Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kennedy, John (fl.1626)
KENNEDY or KENNEDIE, JOHN (fl. 1626), poet, a Scotsman, published two small volumes at Edinburgh in the early part of the seventeenth century. His first work was a love tale interspersed with songs and relations in different metres, and entitled ‘The History of Calanthrop and Lucilla, conspicuously demonstrating the various mutabilities of Fortune in their loves, with every several circumstance of joyes and crosses, fortunate exploites and hazardous adventures, which either of them sustained before they could attaine the prosperous event of their wished aimes. Edinburgh, printed by John Wrettoun, and are to be sold at his shop a little below the Salt Trone,’ 1626. From the dedication to Sir Donald Mackay, afterwards Lord Reay of Stranever, it appears that this was the author's first production. It was reprinted with an altered title at London in 1631 as ‘The Ladies' Delight.’ Both editions are only extant in unique exemplars. The unique copy of the earlier edition passed from the hands of J. Chalmers, F.R.S., into the British Museum, while that of the later is in the Huth Library. Kennedy also wrote ‘A Theological Epitome or Divine Compend, apparently manifesting Gods great Love and Mercie towards Man,’ Edinburgh, 1629, of which a copy, believed to be unique, is in the Huth Library.
[Addit. MS. 24492, f. 132 (Hunter's Chorus Vatum); Payne Collier's Catalogue of Heber's Collection of Early English Poetry, p. 170; Corser's Collect. pt. viii.; Huth Library Cat.; Hazlitt's Handbook.]