David Moysie

David Moysie^[1] (fl. 1590) was a Scottish notary public, known as author of the Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland, 1577-1603.

Life

He was by profession a writer and notary public. A notarial attestation of a lease by him occurs in 1577. From 1582 he was engaged as a crown servant, first as a clerk of the privy council, carry out secretarial work under the superintendence of John Andrew, and attending James VI at court. Afterwards, about 1596, he was in the office of John Lindsay of Balcarres, Lord Menmuir, king's secretary. On 3 August 1584 he obtained a grant under the privy seal of for his son David's schooling; on the death of his son, soon after, he had the gift ratified in his own favour on 19 February 1585. Other references occur in letters written to Sir John Lindsay the secretary in 1596.

Works

The Memoirs are the record of an eye witness, surviving in two manuscripts. They were printed by Ruddiman (Edinburgh, 1755), and edited for the Bannatyne Club (Edinburgh, 1830).

Notes

1. ^ Also Moise, Moyses, Mosey.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Moysie, David". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.