His death foiled this plan. Watzenrode the Younger now was able to have cordial neighborly working relations with the sons of Casimir IV, Jan I Olbracht, then Aleksander Jagiellończyk, then Zygmunt I the Old. At times he was adviser to them. He also had good working relations with the Teutonic Knights but, when necessary, upheld the independent status of Ermland. Lucas Watzenrode the Younger founded a cathedral school in Frauenburg and planned to open a university in Elbing. He had a large library and was instrumental in having the first literary books printed for the Ermland bishopric. He donated many paintings and sculptures, altars, etc.  Lucas Watzenrode the Younger's nephew Nicolaus Copernicus and the latter's brother Andreas Kopernik were reared by their Bishop uncle from the death of their father in 1483. Copernicus aided Watzenrode from 1503 to 1510 and received a canonate. Having the accompanying income, in turn, was of great assistance to Copernicus in his astronomical studies and enabled him to dispense free medical help to the poor inhabitants of Ermland.