[Footnote 85: Ibid: I, 240 and note. Little is known about him today, except that he was primarily an observer, and was highly esteemed by his immediate successors; see Gilbert: _De Magnete_.] [Footnote 86: Clerke in _Ency. Brit._, "Novara."] [Footnote 87: Prowe: I, 249.] In the spring of the year (1501) following his visit to Rome,[88] Copernicus returned to the Chapter at Frauenburg to get further leave of absence to study medicine at the University of Padua.[89] Whether he received a degree at Padua or not and how long he stayed there are uncertain points.[90] He was back in Ermeland early in 1506. [Footnote 88: Prowe: I, 279.] [Footnote 89: Ibid, 294.] [Footnote 90: Ibid: I, 319.] His student days were ended. And now for many years he led a very active life, first as companion and assistant to his uncle the Bishop, with whom he stayed at Schloss Heilsberg till after the Bishop's death in 1512; then as one of the leading canons of the chapter at Frauenburg, where he lived most of the rest of his life.[91] As the chapter representative for five years (at intervals) he had oversight of the spiritual and temporal affairs of two large districts in the care of the chapter.[92] He went on various diplomatic and other missions to the King of Poland,[93] to Duke Albrecht of the Teutonic Order,[94] and to the councils of the German states.[95] He wrote a paper of considerable weight upon the much needed reform of the Prussian currency.[96] His skill as a physician was in demand not only in his immediate circle[97] but in adjoining countries, Duke Albrecht once summoning him to Königsberg to attend one of his courtiers.[98] He was a humanist as well as a Catholic Churchman, and though he did not approve of the Protestant Revolt, he favored reform and toleration.[99] Gassendi claims that he was also a painter, at least in his student days, and that he painted portraits well received by his contemporaries.[100] But his interest and skill in astronomy must have been recognized early in his life for in 1514 the committee of the Lateran Council in charge of the reform of the calendar summoned him to their aid.[101] [Footnote 91: Prowe: I, 335-380.] [Footnote 92: Ibid: II, 75-110, 116, 124.] [Footnote 93: Ibid: II, 204-8.] [Footnote 94: Ibid: II, 110.] [Footnote 95: Ibid: II, 144.] [Footnote 96: Ibid: II, 146.] [Footnote 97: Ibid: II, 293-319.] [Footnote 98: Ibid: II, 464-472.] [Footnote 99: Ibid: II, 170-187.] [Footnote 100: Holden in _Pop. Sci._, 109.] [Footnote 101: Prowe: II, 67-70.]