Volume 2

A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen / edited by Robert Chambers.

Date:
1854-1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen / edited by Robert Chambers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    about by bis own insincerity and obstinacy. By bis queen, wlio survived bim for | some years, he left six children, of whom the two eldest, Charles and Jamee, were successively kings of Great Britain ; a son and a daughter died in ^rly youth; and his two remaining daughters, Jlary and Henrietta, were respectively married to the prince of Orange, and to the duke of Orleans, brother of ^is XIV, In literatui-e Charles is entitled to a high rank. There was publislied after his death, a Avork entitled Eikox B.^smiKE, Avhich contained a series of re- flections proceeding from liimself, respecting various situations in Avhich he svas placed towards the close of his life. This, in a short space of time, went through : upAvards of forty editions, and it e\'ery Avhere excited a keen interest in the tate of i the Idng and high admiration of his mental gifts. Although for a long time sus- pected to have been AAi-itten by another hand, it appears incontestibly proved by j Dr Christopher WordsAVorth, in his AAork on this subject, (published in 1824,) to j haA'e been his OAvn express composition. | CHEPMAN, Walter, avIio appears to have been chiefly concerned in intro- I ducing the art of printing into Scotland, aars a seiwant of Icing James IV., avIio i patronised him in that undertaking. None of the honours of learning are knOAcm to have been attached to the name of Walter Chepman ; but it is to be infen-ed that his office in the royal household Avas of a clerical or literary cliaracter, as Ave find that on the 21st of February, 1496, the lord treasui-er entei-s the folloAv- ing- disbursement in his books; “ Giften to a boy to rynne fra Edinburgh to ; Linlithq, to AVatte Chepman, to signet twaletteris to pas to AVcddis, I2d.” His | name is frequently mentioned in this curious record ; for instance, in August, 1503, amidst a variety of expenses pro servitoribus ” on the occasion of the Icing’s marriage, eight pounds ten shillings are given for “ five elne Inglis (English) claith to Walter Chepman, ilk elne 34 shillings,” Avhich may shoAV the high consideration in Avhich this individual Avas held. AA'alter Chepnum is found at a somoAvhat later period in the condition of a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh, and joining Avith one Andro Millai', another merchant, in the busi- j ness of a printer. It appears to have been oAving to the urgent Avishes of the ! king that Scotland Avas first favoured with the possession of a printing press. A gi-ant under the privy seal, dated in 1507, recites the causes and objects of tliis - measure in the folloAving terms ;— Jaaiks, &C.—To al and sindrj our officiaris liegis and subdittis qiilunn it efferis, quhais knaAvlage thir our letti-es salcum, greting ; Avit ye tluat forsameldll as our lovittis serAutouris Walter Chepman and Andro Millar bui-gessis of our burgh of Edinburgh, has, at our instance and request, for our plesour, the honour and proffit of our Realme and leigis, takin on thame to furnis and bring hame ane prent, Avith all stuff behingand tliarto, and expert men to use the samvne, for imprenting Avithin our Realme of the bukis of our LaAvis, actis of parliament, croniclis, mess bukis, and portuus efter the use of our Re.almc, Aviih addicions and legendis of Scottish sanctis, noAv gaderit to be ekit tharto, and al utheris bukis that salbe sene necessar, and to sel the s.immyn for competent pricis, be our avis and discrecioun, thair labouris and expens being considerit; And because Ave Avndei-stand that this cannot be perfurnist Avithout rycht greit cost labour and expens, Ave have granted and promittit to thame that thai sail nocht be hurt nor prevenit tharon be ony utheris to tak copyis of ony bukis furtht of our Realme, to ger imprent the samyne in utheris countreis, to be ; brocht and sauld agano Avithin our Realme, to cause the said Walter and Andro ■ ' tyne thair gret labour and expens; And als It is diA’isit and thocht expedient bo \ us and our consall, that in tymo cuming mess bukis, manualis, matync bukis, and j ' portuus bukis, efter our aAvin scottis use, and Avith legendis of Scottis sanctis, ns is noAv gaderit and ekit bo ane Reverend fader in god, and our traist consalour I ■ 1 1 1 j i j 1 ] i i 1