BASSANTIN (Jaillas,) a Scotch astro nomer, of the 16th century, born in the reign of James IV. of Scotland. He was a son of the laird of Bassantin, in the Merse. After finishing his education at the University of Glasgow, he travelled through Germany and Italy, and then set tled in the University of Paris, where he taught mathematics with great 'applause. Having acquired some property in this employment, he returned to Scotland in 1562, where he died six years after.
From his writings it appears he was no inconsiderable astronomer, for the age he lived in ; but, according to the fashion of the times, he was not a little addicted to judicial astrology. it was doubtless to our author that Sir James Melvil alludes in his memoirs, when he says, that his brother Sir Robert, when 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 hiro, " that all his travail would be in vain, for," said he, "they will never meet together ; and next, there will never be any thing 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 Scot land : but it shall cost many bloody bat tles; and the Spaniards shall be helpers, and take a part to themselves for their labour." A prediction in which Bassan tin partly guessed right, which it is like ly he was enabled to do, from a judicious consideration of probable circumstances and appearances.
Bassantin's works are on astronomy, music, and various parts of the mathe matics.