1727 Rerum Scoticarum Historia by George Buchanan - History of Scotland (Latin)

RERUM SCOTICARUM HISTORIA AUCTORE GEORGIO BUCHANAN SCOTO [George Buchanan]
Ad optimam and castigatissimam Roberti Fribarnii

Editionem expressa cum indice longe locupletissimo, inferta Propriorum Nominum interpretatione.

Accesserunt auctoris Vita ab ipso scripta, Ejusdemque Dialogus de jure Regni apud Scotos.
Necnon Tabula Scotiae topographica

Bound in at the end of the book is Buchanan's treatise 'De Jure Regni Apud Scotos', first published in 1579. In this work, composed in the form of a dialogue, Buchanan lays down the doctrine that the source of all political power is the people, that the king is bound by those conditions under which the supreme power was first committed to his hands, and that it is lawful to resist, even to punish, tyrants. There were persistent efforts of the legislature to suppress it during the century following its publication. It was condemned by act of parliament in 1584, and again in 1664; and in 1683 it was burned by the University of Oxford.

Published by Jo. Patoni, Edinburgh, in 1727. The book is bound in contemporary full leather boards but lacking the title label. It measures approx. 7" x 4 1/4" with [xvi], 634 pages and a 54 page index; [ii] and 58 pages. There is a frontispiece portrait of Buchanan and a folding map. The Text of this Book is in Latin.

George Buchanan (1506-1582) was a Scottish historian and humanist scholar. According to historian Keith Brown, Buchanan was "the most profound intellectual sixteenth century Scotland produced." His ideology of resistance to royal usurpation gained widespread acceptance during the Scottish Reformation.

He published many books, and Rerum Scoticarum Historia (History of Scotland) is one of his major works and was completed shortly before his death, and first published in 1582. It is remarkable for the power of its style, and of great value for the period personally known to the author, which occupies the greater portion of the book. The earlier part is based, to a considerable extent, on the legendary history of Boece. Buchanan's purpose was to "purge" the national history "of sum Inglis lyis and Scottis vanite" (Letter to Randolph). He said that it would "content few and displease many"; but its matter gave so much offence that a proclamation was issued calling in all copies of it that they might be purged of the "offensive and extraordinary matters" which they contained.

CONDITION
The binding of the book is in good to very good condition with expected signs of its age. There is scuffing and staining to the leather on the boards and spine and some damage and loss to the leather on the corners (mostly noticeable on the front corners). There is damage and loss of about 1/4" to the leather at the spine ends and, title label is missing.