Scotorum Historiae - 1526
Hector Boece or Boethius was probably born in 1465 and came from the family of Boyis or Bois of Panbride in Angus. He was educated in Dundee and Paris at the College of Montaigu and became a professor at the college, probably from 1492 to 1498.
The volume illustrated was published in 1526 (D.N.B. has 1527) by Iodocus Badius in Paris. Preceded in the field only by the works of Major, Wyntoun and John of Fordun, Boece's Historiae was the first readily (and cheaply) available history of Scotland. It often suffers criticism, however, in that accuracy is sometimes sacrificed in the interest of a flowing narrative, with events speculative or adapted to the demands of the target audience.
Dr. Johnson probably passed fair judgement in saying that Boece's "credulity may be excused in an age in which all men were credulous. Learning was then rising on the world, but eyes were too much dazzled with its light to see anything distinctly". Boece played a key role assisting Bishop Elphinstone in the establishment of a university at Aberdeen. He died in 1536 and was buried before the high altar of King's College.
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