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XX
THE LIBRARY OF JAMES VI.
Council of Trent, and Funeral Sermons on Henry ir. of France
and Queen Mary of Guise. Among historical works, James’s
library was enriched from this source with Zonaras in French,
Froissart, the Chronicles of Savoy and of Flanders, and the
Scottish Chronicle in ms., besides a few minor pieces; and in
poetry with Dante, Petrarch, Ronsard, and Angelio’s Cynegetica.
A French version of Marco Polo also deserves notice, as well
as the Insularium of Henricus Martellus. This last was a ms.,
and in the Holyrood inventory seems to have been mistaken,
not unnaturally, for a Ptolemy. The work is extremely rare,
and Mary’s copy is not improbably identical with one now in
the British Museum having exactly the same title. Out of all
her other books named by Young, the only one that is known
to be still in existence is Paradin’s Chronique de Savoye.
Until lately this volume was in the library of Mr. Gibson-Craig.
The greater part, however, of James’s books were acquired
by gift or purchase. Of the various lists of them which Young
gives, the largest and most important is the last, headed ‘ Index
Librorum Regis’ (p. liii.). Exclusive of double entries, this
comprises 201 numbers, and, as will be seen, not only gives the
title, but in nearly all cases states whether a book was bought
or presented (and if so, by whom), or came from Queen Mary,
with a further note in the margin, if it was afterwards given
away by the King. With regard to the date, the only doubt
arises from the presence of ‘ The ^Ethiopian History in English.’
This must have been Underdown’s version of Heliodorus, the
earliest dated edition of which was not printed until 1587.
No other book mentioned, however, is anything like so late,
and Lowndes speaks of an undated edition which was printed
by H. Wykes, and therefore at latest in 1571. Assuming this
to be meant, all the evidence points to the ‘ Index ’ having
been drawn up in 1578, and this also is the latest date that
appears in any of the preceding lists, except in that of 1583,
which, as before explained, was an insertion. On the other
hand, for whatever reason, the ‘Index’ by no means includes
THE LIBRARY OF JAMES VI.
Council of Trent, and Funeral Sermons on Henry ir. of France
and Queen Mary of Guise. Among historical works, James’s
library was enriched from this source with Zonaras in French,
Froissart, the Chronicles of Savoy and of Flanders, and the
Scottish Chronicle in ms., besides a few minor pieces; and in
poetry with Dante, Petrarch, Ronsard, and Angelio’s Cynegetica.
A French version of Marco Polo also deserves notice, as well
as the Insularium of Henricus Martellus. This last was a ms.,
and in the Holyrood inventory seems to have been mistaken,
not unnaturally, for a Ptolemy. The work is extremely rare,
and Mary’s copy is not improbably identical with one now in
the British Museum having exactly the same title. Out of all
her other books named by Young, the only one that is known
to be still in existence is Paradin’s Chronique de Savoye.
Until lately this volume was in the library of Mr. Gibson-Craig.
The greater part, however, of James’s books were acquired
by gift or purchase. Of the various lists of them which Young
gives, the largest and most important is the last, headed ‘ Index
Librorum Regis’ (p. liii.). Exclusive of double entries, this
comprises 201 numbers, and, as will be seen, not only gives the
title, but in nearly all cases states whether a book was bought
or presented (and if so, by whom), or came from Queen Mary,
with a further note in the margin, if it was afterwards given
away by the King. With regard to the date, the only doubt
arises from the presence of ‘ The ^Ethiopian History in English.’
This must have been Underdown’s version of Heliodorus, the
earliest dated edition of which was not printed until 1587.
No other book mentioned, however, is anything like so late,
and Lowndes speaks of an undated edition which was printed
by H. Wykes, and therefore at latest in 1571. Assuming this
to be meant, all the evidence points to the ‘ Index ’ having
been drawn up in 1578, and this also is the latest date that
appears in any of the preceding lists, except in that of 1583,
which, as before explained, was an insertion. On the other
hand, for whatever reason, the ‘Index’ by no means includes
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| Scottish History Society volumes > Series 1 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (First volume) > (33) Page xx |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/127081257 |
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| Description | Contents:The library of James VI. In the hand of Peter Young, his tutor, 1573-1583 / G.F. Warner -- Documents illustrating Catholic policy in the reign of James VI., 1596-1598 / Thomas Graves Law -- Twenty-four letters of Sir Thomas Hope, ... 1627-1646 / Robert Paul -- Civil war papers, 1643-1650 / H.F. Morland Simpson -- Thirty-four letters written to James Sharp, ... 1660-1677 / John Dowden -- The diary of George Turnbull, minister of Alloa and Tyninghame, 1657-1704 / Robert Paul -- The Masterton papers, 1660-1719 / V.A. Noël Paton -- Accompt of expenses in Edinburgh by Alexander Rose of Kilravock, 1715 / A.H. Millar -- Papers about the Rebellions of 1715 and 1745 / Henry Paton -- General index -- Index to the library of James VI. |
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| Shelfmark | SCS.SHS.15 |
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| Attribution and copyright: |
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| Description | Over 180 volumes, published by the Scottish History Society, containing original sources on Scotland's history and people. With a wide range of subjects, the books collectively cover all periods from the 12th to 20th centuries, and reflect changing trends in Scottish history. Sources are accompanied by scholarly interpretation, references and bibliographies. Volumes are usually published annually, and more digitised volumes will be added as they become available. |
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