, a Scotch astronomer in the sixteenth century, whose writings have
, a Scotch astronomer in the sixteenth century, whose writings have deservedly transmitted
his memory to posterity, was the son of the laird of Bassantin in the Merse, and born some time in the reign of
king James IV. He was sent while young to the university of Glasgow where, instead of applying himself to
words, he studied things; and, while other young men of
his age were perfecting themselves in style, he arrived at
a surprising knowledge, for that time, in almost all branches
of the mathematics. In order to improve himself in this
science, and to gratify his passion for seeing other countries, he travelled, soon after he quitted the college of
Glasgow, through the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy,
and Germany, fixing himself at last in France, where he
taught the mathematics with applause, in the university
of Paris. He fell in there with the common notions of the
times, and was either credulous enough to entertain a good
opinion of judicial astrology, or had so much address as to
make the credulity of others useful to him, by supporting
an erroneous system, then in too great credit for him to
demolish, if he had been disposed, as the humour of believing such kind of predictions never ran so strong as at
this time, nor any where stronger than in that country.
At last, having a desire to see his relations, and spend his
remaining days in his own country, he resolved to quit
France, where he had acquired a high reputation, and
some fortune, and returned home in the year 1562. It
was doubtless to our author that sir James Melvil alludes
in his Memoirs, when he says that his brother, sir Robert,
while he was using his endeavours to reconcile the two
queens, Elizabeth and Mary, met with one Bassantin, a
man learned in the high sciences, who told him “that all
his travel would be in vain; for, said he, they will never
meet together: and next, there will never be anything
but dissembling and secret hatred, for a while; and at
length, captivity and utter wreck to our queen from England.
” He added, “that the kingdom of England at
length shall fall, of right, to the crown of Scotland; but
it shall cost many bloody battles; and the Spaniards shall
be helpers, and take a part to themselves for their labour.
”
A prediction in which Bassantin partly guessed right, which
it is likely he was enabled to do from a judicious consideration of probable circumstances and appearances.