3.18. A generall catalog of the writers of Scotland, with the times in which they li|ued, as well of the yeare of Christ, as of the reigne of Scotish kings.
A generall catalog of the writers of Scotland, with the times in which they li|ued, as well of the yeare of Christ, as of the reigne of Scotish kings.
_BEfore I enter into the discourse thereof (which I speake not by waie of impeach|ing anie glorie of the Scotish nation) I must deliuer the opinion which I con|ceiue of some of the Scotish writers, set downe by manie of their historiographers, who (sauing correc|tion) finding manie learned writers to be termed Scots, doo transferre them to all their owne coun|trie of Scotland. But in that they séemé vnto me (holding the same for this present vntill I may sée good authoritie to disprooue it) to be ouer couetous in taking from other that which is their due. For I doo verelie suppose, that manie of those men so termed Scots were Irishmen borne. For vntill late yeres a little before the conquest (if my memorie faile me not) the Irishmen were called Scoti or Scots; wherevpon it is, that the Scots and Irishmen at this daie now knowne by seuerall names, doo cha|lenge Duns, Columbanus, and others to be borne a|mongst them, some calling them Scots, and other naming them Irishmen, and rebuking the Scots for chalenging those men vnto them. For although the Scots came out of Ireland, and the Irish were called Scots, it is no reason to call a Scot borne in Ireland, by the name of a Scot borne in Scotland, as some writers doo vnder the amphibologicall name of Scot. But I (whose determination is not to aduance the one, or derogat from the other) will onlie in this place set them downe as I find them, & shew the different opinions touching the same, still leauing it to the iudgement of others, to thinke thereof as they please; for I neither may nor will sit as Honorarius arbiter betwéene those two nati|ons. Wherefore thus I enter into the catalog of the writers of Scotland as followeth.
Fergusius the first of that name king of Scots, Fergusius. who died, as hath Gesnerus out of Bale, in the yéere of the world three thousand six hundred seuentie and eight, and two hundred ninetie and two before the birth of our Lord Iesus Christ, but Lesleus saith three hundred and fiue before Christ, did write Leges po|liticas lib. 1. This man the Irish make to be there borne amongst them; for thus writeth Stanihurst in his writers of Ireland: Fergusius sonne to Fequar|dus king of Ireland, the first king of Scots, whome some affirme to be borne in Denmarke, the more EEBO page image 458 part suppose to haue béene an Irishman, was in the fiue and twentith yeare of his reigne by misfortune drowned neere a rocke in the north part of Ireland, that of him at this daie is called Caerfergus. Upon whose mishap these verses following were made:
Icarus Icareis vt nomina fecerat vndis,Fergusius petrae sic dedit apta suae.
Iosina, the ninth king of Scots, after Fergustus Iosina. the first, who florished in the yeare of the world, as hath Gesnerus, thrée thousand eight hundred twentie and six, before the birth of Christ one hundred thirtie and seuen, as the same author saith, but one hun|dred three score and one as hath Lesleus lib. 2. pag. 89 did write De viribus herbarum lib. 1.
Ethodius the first of that name king of Scots, Ethodius. who (delighting in musike) was in the yeare of Christ one hundred ninetie and foure, and the third yeare of his reigne, as hath Lesleus, but one hun|dred ninetie and six, as hath Gesnerus, slaine by a mu|sician of the Hebrides, did write Ad Pictorum regem plures epistolas.
Celius Sedulius a Scot by birth, as hath Ges|nerus, which florished about the yeare of Grace foure Celius Sedulius. hundred and thirtie, in the reigns of Fergusius the second, and Eugenius the second, kings of Scots, who being a companion to Hildebert a learned bi|shop of the Scots, did after the death of Hildebert for further learning trauell into Spaine, France, Italie, Gréece, and Asta, as hath Lesleus lib. 4. pag. 134. whome the pope Gelasius woondering at his vertue and writing was woont to call Venerabilem, or woorthie reuerence, as our English Bede is ac|customed to be termed. This Sedulius did write Carmen paschale lib. 4. which books are intituled Libri mirabilium diuinorum. Besides, he penned Annotationes in omnes Pauli epistolas, printed at Basill by Henrie Peter, Hymnum de seruatore. Ad Theodosium Caesarem lib. 1. In aeditionem Donati lib. 1. In Prisciani volumen lib. 1. Exhortatorium ad fideles lib 1. De Christo lib. 2. with diuerse other verses and epistles.
Merlinus Calidonius otherwise called Merlinus Merlinus Calidonius. Syluestris, or Uplandish (a different person from him which is called Merlinus Ambrosius Britannus) was borne in the borders of Scotland, and the scholer of the British prophet Telesinus. This Merline Calidon executed manie prodigies or strange things against the English Saxons, which man florishing about the yeare of Christ fiue hundred and seuentie, did write De vaticinijs lib. 1. in which he intreated of matter belonging to historie.
Columbanus, whome Gesnerus, Bede, and the I|rish Columbanus. histories affirme to be an Irishman borne in Ulster, but Sixtus Senensis in his Bibliotheca sancta, Lesleus, & the Scotish & Englishmen name to be of other nations, as of Scotland and Eng|land, was a moonke & father of manie monasteries, being Abbas Luxuriensis, as hath Gesnerus, Sixtus Senensis, and Lesle, being a place in Burgundie, which abbeie he built (by the permission of Theodori|cus the king) togither with the abbeie of Fount|nesse in France. This man at the first held the feast of Easter contrarie to the west church, but in th'end was reduced therevnto. He went into Almanie now Germanie, where he left saint Gall, and after passed into Italie, where he liued a most holie life in the monasterie of Bobiens, or (as hath Marianus) of Bouiens, which he built for a perpetuall monu|ment of his liberalitie, and died in the same on the twentith daie of Nouember. He florished in the time of Convallus king of Scots, about the yeare of our redemption fiue hundred ninetie and eight, and left these books to posteritie, Commentaria in totum psalterium lib. 1. Epistolarum lib. 1. Mona|steriorum methodos lib. 1. Aduersus Theodoricum regem adulterum lib. 1. De moribus monachorum metricè lib. 1. Collationes ad monachos lib. 1.
