Background
He was born towards the close of the 15th century, and educated at Saint Andrews and Paris.
He was born towards the close of the 15th century, and educated at Saint Andrews and Paris.
University of Street Andrews. University of 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. lieutenant 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.
John was the son of Patrick Bellenden of Auchnoule or Auchnolyshill (d1514) and Mariota Douglas.
John Bellenden"s translation of Boece"s History of Scotland, volume.1, Tait, Edinburgh (1821), and volume 2, (1821).