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University College London

Boece's Chronicles (Lindsay Continuation)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0103 MS ANGL 2

Held at: University College London

Title: Boece's Chronicles (Lindsay Continuation)

Date(s): 1600

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 1 volume containing 150 leaves

Name of creator(s): Unknown

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Robert Lindsay: born, possibly in 1500, at Pitscottie in the parish of Ceres, Fifeshire; Scottish historian; a cadet of the principal family of Lindsays, Earls of Crawford, and probably a descendant of Patrick, fourth Lord Lindsay of the Byres; according to the `Privy Seal Register', received a grant of escheat, 1552; a service in the Douglas charter-chest proves that he was alive in 1562; probably died c1565; his History includes the period of Scottish history, from the death of James I to that of James III, about which very little is known; its preface states the author's intention of continuing what had been left unwritten by Hector Boece and John Bellenden, the period after James I; the History includes narrative passages, but also other brief entries, and contains inaccuracies and confusion as to dates; Pitscottie's History was first published by the printer Robert Freebairn, 1728, and again in 1749 and 1778, and in 1814 (2 volumes) by Graham Dalyell; the History was used as a source by Sir Walter Scott and other writers.

Hector Boece (or Boethius): born at Dundee, Scotland, c1465; historian and humanist; educated at Dundee and the University of Paris; a friend of Desiderius Erasmus; chief adviser to William Elphinstone, bishop of Aberdeen, in the foundation of the University of Aberdeen (King's College, Aberdeen); first Principal of the University; lectured on divinity; received a pension from the Scottish court, 1527-1534; a canon of Aberdeen; vicar of Tullynessle; later rector of Tyrie; author of the Latin history Scotorum historiae a prima gentis origine (The History and Chronicles of Scotland), 1527; the work, based on legendary sources, glorified the Scottish nation; the History had wide currency abroad in a French translation; Boece died, 1536.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Manuscript volume, 1600, containing a copy of the translation, into Scots, of Hector Boece's Chronicles of Scotland, continued by Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: Scots dialect

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Physical characteristics:

Paper manuscript bound in brown calf, stamped on covers "I S". One hand throughout. Edges coloured red. 30cm. Some damage.

Finding aids:

Dorothy K Coveney, A Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of University College London (London, 1935); handlist at University College London Special Collections.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

The volume bears the Ex libris of the Earl of Kinnoul, Dupplin Castle, Perth.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Presented to University College London by H W Brown in 1912.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

University College London Special Collections also holds a 16th-century copy of Hector Boece's Chronicles of Scotland, translated into Scots by John Bellenden (Ref: MS ANGL 1).

The National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, holds a manuscript of Lindsay's History and Chronicles of Scotland (Ref: Crawford Papers).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Sources: Dictionary of National Biography; National Register of Archives. Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Jul 2001


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Medieval history | Historical periods
Scottish history | European history | National history
Translations | Documents | Information sources
History

Personal names
Boece | Hector | c 1465-1536 | historian | also Hector Boethius x Boethius | Hector
Lindsay | Robert | ? 1500- ? 1565 | of Pitscottie | Scottish historian

Corporate names

Places
London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Scotland | UK | Western Europe | Europe