Briget, a most holie woman, whome the Irish Briget. affirme to be borne in Limster, but Gesnerus and Lesle with the Scots doo affirme hir to be borne a Scot, being by Gesner called Brigida Laginensis, she became religious, and was veiled by the bishop of Man, as hath Lesleus lib. 4. pag. 149. she flori|shed about the yeare of our Lord fiue hundred thrée score and sight, as hath Lesleus, in the reigne of Convallus king of Scots; some other saie the flo|rished in the yeare fiue hundred and ten, Gesnerus in the yeare of Christ fiue hundred and eightéene, and wrote twelue books of reuelations verie darke and full of mysteries, which books Lesleus will not haue to be written by this Briget a Scotish woman, but by Briget called Brigita Suetica that florished manie yeres after this Scotish Briget, writing thus: Impe|ritè tamen hanc nostram cum Brigita Suetica, cuius nomine reuelationes multae inscribuntur, quidam cõfundũt: siquidẽ multis saeculis hanc Brigita nostra fuisse posteriorem satis constat. Tanta veneratione Scoti, Picti, Britanni, Angli & Hibernenses diuam Brigitam sunt vbique prosecuti, vt plura templa Deo in illius memoriam apud illos omnes erecta videas, quàm in vllius caeterorum diuorum omnium. Illius sanctum corpus Hibernici, Duni, quo loco sancti Patricij illorum apostoli corpus seruatur se habere contendunt. Nostri eandem gloriam sibi vendicant, qui idipsum in canonicorum collegio Abrenethi rectè se colere hactenùs putantur, &c. Touching which I haue read these old verses, by which the I|rishmen chalenge hir with Columbanus and Patri|cius to be buried in Ireland, which verses are thus:
Hi tresin Duno tumulo tumulantur in vno,Brigita Patricius, atque Columba pius.
Maidulphus or Maiduldus Scotus, as Gesnerus termeth him, did flourish in the yeare of our Lord six hundred foure score and nine, he writ De Paschatis obseruatione, whom I take to be Maidulphus, who was notablie learned in the Gréeke and Latine, first a schoolemaster, and after abbat of Malmsburie called in the beginning Maidulphi curia, or Mai|dulphsburie, after the name of this Maidulphus, who as hath Lesleus lib. 4. pag. 137. did flourish in the yeare of Christ seuen hundred and sixtéene. Now it is certeine both by our and the Scotish chronicles, that Maidulphus the builder of Malmsburie mona|sterie was a Scot.
Kilianus a Scot being a moonke, was martyred in Germanie about the yeare of our Lord six hun|dred three score and nine, as hath Gesnerus out of Bale, but Lesleus affirmeth him to liue in the go|uernment of Ethsinus, which died in the yeare of our Lord seuen hundred thrée score and two, being the thirtith yere of his reigne. This Kilianus did write Contra peregrinos cultus, lib. 1. Gesner also out of Mat. Dresserus nameth Lecturã Kiliani super ma|gistrũ sententiarum, which peraduenture might be this Kilianus the Scot.
Ionas Monachus being borne in Scotland, and the disciple of the abbat Columbanus, flourished in the yeare of Christ six hundred and thirtie, as hath Gesnerus, he writ Vitam sancti Columbani lib. 1. Vitam sancti Eustacij abbatis lib. 1.
Adamannus Coludius, being a Scot as hath Gesner out of Bale, was a moonke of the apostolicall order, and moderator, ruler, or abbat of the monaste|rie in the Ile of Hua, who flourished in the yeare of Christ six hundred foure score and ninetéene, and writ De locis terrae sanctae lib. 1. De situ Ierusalem lib. 1. De pascheta legitimo lib. 1. Epistolas mul|tas. From this mans works Bede affirmeth that he EEBO page image 459 had manie things which he inserted in his owne bookes. But I much doubt whether this Adaman|nus were a Scot, in that he is called Adamannus Coludius, that is Adam of Coludi, which Coludi is a place in Yorkeshire belonging to the bishoprike of Yorke, and now at this daie is in English called Cawood.
Florentius (whom Scotland brought foorth flou|rished in the yeare of Christ six hundred foure score and eight, in which yeare Eugenius the sixt king of Scots began his reigne) was, as hath Lesleus, no|blie borne, who trauelling into strange countries, conuerted manie from paganisme vnto Christ, lea|ding a most austere life in the solitarie woods, not far from Bruschius the famous riuer in Alsatia, and built a monasterie for such religious persons as came to him out of Scotland, being after the death of Rotharius by the Argentines made their bishop. He was buried in that monasterie before named, builded for his Scots. This man I take to be the same man of whom thus writeth Gesnerus: Floren|tius Volusenus Scotus scripsit theologicã orationẽ siue cõmendationem piam & eruditam, Griphius excudit Lugduni 1539. Idem de animi trãquillitate carmen ibidem excusum 1543. & Basiliae apud Io|annẽ Oporinum cum pijs aliquot poetis an. 1551, Idem edidit aphorismos beatae vitae & dialogum de animi tranquillitate, which maie be the booke of that matter before mentioned.
Artuillus, or Artuillis a worthie gentleman, the sonne of a most noble person borne in Scotland, flo|rished, Artuillus. as hath Gesnerus out of Bale, in the yeare of Christ seuen hundred and ten, but Lesleus appointeth him to haue liued in the time of Eugenius the eight of that name king of Scotland, who as he further saith, began his reigne in the yeare of Christ seuen hundred thrée score and two, this Artuillus writ De rebus mathematicis librũ vnũ, ad Adelmum episco|pum lib. 1.
Sedulius Iunior being bishop of the south Scots did write Statuta concilij Romae ad sanctum Petrum Sedulus Iunior. habiti, and liued in the yere of Christ seuen hundred and fouretéene.
