John Bellenden

John Ballantyne or Bellenden (fl. 1533-1587 fl.) was a Scottish poet.

Life
Ballantyne was born towards the close of the 15th century, and educated at St. Andrews and Paris. At the request of James V. he translated the Historia Gentis Scotorum of Boece. This translation, Chroniklis 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. It was pub;osjed in 1536, and is the earliest existing specimen of Scottish literary prose. He also translated the first 5 books of Livy. He enjoyed the Royal favour, and was Archdeacon of Moray. He latterly, however, became involved in controversy which led to his going to Rome, where he died, according to one account, about 1550. Another authority, however, states that he was living in 1587.