Scotland.- Boece (Hector) Heir beginnis the hystory and croniklis of Scotland, translated from Latin into Scots English by John Bellenden, first edition in Scots, collation: A-F6 A-Z6/4 Aa-Hh4/6 Ii10 Kk-Zz4/6 [pi]6 [pi2]8 complete, mostly black letter and double column, title in red and black with full-page woodcut of royal arms of Scotland, full-page woodcut of the crucifixion on verso of final f., woodcut initials and 2 smaller illustrations to text, title slightly extended at fore-margin, title and A2-3 repaired at centre affecting woodcut and a few words of text, B3 corner restored, gathering y browned and brittle with a few tears into text, with 2 small pieces detached and slight loss to text, final f. verso with margins reinforced, repaired tear to Vv3, occasional damp-staining, occasional marginal marking or staining, a few annotations in a later hand, contemporary ink ownership inscription to title, 19th century olive morocco, gilt, light rubbing to edges, g.e., folio (279 x 190mm.), [Edinburgh], [Thomas Davidson], 1540.*** First edition in Scots of this history of Scotland that did much to shape how the Scottish regarded themselves. Boece's work is also the earliest surviving printed example of Scottish prose and one of the earliest works printed in Scotland, preceded only by a few works printed by Chepman and Millar at the beginning of the century, and by John Scot, only one of whose books survives. Much of Boece's history was distorted to flatter, Macbeth in particular was much maligned in order to please Boece's partron, James IV of Scotland.Provenance: Elisabethe Hide; Richard Hide (18th century inscriptions).