Bonifacius, as hath Marianus Scotus by the wit|nesse of Lesleus lib. 4. pag. 166, being of the Scotish Bonifacius. bloud, went to Rome, from whense by pope Grego|rie the second he was sent into Germanie to con|uert them to the faith, where he was made the first archbishop of Mentz, being called the Germane apo|stle, after which he was the popes legat and sent into France: In qua (as saith Lesle) Thuringis, Hessis, & Austrasionibus ad rectam religionis viam traductis, messem longè copiosissimam collegerat; after which he went againe into Germanie, & from thense into Frisia, where he was martyred in the yere of Christ seuen hundred fiftie and fiue, who being a moonke of the order of saint Benet, did write; Epistolarum ad diuersos lib. 1. Vitam quorundam sanctorum lib. 1.
Ioannes Mailrose whom Gesnerus maketh men|tion to be all one with Ioannes Scotus, being the Ioannes Mailrose. companion of Alcuinus, in the time of Charles the great: this man being skilfull in all diuine know|ledges, liued in the time of Donald the sixt of that name king of Scotland, as saith Lesleus bishop of Rosse, and also florished in the time of Gregorie king of Scots, in the yeare of Christ eight hundred fourescore and twelue. This Ioannes Scotus after many yeares spent at Athens in the Gréeke letters, was called into France by Lodouike emperor of the Romans, who besides other monuments of his learning, at the commandement of the said empe|ror, did turne the Hierarchie of saint Denis into Latine, besides the commentaries of Hugo de san|cto Victore, a most notable diuine. Shortlie after which, the said Iohn was sent by Charles the great into England, to Alured, or Alfred the king there|of, to congratulat so worthie a prince for the victo|ries which he had of the Danes: who after that he had setled a perfect league betwéene the French and the Scots, remained in England continuallie, in|terteined by Alured, of whose children he was ad|mitted to be chiefe schoolemaister and instructor.
But shortlie after, professing diuine and hu|mane learning in the monasterie of Malmesbu|rie, to all such as would come to his lecture, he was by certeine scholers of his (whose pride and euill con|ditions he did sharpelie rebuke, wounded & killed pitifullie with Pugionibus, as saith Lesleus. Which Iohn, the king of England (as I suppose) by the au|thoritie of the pope, procured to be numbred amongst the martyrs of Christ, ordeining a notable monu|ment to be erected ouer him in the same mona|sterie: of whose writings and dooings thus writeth Gesnerus in these words: Ioannes Mailrosius cog|nomine & natione Scotus, Alcuini socius, scripsit super canones Aizachelis lib. 1. Ad Carolũ regẽ lib. 1. Versus diuersi generis lib. 1. In euangel. Mat. lib. 3. De officijs humanis lib. 8. De officijs diuinis lib. 1. Dialogum de natura lib. 1. De naturae diuisione lib. 1. De primo rerù principio lib. 1. De eucharistia lib. 1. Commentaria scripturarum lib. 1. Homilias erudi|tas lib. 1. De German. iuxta Irenium lib. 1. Claruit anno 792, Baleus. Idem libros Dionysij Arcopagi|tae in Latinam linguam transtulit. Carmen eius ad Carolum magnum extat apud M. Dress.
Kennethus king of Scots, who died in the yeare Kennethus k [...]ng of Scots. of Christ eight hundred fiftie & fiue, wrote a booke of godlie lawes which are expressed by Lesleus lib. 1. pag. 75. of whome thus writeth Gesnerus: Kene|thus Scotorum rex, Alcuini regis filius, scripsit Bre|uiarium antiquarum legum, quibus in foris per An|gliam iurisconsulti vtuntur. But in that Gesner is deceiued; for we neuer read (as far as my memorie serueth) that euer the English borrowed lawes of the Scots; but contrarie, the Scots haue borowed, & béene inforced to obeie the lawes of England, as receiuing them from the kings of this land, their superior lords: to whome they haue doone their ho|mage, although time hath now worne the same out of vse.
Claudius Clemens, by birth a Scot & a moonke, Claudius Clemens. being the disciple of Bede, was companion to Albi|nus or Alcuinus, as saith Sixtus Senensis inbiblio|theca sancta: he was verie studious in the scrip|tures, & skilfull in other humane knowleges, who li|uing in the time of Charlemaine, in the yeare of Christ eight hundred, and eight hundred and ten, did in verse and prose write manie learned works, whereof these are knowne to be his: In pentateu|chum lib. 5. In Iosua lib. 1. In Iudicum lib. 1. In Ruth lib. 1. In psalterium. In Matthaeum lib. 1. In Paulum ad Galatas. De euangelistarum concordia. Contra Bonifacium Anglum, & alia multa.
Beornillus bishop of the Scots, of whome thus writeth Parker in his booke of the liues of the arch|bishops Beornillus. of Canturburie: Beornillus Scotorum epis|copus acerrimus verborum & sententiarum acule|is carmine scriptis, monachorum turbam lacessiuit: which Beornillus was also at the councell of Calne in Wiltshire in England, about the yeare of Christ nine hundred thréescore and seuentéene. For Alfri|tha the queene procured Alfrith or Alfred earle of Mercia in England, that he should labor to haue this Beornill to be present there, which this bishop Beornill did performe, and vehementlie spake in defense of the secular priests, against the placing of moonks in their roomes.
EEBO page image 460 Leuinus archbishop of the Scots, being marty|red, Leuinus. and so termed a martyr, is supposed to haue writ|ten certeine homilies; he florished as hath Gesne|rus out of Bale, in the yeare of Christ one thousand and seuen, vnder the gouernment of Grime and Malcolme (the second) kings of Scots.
Malcolme the second of that name king of Scots, who began his reigne in the yeare of Christ one Malcolme. thousand and ten, and reigned thirtie yeares, depar|ting the world in the yeare of Christ one thousand and fortie, did write of his countrie lawes, Lib. 1. being at length slaine by his owne courtiers.
