SCOT AGAIN AT COURT 



HI 



If the philosopher did not actually take such 

 :treme measures with the creatures of his brain 

 id pen, the versions he brought to Sicily were at 

 hast suppressed in the meantime, being concealed 

 |i the imperial closet till a more suitable oppor- 

 lity should occur for their publication. This 

 me, their author devoted himself to pursuits less 

 tely to attract unfavourable notice than those in 

 [hich he had been lately engaged. 



The place and duty which most naturally offered 

 lemselves to Scot were those of the Court 

 strologer. We have seen him occupied in this 

 already, before he left Palermo for Spain, and 

 lere seems no reason to doubt the tradition which 

 Lys that such was indeed the standing occupation 

 his life, and one which he resumed at once on his 

 liturn. To this application of celestial science the 

 )inion of the times attached no sinister interpreta- 

 m, and Scot, finding himself the object of suspicion 

 |i account of his late studies and achievements, 

 just have fallen back with a sense of security, 

 inge as it may seem, upon the casting of horo- 

 lopes and the forming of presages founded on the 

 rht of birds and the motion of animals. l 

 It is therefore in all likelihood to this period 

 his life that we are to ascribe several works on 

 brology and kindred subjects which bear the 

 of Scot. They may have come from his pen 

 way of supplement to the doctrine which he 

 expounded so many years before in the Liber 



1 Scot reckoned twelve signs in augury answering to the twelve 

 jestial houses. Six came from the right hand : Fernova, fervetus, 

 jjifert, amponenth, scimasarnova, scimasarvetus ; and six from the 

 '"-. : Confernova, confervetus, viaram, harenan, scassarnova, scassarvetus. 



: the Physionomia, chap. IvL 



