John Bellenden

John Bellenden or Ballantyne (flourished 1533-1587?) of Moray was a Scottish writer of the 16th century.

Life

He was born towards the close of the 15th century, and educated at St. Andrews and Paris. At the request of James V he translated Hector Boece's Historia Gentis Scotorum. This translation, Croniklis of Scotland is a very free one, with a good deal of matter not in the original, so that it may be almost considered as a new work. It was published in 1536 in Edinburgh by Thomas Davidson. In 1533, Bellenden also translated the first five books of Livy's History of Rome. These remain the earliest existing specimena of Scottish literary prose, and remarkable specimena they are, for the execution of which he enjoyed the Royal favour, and was made Archdeacon of Moray. Both the Croniklis and the Livy are prefaced by poems, the Proheme of the Chronicles, 'Quehen Silver Diane', being more often anthologised. Another work, the Banner of Piety, was prefaced by the poem 'Quhen goldin Phebus.'

Bellenden latterly became involved in controversy which led to his being exiled to Rome, where he died, according to one account, about 1550. Another authority, however, states that he was still living in 1587.

Family connections

John was the son of Patrick Bellenden of Auchnoule or Auchnolyshill (d.1514) and Mariota Douglas. Mariota was the nurse of James V. John's sister Katherine Bellenden was a courtier, connected with the royal wardrobe and worked with Janet Douglas, who was the wife of David Lyndsay of the Mount, the diplomat, poet, and playwright. Katherine Bellenden was married to Adam Hopper, then Francis Bothwell, and thirdly to the royal favorite Oliver Sinclair. John's older brother Thomas Bellenden of Auchnoule was a prominent lawyer and courtier.

Editions

• John Bellenden's translation of Boece's History of Scotland, vol.1, Tait, Edinburgh (1821), and volume 2, (1821).