Scot returns from Spain to the Imperial Court—Dante’s reference to this and to the costume worn by the philosopher—Probability that he is represented in the fresco at S. Maria Novella. The Latin Averroës suppressed and Scot resumes his post as Imperial Astrologer—He publishes on this subject—Remarks on Scot by Mirandola, Salimbene, and Bacon—He comments on the _Sphere_ of Sacrobosco—A legend of Naples and its interpretation—Testimony of Leonardo Pisano—Scot’s medical studies and skill—He composes a treatise in that science—Two prescriptions, and some account of the plagues then prevalent, 137 CHAPTER VIII Scot on the way to ecclesiastical preferment—Honorius III. exerts himself to obtain a benefice for the philosopher—He refuses the Archbishopric of Cashel—A similar case of conscience in the same age.—Gregory IX. applies again to Canterbury but without result—Effect of these disappointments on Scot.—His prophecies in verse and prose—The _Cervilerium_—His mental state at this time; and an attempt to estimate his real character—The publication of Scot’s version of Averroës now possible—Frederick II. indites a circular letter to the Universities—Scot travels through Italy, France, and England to the borders of Scotland—His death—The Emperor permits a copy of the _Abbreviatio Avicennae_ to be made as a tribute to Scot’s memory, 157 CHAPTER IX The legendary fame of Scot—Nature of the magic then studied in Spain—Reasons for thinking that Scot’s fame as a magician is mostly mythical—Origin of the story in his connection with the Emperor, and from the place and nature of his Spanish studies—Probability that he composed a work on algebra, which was afterwards mistaken for something magical—His association with the Arthurian legend in its southern development confirms his character as a magician, and may have suggested several details in the stories that are told concerning him, 179 CHAPTER X How Dante used the legend of Michael Scot—The nature of subjective magic or _glamour_—Stories told by those who commented on the _Divine Comedy_—Boccaccio’s reference to Scot, and sundry tales of court and camp—The fifteenth century produces spurious magical works under Scot’s name—Folengo introduces him into the _Baldus_.—Dempster and the Scottish tales.—The tasks of Scot’s familiar spirit.—His embassy to Paris—Story of the witch of Falsehope—The _Book of Might_—Two stories of Scot as told by an old woman of Florence in the present year of grace—Conclusion, 206 APPENDIX, 231 INDEX, 277 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS