THE ASTRONOMICAL WRITINGS OF SCOT 97 



Toledo, the science of astronomy was already a 

 beaten path. His progress in mathematical studies 

 naturally led him to this, the highest sphere in 

 which they could be exercised. At the court of 

 Frederick he had made many an observation and 

 cast many a horoscope. In the Liber Introductorius 

 and Liber Particularis he had produced two 

 manuals expounding in a popular way the twin 

 sciences of astrology and astronomy ; publications 

 which no doubt reproduced pretty exactly the 

 teaching he had given to the Emperor. 



In Spain he not only kept up his interest in 

 this subject but lost no opportunity of improving 

 his past acquirements. He was constantly on the 

 watch for new astronomical works. He read them, 

 not only as a student eager to extend his know- 

 ledge, but as a translator anxious to find the oppor- 

 tunity of adding to the resources of other scholars 

 by the production of some important book in a 

 Latin dress. 



As a resident in Toledo, Scot found himself 

 very favourably situated for such studies. That 

 city was now indeed to become what may be called 

 the classic ground of Moorish astronomy. A 

 Spanish author would have us believe that there 

 presently assembled there an incredible number of 

 astronomers drawn, not only from all parts of Spain, 

 but from France as well, and especially from Paris. 

 The king himself is said to have presided over this 

 congress. The works of Ptolemy, with the com- 

 mentaries of Montafan and Algazel, were trans- 

 lated into Latin for the use of those scholars who 

 did not understand Arabic. Discussions were held 

 in the Alcazar of Galiana upon the various theories 



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