(Amsterdam: Johann Ravesteyn, 1655).

QUITE SCARCE, AND ESPECIALLY SO IN CONTEMPORARY VELLUM IN FULLY ORIGINAL STATE. The work comprises in twenty-two books a history of English and Scottish affairs between 1572 and 1628, as well as the relations with Ireland, France, Belgium, and the Germanic nations. Written by a Scotsman, Robert Johnston, it is an interesting study of perspective. Johnson describes his own country as holding a more prominent place in the history of the period than "that part of Great Britain called England." From this Scotcentric position the author provides his general survey of European affairs. The first 3 books were published in his lifetime, but the work in its complete state would come off of Ravesteyn's press in Amsterdam; published from the Latin manuscript left at Johnston's death. Those parts of Johnston's work dealing specifically with Scotland were translated into English by Thomas Middleton and published as "The History of Scotland during the Minority of King James".
Though biased, Johnson brings the English historians (such as Clarendon) to task for the injustice of their own prejudice to the weight and merits of Scotland. Johnston has been described as "the son of  an honest burgess of Edinbro'" He was born about 1567, either in Edinburgh or some part of Annandale. He was educated at Edinburgh University, and graduated M.A. there in 1587. He is called in later life a doctor of the civil and canon law, a degree which he obtained later in life. Item #32059

The first edition of the complete work. Woodcut device on title-page of the ravens commanded to feed Elijah, large (8 or 9 line) woodcut foliated initials throughout, woodcut head-or-talepieces throughout. Folio, in full contemporary continental vellum over boards, the spine lettered in manuscript. [ii]; 737pp., retaining the original blanks and original free-flies. A very sound and sturdy copy, still quite clean and fresh with just a bit of the expected age mellowing, a touch of very light staining to the lower margin of the first few leaves only, the original vellum binding with some mottling as would be expected, some light cosmetic separation at the head and tail of the upper hinge, the binding tight and strong and without repairs or restoration of any sort. An authentic and honest period copy. Ownership signatures and dates of four owners dating through the centuries, to the initial free-fly.