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| Michael Scott |
| Wizard - 1175-1234 |
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Michael Scott came from the Borders region
of Scotland, but was educated at Oxford, Paris and Padua. Exactly
what he studied in these places is open to question, but his areas
of interest and expertise ultimately were Astrology and the Occult,
including Alchemy, Sorcery and Prophecy, all subjects which, sadly,
no longer feature on the Scottish curriculum as O-Level options.
At the height of his powers, around 1220,
he became court astrologer to the most powerful man on the planet
at that time, the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick the Great, based
at his glittering court in Palermo.
Respected and feared by all, he was said
to fly through the air on an invisible horse, and sail on a demon
ship, although presumably not both at the same time. That would
just be ridiculous.
He foretold the Emperor's death, and also
predicted that his own demise would come as a result of a blow to
the head inflicted by a stone weighing two ounces or less. Being
a man who left nothing to chance, he consequently made himself a
solid metal helmet which he wore constantly, even in bed.
The only time he ever removed the helmet
was during the consecration of a Mass when, after lifting the headpiece
off at the insistence of the priest, he was instantly struck dead
by a small stone which fell from the church roof.
The daft bugger should have seen it coming.
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