Descrittione del regno di Scotia

The work offers a rare early‑modern survey of Scotland as it was known in the late sixteenth century. Compiled in 1588 and reprinted in 1829 for the Bannatyne Club, the description sets out the layout of the mainland and its adjacent islands, noting natural features, settlements, and the organization of the kingdom’s legal and military institutions. Its language is that of a contemporary observer, giving listeners a sense of how the land and its people were portrayed to a European audience at the time.

The compiler was an Italian exile who settled in England and became a miniature painter and court illuminator. His outsider perspective blends scholarly detail with the artistic sensibility of a manuscript maker, resulting in a vivid portrait that includes lists of noble families and brief notes on customs and industry. As you listen, you’ll travel through rugged highlands, bustling ports, and the cultural tapestry that defined Scotland before the Union, all through the careful eyes of a Renaissance traveler.