Marianus Scotus so called, because that he was borne in Scotland, was a moonke of the order Marianus Scotus. Benedictine, who when he perceiued all the realme of Scotland to be kindeled with continuall and ci|uill hatred in the time of the tyrant Mackbeth, be|ginning his reigne in the yeare of Christ one thou|sand fortie and six, he forsooke his countrie, and first came vnto the monasterie of Hulda in Germanie; where for a time he continued vnder Richard the ab|bat (a Scot, no lesse famous for his godlinesse, than for his learning) which at the time of his comming thither, had the gouernment of the same abbeie. Af|ter which, Marianus went to Mentz, and passing ouer a solitarie life by the space of thirtie yeares, in an opinion of all men for his vertue, he shortlie after died, who (florishing vnder the said tyrant Macketh, & Malcolme the third of that name king of Scots) did leaue behind him these works of his: Chronica ab initio mundi vsque ad sua tem|pora lib. 3. De concordantia euangelistarum lib. 1. De computo lib. 1. Emendationes Dionysij. Anno|tationes scripturarum. De cyclo paschali Algorith|mum. Breuiarium in Lucam. Epistolas hortatorias, obijt Maguntiae, anno Dom. 1086.
Turgotus by Gesner called deane of Durham, and by our chronicles called prior of that house, was Turgotus. a verie vertuous person, and after created bishop of saint Andrewes, who being in life in the yeare of Christ one thousand fourescore and sixteene, in the time of Malcolme the third, surnamed Camoir, or with the great head king of Scots, did write De Scotorũ regibus lib. 1. Chronica Dunelmensia lib. 1. Annales sui temporis. lib. 1. Vitam Malcolmi regis, & vitam Margaretae Angliae reginae. In which Ges|ner hath mistaken himselfe, for there was not anie Margaret quéene of England manie hundred yeres after this Turgotus, vntill the latter time of king Edward the first. Wherefore it should rather be the life of saint Margaret quéene of Scotland, and the wife of that Malcolme.
Dauid Scotus, of whom Gesner maketh two di|stinct writers one after another, first setting downe Dauid Scotus. Dauid Scotus, and next Dauid Presbyter Scotus, this man being borne in Scotland, was first schoole|maister at Wiceburgh, who being after called into the court by Henrie the fift the emperor, of whom Auentinus abbas Vrspengensis & manie others doo write, was after made bishop of Bangor in Wales. This man writing the discourse of the iourneie which the emperor Henrie the fift made into Italie after the pacification had betwéene him and the pope about the inuestiture of bishops, did occasion Willi|am of Malmsburie to saie thus much of him in his fift booke De regibus. At verò Henricus antiquis Cae|saribus in nulla virtute deiectior, post pacatum reg|num Theutonicum praesumebat animo Italicum; re|bellionem vrbium subiugaturus, quaestionémque de inuestitura suo libito recissurus; sed iter illud ad Ro|mani magnis excercitationibus peccatorum magnis angoribus corporũ consummatũ. Dauid Scotus Ban|chorensis episcopus exposuit, magis regis gratiam quàm historicum deceret accliuis. He liued and pro|spered about the yeare of our Lord one thousand one hundred and ten in the times of Edgar and Alexan|der (the first) kings of Scotland, & did write Henrici imperatoris in Italiam expeditionem lib. 1. Magi|stratuum insignia lib. 1. Apologiam ad Caesarem de regno Scotiae. lib. 1.
Richardus de sancto Victore (of whom I doo not Richardus de sancto victore. as yet find anie mention in Gesner, but in Iohn Maior and Lesleus) liued in the yeare of Christ one thousand one hundred twentie and foure, vnder Da|uid the first king of Scotland, who being a religious person of the order of saint Augustine, and not infe|rior to anie diuine of his time, aswell in scholasticall as other diuinitie, did set foorth manie works to be read, & was buried in the cloister of saint Uictor in Paris, whose monument is yet to be séene with this epitaph recited by Iohn Maior in his memoriall:
Walter the bastard sonne of Dauid the first of Walter the ba|stard sonne of king Dauid the first. that name king of Scots by a widow sometime the wife of one Walter a Scot, was so far estranged from the vaine things of this world, that from his youth he was (as saith Lesleus lib. 6. pag. 223.) who|lie consecrat to holie exercises and offices, being first indued with the rich canonrie of saint Oswald, and after with the honorable priorie of Kirkham. But he rightlie considering with himselfe that there was nothing which did more weaken the force of vertue than riches and idlenesse, did refuse the archbishop|rike of saint Andrewes, and closed himselfein a mo|nasterie, where he remained vntill he was aduan|ced to be abbat of Melrosse, wherevnto being so pre|ferred, he was the author and occasion that Mal|colme (the fourth of that name king of Scots, sur|named the virgin) laied the foundation of manie abbeies. This man made commentaries vpon the booke intituled the Ecclesiasticall rule, and at length being famous through manie miracles (as that age did simplie suppose) he was installed a|mongst the number of the saints, and florished vn|der the same king Malcolme, which began his reigne in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred fiftie and thrée, which Walter I suppose to be the same man of whom Gesnerus writeth in this sort: Gualterns Albanensis monachus scripsit de li|bris ecclesiae lib. 1. claruit anno Domini 1180. Baleus.
Thomas Liermant aliàs Ersilton being borne Thomas Liermant aliàs Ersil|ton. in Scotland, was had amongst the common people in great admiration, who not being greatlie learned did by a certeine diuination (as though Apollo had spoken from the curteine) fortell things to come, but with what spirit we will not iudge, whose words ob|teined the more authoritie and credit, because he had foretold the fatall daie of the death of Alexander the third king of Scots, which lost his life in the yeare one thousand two hundred fourescore and thrée. He wrot Praedictiones rerum Scoticarum rithmicis ver|sibus, speaking most commonlie also in rime, and was therefore by the English surnamed Rithmicus, or the Rimer, liuing some yeares after the death of Alexander the third, for Gesner maketh him to flo|rish in the yeare of Christ one thousand two hundred fourescore and six.
