finished and remained unpublished till 1858.[1] Giese and Rheticus of course knew that the preface falsified Copernicus's work, and Giese, highly indignant at the "impiety" of the printer (who he thought had written it to save himself from blame) wrote Rheticus urging him to write another "præfatiunculus" purging the book of this falsehood.[2] This letter is dated July 26, 1543, and the book had appeared in April. Apparently nothing was done and the preface was accepted without further challenge.
It remains to ask whether people other than Copernicus's intimates had known of his theory before 1543. Peucer, Melancthon's nephew, declared Copernicus was famous by 1525,[3] and the invitation from the Lateran Council committee indicates his renown as early as 1514. In Vienna in 1873[4] there was found a Commentariolus, or summary of his great work,[5] written by Copernicus for the scholars friendly to him. It was probably written soon after 1530, and gives a full statement of his views following a series of seven axioms or theses summing up the new theory. This little book probably occasioned the order from Pope Clement VII in 1533 to Widmanstadt to report to him on the new scheme.[6] This Widmanstadt did in the papal gardens before the Pope with several of the cardinals and bishops, and was presented with a book as his reward.
In 1536, the Cardinal Bishop of Capua, Nicolas con Schönberg, apparently with the intent to pave the way for the theory at Rome, wrote for a report of it.[7] It is not known whether the report was sent, and the cardinal died the following year. But that Copernicus was pleased by this recognition is evident from the prominence he gave to the cardinal's letter, as he printed it in his book at the beginning, even before the dedication to the Pope.
- ↑ Prowe: II, 251, note.
- ↑ Ibid: II, 537-9.
- ↑ Ibid: II, 273.
- ↑ Ibid: II, 286-7.
- ↑ A second copy was found at Upsala shortly afterwards, though for centuries its existence was unknown save for two slight references to such a book, one by Gemma Frisius, the other by Tycho Brahe. Prowe: II, 284.
- ↑ Ibid: II, 273-4.
- ↑ Prowe: II, 274, note.
