750cg Boethius, Hector. (1465-1536) Scotorvm Historiæ a Prima Gentis Origine, cvm Aliarvm et Rervm et Gentivm Illvstratione non vulgari, Libri XIX. Hector Boethio Deiddonano auctore. Duo postremi huius Historiae libri nunc primum emittuntur in lucem. Accessit & huic editioni eiusdem Scotorum Historiae continuatio, per Ioannem Ferrerium Pedemontanum, recens & ipsa seripta & edita.

Paris: vaenund. a Iacobo du Puys, 1574

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Folio, 8 x 12.5 in. Second edition, the first complete edition. (A Scots language edition appeared in 1540.) *6, ¶6, ¶¶6, ¶¶¶6, ¶¶¶¶4, a-z6, A-Z6, Aa-Zz6, AA6. This copy has been bound in quarter calf with the stamp of the Inner Temple Library. The leaves are in very good condition with little browning. The title page has two stamps from the Inner Temple Library and the bookplate of Herbert Jacob Esquire.

Hector Boethius’ Scotorum Historiae a Prima Gentis Origine ranks among the best historical works of its period. This is the first edition to contain all nineteen chapters, the appendix, and the detailed index. The first edition, printed in 1527, ends with chapter seventeen. (EB)
The Scotorum Historiae, the second, and last of Boethius’ works, a history of Scotland from the earliest times to the accession of James III, was first published by Badius Ascensius in 1527. The second edition, with the continuation of Ferrerius down to the death of James III, was published at Paris in 1574. “Prior to this no history of Scotland had been printed except the compendium of Major. The chronicles of Wyntoun and John of Fordun were in manuscripts and widely dispersed, but not widely known; and now for the first time, the annals of Northern Britain could be bought by anyone who could afford the comparatively cheap price asked by the Parisian printers of the day.” (DNB)

Hector Boethius served as the as the first principal of the College of Saint Mary in Aberdeen, later to be known as King’s College, successfully building up a fine teaching body and attracting many scholars. In 1528 the university conferred on him the degree of doctor of divinity. Boethius was also friends with Erasmus. Following his return to Scotland, the two scholars lost touch until Boethius’ letter of praise to Erasmus on 26 May 1528. In it the Scotsman reminds his Dutch friend of their earlier acquaintance and requests a list of his colleague’s latest works. Erasmus replied some two years later, on 15 May 1530, acknowledging his memory of their days together as well as enclosing the requested ‘Index omnium lucubrationum’ his last catalogue of his writings. (CoE)

Adams B-2309; BM STC French p.74; Shaaber 589