EEBO page image 461 Michaell Medicus, being a learned man in all phi|losophie, Michaell Medicus. astronomie, and the other mathematiks, whereby he grew in admiration amongst the people, is twise mentioned by Gesner, a fault which I ma|nie times find in his Bibliotheca, first pag. 607, by the name Michael Mathematicus cognomine Sco|tus, who florished in the time of Iohn Balioll king of Scots, and in the yeare of Christ 1290, being an old man, he wrote In gratiã Frederici 2. imperatoris. De sphera lib. 1. In Aristotelis meteora lib. 4. De consti|tutione mundi lib. 4. De anima lib. 1. De coelo & mun|do lib. 2. De somno & vigilia lib. 2. De generatione & corruptione lib. 2. De substãtia orbis lib. 1. De sen|su & sensato lib. 2. De memoria & reminiscentia lib. 2. Contra Auerroem in meteora lib. 1. Imagines astronomicas lib. 2. Astrologorum dogmata lib. 1. In ethica Aristotelis lib. 10. De signis planetarum lib. 1. De chiromantia lib. 1. De physiognomia lib. 1. Abbreuiationes Auicennae lib. 1. De animalibus ad Caesarem lib. 1. whose booke of physnomie was printed at Uenice Anno Dom. 1503. by Iohn Baptista Sessa.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Iohn Duns by some called Iohannes Scotus, and tearmed the subtill doctor, was so surnamed Duns Iohn Duns. of the towne of Duns, eight miles from England, who (when he was yet but a boie) was by two frier minors brought into England to Oxford, there to be instructed: for at that time nor long after was there not anie vniuersitie in Scotland. By means of which two friers he was placed in a house of their profession, in which this Duns at length tooke the ha|bit and order of the Franciscans, proouing of a most singular wit, whereby he became a sharpe and subtill disputer, who departing from Oxford, went to Pa|ris, being called thither by the frier minors, where when he had for some space remained, and read vnto them of scholasticall matters, he traueld to Cullen, and there vntimelie died in his youthfull yeares. He liued in the time of Iohn Balioll king of Scots, which began his reigne in the yeare of Christ 1283. of which Duns all they which follow his opinions are (as saith Lesleus lib. 7. pag. 250) called Scotistae or Scotists as all they of an other faction are surna|med Thomistae or the Thomists, after Thomas A|quinas. But now in our age it is growne to be a common prouerbe in derision, to call such a person as is senselesse or without learning a Duns, which is as much as a foole: although trulie the same cannot stand with anie reason, this man Duns being so fa|mous for his learning as he was, who wrote manie volumes as after shall appeare. But before I come to him, I thinke it not vnfit to set downe what other haue written touching him, sith both the English, the Irish, and the Scots, doo chalenge him to be their countriman, borne amongst them. Thus therefore writeth Stanihurst in his description of Ireland vn|der the title of the Irish writers. Iohannes Duns Scotus an Irishman borne, as in the forefront of this treatise I haue declared. Howbeit Iohannes Maior a Scotish chronicler lib. 4. cap. 16. would faine prooue him to be a Scot. Leland on the other side saith, that he was borne in England. So that there shall be as great contention rise of him as in old time there rose of Homers countrie, for the Co|lophonians said that Homer was borne in their ci|tie, the Chyians claimed him to be theirs: the Salaminians aduouched that he was their countri|man. But the Smirnians were so stiffelie bent in proouing him to be borne in their territorie, as they would at no hand take no naie in the matter, and therevpon they did consecrate a church to the name of Homer. But what countriman so euer this Sco|tus were, he was doubtlesse a subtill and profound clearke. The onelie fault wherewith he was dusked, was a little spice of vainglorie, being giuen to carpe and tawnt his predecessor diuines, rather for blemi|shing the fame of his aduersaries, than for aduan|sing the truth of the controuersies. Thus much Sta|nihurst. Now the bookes which he wrote were these. Super sententias lib. 4. Quodlibeta quoque lib. 1. Sermones de sanctis lib. 4. Sermones de tempore li. 1. De cognitione Dei lib. 1. Cõmentarios Oxonienses lib. 4. Reportationes Parisienses lib. 4. In metaphysicã quaestionẽ lib. 12. Quaestiones vniuersaliũ li. 2. Quae|stiones praedicamẽtorũ lib. 1. In analytica posteriora lib. 1. In Aristotelis physica lib. 8. In Categorias eius|dem lib. 1. Lecturam in Genesim lib. 1. De rerum principio lib. 1. Commentaria in euangelia lib. 4. In epistolas Pauli. Collectiones Parisienses. Tetragrã|matum lib. 1. & alia. Claruit Anno Dom. 1308. Of whose works thus further writeth Gesn. Iohan|ni Scoto sententiarum interpreti primaeuam sacra|tissimi Dionysij translationem ascribunt, cùm alteri cuidam Iohanni Scoto (before named, and liuing a|bout the yeare of Christ eight hundred ninetie & two, about thrée hundred yeares before this Duns) Qui istũ multis saeculis antecessit, & Athaenis Grecè di|dicit, accepta referri debeat. Of the death of this man sée Petrus Crinitus lib. 24. cap. 11. De honesta vita, where he affirmeth that this Duns did turne the hie|rarchie of S. Denis out of Gréeke into Latine.
Thomas Uarreie or Uarraie flourished at the Thomas Uarreie. battell of Otterburne, which was in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred eightie and eight, in the time of Robert the second of that name king of Scots, at what time the English were put to the worst. This man vpon this victorie did compose ma|nie things in Latine time beginning in this sort:
Who being maister and ruler of Bethwallie, is not greatlie estéemed of the Scotish historiographers. Gesnerus referreth the time wherein he liued, to the yeare of Christ one thousand two hundred and nine|tie, which is almost a hundred yeares before that, in which the histories of Scotland make anie mention of him.Musarefert fatum fore scriptum carmine vatum, &c.
William Elphinstone being borne in Scotland William Elphinstone. was a great learned man, but because I doo find one hundred and fortie yeares difference touching the time wherein he liued, set downe within three or foure lines the one of the other by Gesnerus, I will saie nothing of him, but onelie verbatim set downe the words of the same author in this sort. Gulielmus Elphinston natione Scotus, Albonensis episcopus, scripsit antiquitates Scotorum, & conciliorum sta|tuta librum vnum. Claruit anno Domini 1480. Laudat hunc valdè Bostonus Buriensis in magno scriptorum catalogo, ob singularem eruditionem. Vixit circa annum 1340. Thus much Gesnerus.
