The people of Elbing made themselves merry over a farce in which Copernicus was the main object of ridicule.

The people of Nuremberg, a Protestant stronghold, caused a medal to be struck with inscriptions ridiculing the philosopher and his theory.
Why the people at large took this view is easily understood when we note the attitude of the guardians of learning, both Catholic and Protestant, in that age.

It throws great light upon sundry claims by modern theologians to take charge of public instruction and of the evolution of science.

So important was it thought to have "sound learning" guarded and "safe science" taught, that in many of the universities, as late as the end of the seventeenth century, professors were forced to take an oath not to hold the "Pythagorean"-- that is, the Copernican--idea as to the movement of the heavenly bodies.

As the contest went on, professors were forbidden to make known to students the facts revealed by the telescope.