John Bellenden facts for kids

John Bellenden (also known as John Ballantyne) was an important Scottish writer. He lived in the 1500s. He is famous for translating old books into Scots, the language spoken in Scotland back then.

Life of a Scottish Writer

This is the title page of Bellenden's Croniklis, printed in Edinburgh in 1540. It shows the royal symbols of James V of Scotland.

John Bellenden was born around the late 1400s. He went to universities in St Andrews in Scotland and Paris in France.

Translating for the King

King James V asked Bellenden to translate a history book. The book was called Historia Gentis Scotorum by Hector Boece. Bellenden's translation was named Croniklis of Scotland. It was not just a simple copy. He added many new parts, making it almost a new book! This important work was printed in Edinburgh in 1536.

Bellenden also translated the first five books of History of Rome by Livy. These translations are some of the oldest examples of Scottish writing in prose. Because of his great work, King James V was very pleased. Bellenden received royal support and was made an Archdeacon in Moray. An Archdeacon is a church official who helps a bishop.

Bellenden's Poems

Both his Croniklis and Livy translations start with poems. One famous poem is 'Quehen Silver Diane'. It was part of the Croniklis. He also wrote another work called Banner of Piety. This book began with a poem called 'Quhen goldin Phebus'.

Later Life and Exile

Later in his life, Bellenden faced some disagreements. These problems led to him being sent away from Scotland. He went to Rome, a city in Italy. Some say he died there around 1550. However, other records suggest he might have lived until 1587.

Bellenden's Family Connections

John Bellenden came from an interesting family. His father was Patrick Bellenden. His mother, Mariota Douglas, was the nurse for King James V when he was a baby.

Notable Family Members

John had a sister named Katherine Bellenden. She worked at the royal court. She helped with the king's clothes and other royal items. Katherine was also connected to Janet Douglas, who was married to David Lyndsay, a famous Scottish poet. Katherine Bellenden was married three times. Her husbands included Adam Hopper, Francis Bothwell, and Oliver Sinclair, who was a favorite of the king. John's older brother, Thomas Bellenden of Auchnoule, was also important. He was a well-known lawyer and worked for the royal court.

Images for kids

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  Title page of Bellenden's Croniklis printed in Edinburgh, with the heraldry of James V of Scotland