Iames Steward the first of the name of Iames, Iames Ste|ward. being brought vp in England as a person estran|ged from his natiue soile, is by Gesnerus said to haue béene by some called Robert the third, which can not be so; for he that was so named was Iohn Steward, and not Iames. This man in the time whilest he remained in England, being a kind of banishment from his owne countrie, did compose one booke of verses, and manie other songs, he be|ing both a learned diuine, philosopher, and musician, who was in the end slaine of his owne people, in the thirtéenth yeare of his reigne, falling in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand foure hundred thirtie and six.
Iohannes Maior borne in Scotland, whom Six|tus Iohannes Maior. Senensis in his Bibliotheca sancta dooth (not rightlie) call an Englishman, was brought vp in Oxford, where atteining to sufficient learning, he went into France for the obteining further know|ledge, EEBO page image 462 and applied his studie in Paris, where he fo|lowed and professed diuinitie, as appeared by his owne workes. He was borne at Hadington in Scotland, as appeareth by Gesnerus, of whome he is named Iohannes Maior Hadingtonensis, he did write Decisiones sententiarum lib. 4. Sophisticalia Parisiensia, Placita theologica, Commentarios in Matthaeum, Historiarum maioris Britanniae lib. 6. Caxtonum Anglum transtulit lib. 7. He florished at Paris, as hath Gesnerus, in the yeare of Grace one thousand fiue hundred & twentie, vnder Iames the fift king of Scots, vnto whome he dedicated his storie of Britaine, conteining England and Scot|land. There is one Iohn Maior vouched and aledged in Crisopasso Ioan. Eccij, which I doo take to be this man. And Sixtus Senensis in his Bibliotheca sancta amongst the writers of the bible dooth speake of one Iohn Maior in this manner: Iohannes Maior An|glus scripsit in quatuor euangelia scholastica postil|lam, and liued in the yeare of Christ one thousand and foure hundred, being an hundred and twentie yeares before the time appointed by others, and by Maior himselfe wherein he should liue. Of which Maior Bucchanan hath verie scoffinglie set downe these foure verses here vnder written as followeth:
William Gregorie borne in Scotland, and stu|dent William Gre|gorie. in Paris, where he professed diuinitie, did liue, as saith Bibliotheca sancta, in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and seuenteene, and al|so, as hath Bibliotheca Gesneri in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred twentie and seuen. He left manie books behind him which he had care|fullie and learnedlie written, whereof these are the titles: De duplici potestate lib. 1. Elucidationes sen|tentiarum lib. 4. Quaestiones vesperales lib. 1. In politica Aristotelis lib. 8. De triplici animae poten|tia lib. 1. De regno Christi aeterno lib. 1. De triplici principatu lib. 1. De scripturae sensibus lib. 3. Ad vocabulare theologicũ lib. 1. Collectiones Sorbo|nicas lib. 1. De disciplina Iuniorum lib. 1. De sacra synaxi lib. 1. In psalterium commentarios lib. 1. Sermones in euangelia & epistolas per circuitum lib. 2.
Hector Boetius of Dundée in Scotland, was a Hector Boe|tius. learned and an eloquent historiographer, whose stile in manie parts goeth beyond the truth of times, places, and persons in his Scotish historie. He florished in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred twentie and six, vnder Iames the fift king of Scots, of whome I will saie no more, but set downe Gesnerus words: Hector Boetius Deidona|tus, natione Scotus, scripsit catalogum regum Sco|tiae. Descriptiones eiusdem regni lib. 1. Historias Scotorum lib. 17. Aberdonensium pontificum vitas, eius historiae Scotorum excusae sunt Parisijs, anno 1556: earundem historiarum à prima gentis origine cum aliarum & rerum & gentium illustratione non vulgari lib. 19. Duo postremi huius historiae libri nunc primum emittuntur in lucem. Accessit & huic aeditioni eiusdem Scotorum historiae continuatio per Ioannem Ferrerium Pedaemontanum recens & ipsa scripta & edita fol. Parisijs apud Iacobum Dupuys 1580.
Gawine Dowglasse, borne of the noble house of Gawine Dowglasse. the Dowglasses in Scotland, being of a rare wit and learning, was made bishop of Dunkeld; who for contention betwéene him and the gouernor of Scotland, forsooke his countrie and fled into Eng|land, where he died at London, in the yeere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred twentie and one, in the time of Iames the fift of that name king of Scots, who in his life time did write Palatium honoris lib. 1. Aureas narrationes lib. 1. Comoedias aliquot lib. 1. De rebus Scoticis lib. 1. Transtulit in patrium sermonem Aeneidos Virgilij lib. 12.
Dauid Lindseie of the mount or hill, otherwise by his office of principall herald of the realme of Scotland, surnamed Lion, was both a knight and a learned person, as may appeare by his works writ|ten in his owne toong in verse, which were Acta sui temporis lib. 1. De mundi miserijs lib. 1. Tragoedia Dauidis Beton lib. 1. Testamentum cardinalis Be|ton lib. 1. as hath Gesnerus (if that booke and the tragedie of Dauid Beton cardinall be not all one) Testamentum psitaci lib. 1. Dialogus aulici & ex|perientiae lib. 1. Somnium Dauidis Lindsei lib. 1. Deploratio mortis reginae Magdalenae lib. 1. Of most of which his works Gesnerus maketh no men|tion, although that he affirme that he florished in the yeare of Grace one thousand fiue hundred and fortie, in the time of Iames the fift king of Scot|land, with whome in his youth this Lindseie was brought vp, and whome he after painfullie serued in the court.
Patrike Hamilton, borne of the noble familie Patrike Ha|milton. of the Hamiltons, being the nephue of the earle of Arrane by his brother, was (as saith Lesleus lib. 9. pag. 427) Abbas Fenensis, who hauing applied his time in studie in Germanie, and followed the doc|trine of Luther, did returne into Scotland, was af|ter by the bishops condemned for an heretike, and burned in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred twentie and eight, as haue Gesnerus and Bale in the time of Iames the fift of that name king of Scots. He wrote diuerse books, amongst which were these, De lege & euangelio lib. 1. De fide & operibus lib. 1.
