of the Danifh Sovereigns, Harald Blaatand.—Sweyn Il.—Margaret.—
_Chriftian I.—Saxo-Grammaticus.—Rayal Sepulchres at Ring fted.—Paffage acrofs the
Great Belt.—I/le of Funen.—Odenfee.—Tombs and Characters of John and Chriftian IL.
—Paffage acrofs the Little Belt—Journey through Slefwic’ and Holftein.—Canal of
Kiel.—Eutin. — Lubec. —Travemunde.—General Remarks on the circular Ranges of
Stones frequent in Sweden and Denmark.—Genealogical Tables of the Kings of Den-
“park. :
APRIL 5. Quitting Copenhagen we pafled along an excellent road, through a well-
eultivated open country, to Rofkild, formerly the royal refidence and metropolis of Den-
mark. It {tands at a {mall diftance from Iefiord, or bay of Ife; and in its flourifhing
ftate, was of great extent, comprizing within its walls twenty-feven churches, and as
many convents {; but the prefent circumference is fcarcely half an Englifh mile, and the
population only one thoufand fix hundred and twenty fouls; the houfes are of brick,
‘and have a neat appearance.
* Nihil fGQum; nihil fimulatum in ipfo; fed foaphum fcaphum appellabat ; unde omne quod fultinuit
edium.—Or. Fun. 269. :
+ Ipfi vita ftudia erant; deliciz vero meditatio; divitie fcientize ; virtus nobilitas ; religio directio.—
Oratio Funebris.
t+ Holberg, vol. i. p. 618.
; The
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