10 THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF MICHAEL SCOT 



this part of Scotland during the second half of the 

 thirteenth century. 



It is to be remarked, too, that the Scottish tales 

 of wonder relating to Michael Scot have a local 

 colour that accords well with the other signs 

 we have noticed. The hill which the sorcerer's 

 familiar spirit cleaves in sunder is the triple peak of 

 Eildon ; the water which he curbs is that of Tweed ; 

 from Oakwood he rides forth to try the witch of 

 Falsehope, and in Oakwood tower may still be seen 

 the JingJers room : a curious anachronism, for 

 Oakwood is a buildingf much more recent than the 

 days of Michael Scot, yet one which fixes for us in 

 a picturesque and memorable way the district of 

 country where, according to the greatest number of 

 converging probabilities, this remarkable man was 

 born. 



As to the date of his birth, it is difficult to be 

 very precise. The probability that he died sud- 

 denly, and before he had completed the measure of 

 an ordinary lifetime, prevents us from founding our 

 calculations upon the date of his decease, which can 

 be pretty accurately determined. A more certain 

 argument may be derived from the fact that Scot had 

 finished his youthful studies, made some figure in the 

 world, and entered on the great occupation of his life 

 as an author, as early as the year 1210.^ Assuming 

 then that thirty was the least age he could well 

 have attained at the period in question, the year 

 1180 would be indicated as that of his birth, or rather 

 as the latest date to which it can with probability be 

 referred; 1175 being in every way a more likely 

 approximation to the actual time of this event. 



^ See infra, p. 55. 