Iohannes Altus, so called by Gesner, being a Ioannes Altus. Scot borne, had some contention with one Eusdan Morphet, to whome he did write in verse a sharpe and rebuking apologie which conteined one booke; besides which also he did write another booke Contra Antiscotiton of this Morphet, & Epigrammata lib. 1. He liued in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and thirtie vnder Iames the fift.
Iohn Bellendon or Ballentine, who florished in Iohn Bel|lendon. the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and six, vnder king Iames the fift, translated Hector Boetius out of Latine into Scotish and En|glish, and wrote the description of Albanie or Scot|land.
Iohn Wouran being a canon regular, hauing Iohn Wour [...]. applied himselfe to the studie of diumitie, wherein he much profited, did write in his owne language Ca|techismum fidei lib. 1. and liued in the yeare of our redemption one thousand fiue hundred fortie and six, and in the fourth yere of the reigne of Marie queene of Scots.
Iohn Herrison a Scot, liuing in the yere of our Iohn Her|rison. saluation one thousand fiue hundred fortie and eight, being the sixt yéere of Marie queene of Scots, did applie his time in the studie of diuinitie, and wrote, De amplectanda in christiana religione con|cordia lib. 1. which was written to Edward Sei|mor duke of Summerset protector of England.
Iohn Makbeth called in Latine Ioannes Macha|baeus, Iohn Mak|beth. being descended of a noble familie of the Scots, did follow his studie in matters of diuini|tie; who florishing in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred and fiftie, being the eight yeare of the reigne of Marie quéene of Scots, did compose, De vera & falsa ecclesia lib. 1.
Iohn Mackebraie borne in Scotland, did flo|rish Iohn Macke|braie. in Germanie in the yere that the word became EEBO page image 463 flesh one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and eight, be|ing the sixteenth yéere of the reigne of Marie quéene of Scots. This man, whome Gesnerus supposeth might fortune to be the same Iohn Makleth before touched, did write Anglorum ecclesiae originem & progressum lib. 1. Explicationem suae fidei lib. 1.
George Bucchanan an Irish Scot, greatlie lear|ned, but manie times maliciouslie affected, and that George Buc| [...]anan. so vehementlie, as that he would not forbeare in the highest degrée of malice to vpbraid and backebite e|uerie person and nation which had offended him, as maie appeare by his immodest spéeches, not besée|ming a man of his learning, was schoolemaster to Iames the sixt of that name king of Scotland, of whom liuing in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred three score and ninetéene, I will forbeare to saie what I could, least I might offend in that which I mis [...]ke in him, & therfore will onlie set down what Gesner hath written of him. Georgius Buchananus Scotus rudimenta grãmatices Latinae Thomae Lina|cri ex Anglico sermone in Latinum vertit: ea Nicol. Brilingerus impressit Basiliae anno 1542. extant eius & elegantissima poemata: Iephtes tragoedia, Lutetiae apud Vascosanum. Franciscanus & fratres, quibus ac|cesserunt varia eiusdem & aliorum poemata, Basiliae apud Guarcinum an. 1568. Eiusdem psalmorum pa|raphrasis poetica, Geneuae, Argentinae, Antuerpiae impressa in 8 & 16, eiusdem Baptistes siue calumnia tragoedia, in 8. Francof. apud Wechelum. De iure reg|ni apud Scotos editio secunda, Edinburgi 1580. Psalmi Dauidis ab eodem versibus expressi nunc primùm modulis 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, vocum a I. Seruino de|cantati 4 Lugduni 1580. Rerum Scholasticarũ histo|ria lib. 20. Edinburgi in folio an. 1583.
Iohn Knokes borne in Scotland, a great enimie Iohn Knokes to the Romane religion, was sometime remaining in England as banished from Scotland, after be|ing returned home he preached at the coronation of Charles Iames, the sixt of [...]at name king of Scot|land, and writ manie bookes in the Scotish Eng|glish, amongst which were Ad Londonienses & alios lib. 1. Ad euangelii professores lib. 2. Qualiter sit o|randum lib. 1. Contra missam papisticam lib. 1. Do|ctrina missalium lib. 1. De fide eucharistiae epistola 1. Ad ecclesias afflictas epis. 1. Ad Scotiae reginam Ma|riam epist. 1. Concilium in his angustiis epist. 1. Buc|cinae afflatum primum lib. 1. Appellationem a sentẽ|tia cleri lib. 1. Ad populares Scotiae librũ vnum. He liued in the yere of Christ 1569.
Iohn Langeie a Scot borne, following his studie Iohn Langeie in Paris became a Sorbonicall doctor, who liuing in the yere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred thrée score and ten, did write a booke of the life, doctrine, and death of Martin Luther and Iohn Caluin, and of manie other ministers of the new gospell (as he scornefullie termed it) which bookes were out of French turned into Latine, and latelie into the Germane toong, printed in 4 at Ingelstade in the yere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred foure score and two.
Iohannes Duraeus or Durie, whom Gesner cal|leth Bureus, being borne in Dumfermling, and the Iohn Durie. son before he was abbat of the abbat of Dumferm|ling brother to the lord of Duries, was brought vp in Paris and Louan, after which he became a priest, and then a Iesuit, who now liuing did in the yere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred foure score and foure, write a booke which was intituled Confutatio responsionis Iohannis Whitakeri, ad rationes decem quibus fretus Edmundus Campianus Anglus Iesuita certamen Anglicanae ecclesiae ministris obtulit in causa fidei: which booke was printed at Paris in 8 by Thomas Brunelius, In clauso Brunello sub signo oliuae.
Patrike Adamson liuing in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred three score and thirteene, Patrike A|d [...]mson. did write certeine verses, whereof this was the title and effect, as hath Gesnerus, Patricii Adamsoni gra|tiarum actio illustriss. & potentiss. principi Eliza|bethae Angl. Franc. & Hiberniae reginae, propter libe|ratam ciuili seditione Scotiam, & redactam munitis|simam Edenburgi arcem sub fidem regis carmen e|legiacum, which man being now liuing, is archbishop of saint Andrews.
