Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie

Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie (also Lindesay or Lyndsay; c. 1532–1580) was a Scottish chronicler, author of The Historie and Chronicles of Scotland, 1436–1565, the first history of Scotland to be composed in Scots rather than Latin. Quotes Schir ze sall vnderstand that my mother pronusticatt quhan I was zoung...that I wald be hangit as the leave of my foirbeiris was befoir me thairfoir I thocht one hir sayingis and tuik her to be ane trew woman zit I thocht that it sould be for na litill matter that I sould die that deid. It sould nocht be for scheip nor nolt nor hors nor meiris as my foirbeiris did to steill and be hangit for. Bot I think it ane gret honour to my kin and freindis for the riche croun of Ingland that so mony honourable men hes laitlie dieit for, sum hangit sum heidit and sum murdrest...Be my faderis saull Schir gif me credence gif I had it in scotland in blair in athole thair sould nevir ane of zou haue seine it. Sir, ye shall understand that my mother prognosticated when I was young...that I would be hanged as the rest of my forebears was before me; therefore I thought on her sayings and took her to be a true woman, yet I thought it should be for no little matter that I should die that death. It should not be for sheep nor cattle nor horse nor mares, as my forebears did, to steal and be hanged for. But I think it a great honor to my kin and friends [to die] for the rich crown of England that so many honorable men has lately died for, some hanged, some beheaded and some murdered...By my father's soul, Sir, give me credence, if I had it in Scotland in Blair-in-Athol, there should never one of you have seen it. The History and Chronicles of Scotland, from the Slauchter of King James I to the ane 1575, ed. Æ. J. G. Mackay (Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, for the Scottish Text Society, 1899–1911) vol. 1, pp. 198. Translated by Wallace Notestein, The Scot in History (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1947) ch. 1, p. 3. Defence of the Highlander MacGregor, servant to the Bishop of Dunkeld, Scottish ambassador to England, who, being with his master in Richard III's camp on the eve of the Battle of Bosworth, had eyed and later stolen the crown of England from the royal pavilion, and was caught red-handed. Compare: Anonymous § Scots, "How The First Helandman of God Was Maid" External links Category:Historians from Scotland Category:Chroniclers