Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Historie and cronicles of Scotland > Volume 1, 1899

INTRODUCTION.
Ixxxi
‘THE EXORTATIOUN TO THE RIDER
PRAYAND HIM TO BE CIRCV-
MSPECT AND EXPERT IN
REIDING BECAUS HE
IS EOT ANE ZOVNG SCHOL-
IAR THAT WREITT IT
THAIRFOIR HARD
HIM EXCVSIT.’
But although this note, as well as the MS. itself, show some
bad or doubtful spellings, the transcript is one of the best
of all the MSS. of Pitscottie’s Chronicles. It is written
apparently all in one hand, although some of the additions
in the same volume appear to be in a different hand.
These are at folio 166: ‘The accusatioun confessioun and
‘ death of the Bishope of Sanct Andros called Jhoune
‘Hamiltoun’; and at folio 170: ‘Mr Johnne Strattonis
‘ sermon anno 1611.’
Amongst the additional matter in this MS. may be
noted :—
1. The introductory poem from Bellenden’s Boece,
beginning—
‘ Ingyne of man be Inclinatioun
‘ In sindrie wayes is givvin as we sie,’
and ending—
‘ And tak the sentence the best wayes that ze may
‘ I sail do bettir will god ane vther day.’
This poem was written by Thomas Davidson the printer,
and prefixed to the translation of Boece by Bellenden.
It is followed by the copy of verses to the Bishop of
Caithness.
2. The MS. of Pitscottie then begins, and is styled as