Patrike Cockburne borne in Scotland, and flou|rishing in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hun|dred Patrike Cockburne. & fiftie, in the time of Marie quéene of Scots, did write, De vtilitate & excellentia verbi Dei, which was printed at Paris by Michaell Fezandate, and Robert Grauson, in the yeare of our Lord one thou|sand fiue hundred fiftie and one. He writ also De vulgari sacrae scripturae phrasi, lib. 2. whereof the first doth intreat of the sinne against the Holie-ghost, which they call irremittable or vnto death: the se|cond booke dooth with great diligence and fidelitie vnfold the most hard and most obscure places of both the testaments, hitherto by manie euillie vn|derstood, and worse interpreted: which worke was printed at Paris by Robert Messtline in the yere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and two in 8 chart. 13.
Iohn Lesle sometime officiall of Aberden, and Iohn Lesle. bishop of Rosse, of whom I haue spoken in the con|tinuance of the annals of Scotland, being an obsti|nate fauorer and furtherer of the Romane religion dooth yet liue in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred eightie & six, in the time of Charles Iames the sixt king of Scots, and hath written Pii afflicti a|nimi consolationes diuinaque remedia lib 1. Animi tranquilli monumentum lib. 1. De origine, moribus, & rebus gestis Scotorum lib. 10. printed at Rome.
Ninianus Wenzetus, who flourished in the yere Ninianus Wenzetus. of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred thrée score and one, in the time of Marie queene of Scots, was a fauorer of the popes doctrine, and enimie to Iohn Knokes, touching whom I will set down the words of two seuerall authors, whereof the one is Lesleus a Scot, and the popes and his friend, and the other is Bibliotheca Gesneri, whereof the first saith: Haec res (which was a disputation in religion) Niniano Win|zeto maximam apud haereticos inuidiam confla|uit, vnde cum audirent illum (Ninian Winzet) iam apud typographum calere in libro excudendo, quo cogitarat cum Knoxio de fide violata ad nobilitatem expostulare, consilium ineunt de opere disturbando, Winzeto capiendo, typographo mulctando. Magi|stratus cum satellitibus irruit in typographiam, libros quos reperit, aufert, Iohan Scotũ typographũ bonis mulctatum in carcerem abripit: sed Winzetum, quẽ tantopere cupiebant, prae foribus magistratui occur|rentem quòd incognitus elapsus fucrat, dolent haere|tici, rident Catholici. On the other side thus writeth Bibliotheca Gesneri: Ninianus Winzetus Renfrous, S. theologiae doctor, & apud sancti Iacobi apud Sco|tos Ratisponae, abbas flagellum sectariorum qui reli|gionis praetextu iam in Caesarẽ aut in alios orthodox|os principes excitare student, quaerentes ineptissimè quidem, Deo ne magis an principibus sit obediendũ. Accessit velitatio in Georg. Bucchan. circa dialogũ, quem scripsit de iure regni apud Scotos 4. Ingolstadii ex officina typographica Dauidis Sartorii, an. 1581.
Adam Blackwood borne in Scotland in Dum|fermeling, Adam Black|wood. was brought vp in Paris, where attei|ning to manie degrées of learning, is now liuing, being aduanced to the place of one of the chiefe coun|cellors of Poitiers. This man hath learnedlie writ|ten manie works, amongst which are his bookes De coniunctione religionis & imperii, Funebres oratio|nes admeralli regni Franciae, & Iacobi Stuarti primi regentis (after that Charles Iames the sixt, atteined to the crowne) Scotiae. Besides which hauing writ|ten against the work of Bucchanan intituled De iure regni, he is now in hand with a booke which he writeth against the chronicle of the same Bucchanan.
Andrew Meluin one of the presbyterie in Scot|land, Andrew Meluin. EEBO page image 464 and one who came hither into England with the earls of Angus and Mar, about the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred fourscore and foure, hath written manie epigrams, and amongst the rest, one inuectiue against the quéene mother, to the king of France, which beginneth Vipera cum ca|tulis.
Iames Tirie did (as hath Lesleus lib. 10. pag. 587) Iames Tirie. go to Rome, after which he became a companion of the Iesuits, who comming to Paris, trauelled by writing with his elder brother being a baron, to for|sake the doctrine of Caluin; he florished in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred thréescore and one, vnder Marie quéene of Scots, and did write Ad fratrem epistola 1. Responsio ad Knoxium lib. 1.
Charles Iames the sixt of that name king of Charles Iames. Scots now liuing, a toward yoong prince, and one well furnished with the gifts of nature and learning by birth and instruction, did in his yoongest yeares about the age of seuentéene or eightteene, write a booke of verses in his mother toong, conteining ma|nie matters of sundrie rare inuentions, and of sun|drie forme of verses both learned and eloquent, which booke was after published to the world; whom I haue here placed the last in this catalog of Scotish writers, to the end that I would close vp the same ti|tle with no lesse honorable and rare person, than I first made entrance thereinto: and therefore begin|ning with a king, I thought good also to knit it vp with a king.
Thus setting end to my trauels touching Scot|land (which I haue not performed as the maiestie of an historie requireth, but as my skill, helps, & intel|ligences would permit) I desire thée reader to take it in good part, remembring that Vltra posse non est esse, sith according to our old prouerbe, A man cannot pipe without his vpper lip. For being denied furtherance (as in the beginning I said) both of the Scots & other of mine owne nation, and thereby not hauing anie more subiect whervpon to worke, I can doo no more than set downe such things as come to my knowledge. And therefore contenting my selfe with this, that In magnis voluisse sat est; I commit my selfe and my labors to thy fauorable iudgement, who measuring my meaning with the square of in|differencie, and pardoning all imperfections in these my first labors, in respect of the shortnesse of time to performe the same (for I protest to thee that both the historie of England and Scotland were halfe printed before I set pen to paper to enter into the augmentation or continuation of anie of them, as by the inserting of those things which I haue doone maie well appeare) thou shalt incourage me hereaf|ter vpon more lesure, and better studie, to deliuer to the world rare matters of antiquitie, and such other labors of mine (Absit verbis philautia) as maie both shew the discharge of my dutie to God, to my coun|trie, to my prince, and to my fréends. For though I maie séeme to be idle, yet I saie with Scipio, Nun|quàm minùs sum otiosus quàm cùm sum otiosus.