i. 1, ff. 13–24). 2. ‘De Magia Cæremoniali.’ 3. ‘Correctorium Alchymiæ.’ 4. ‘De Mysteriis Secretorum.’ 5. ‘De Moralibus Elementorum.’ 6. ‘Roberti Anglici viri astrologici præstantissimi de Astrolabio Canones’ [Perugia, 1480?], 4to. But this may belong to the other Robertus Anglicus noticed below. In Digby MS. 208 in the Bodleian Library, a manuscript of the late fifteenth century, there is ‘Tabula Capitulorum Etymologiarum Isidori,’ by Robertus Anglicus, S.T.P., ordinis S. Dominici.’ According to Pits (App. p. 901), there were some scriptural commentaries by Robert, an English friar, in the Dominican Library at Bologna.
Robertus Perscrutator of York can hardly be identical with the Robertus Anglicus (fl. 1272) who wrote: ‘Commentarius in tractatum Johannis de Sacrobosco [Holywood] de Sphæra.’ There is a copy in Digby MS. 48, ff. 48–88, where the ‘Commentarius’ is said to have been written for students at Montpelier, and to be compiled by Master Robert the Englishman, who completed it in 1272. He is also credited with ‘Alkindus de Judiciis ex Arabico Latinus factus per Robertum Anglicum anno Domini 1272,’ which was probably by Robert de Retines [see Robert the Englishman, fl. 1143], the date being probably a mistake for 1172, from which it has been altered to 1272 in one manuscript. There are copies in Ashmolean MSS. 179, iv., 209 f. 211, 369 f. 85, 433 vi.
[Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib. p. 636; Quétif and Echard's Script. Ord. Præd. i. 625–6; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Catalogues of Digby and Ashmolean MSS.]
ROBERT Mannyng or de Brunne (fl. 1288–1338 ), poet. [See Mannyng.]
ROBERT of Avesbury (fl. 1350), historian, describes himself in the title of his work as ‘Keeper of the Registry of the Court of Canterbury’ (p. 279). Beyond this fact nothing is known of him. He compiled a history of the ‘mirabilia gesta’ of Edward III down to 1356; his chief interest is in military history, and especially in the French war. To ecclesiastical and civil affairs he pays little attention. His work opens with a short sketch of the reign of Edward II, and the wars with Scotland are told with comparative brevity. The continental wars from 1339 to 1356 occupy nine-tenths of his narrative. Robert is no more than a painstaking chronicler, but his history has special importance because he incorporated in his text original documents and letters, including those of Michael de Northburgh [q. v.] There are three manuscripts: Harleian MS. 200 in the British Museum, Douce MS. 128 in the Bodleian Library, and Trinity College (Cambridge) MS. R v. 32; the first is the archetype, the two latter are derived from it through an intermediate copy. Robert of Avesbury's chronicle (‘Historia de Mirabilibus Gestis Edwardi III’) was published by Thomas Hearne, Oxford, 1720. It has been re-edited by Sir E. Maunde Thompson, with the chronicle of Adam Murimuth, in the Rolls Series, 1889.
[Thompson's Preface, pp. xxii–vi, xxxii–iii; Gardiner and Mullinger's Introduction to English History, pp. 284–5.]
ROBERT of Woodstock (d. 1428), canonist and civilian. [See Heete, Robert.]
ROBERTON, JAMES, of Bedlay (1590?–1664), Scottish judge, born about 1590, was son of Archibald Roberton, and grandson of John Roberton of Earnock. He matriculated at Glasgow University in March 1605, and graduated M.A. in 1609. He was appointed professor of philosophy and humanity in that university in 1618. After leaving the university, Roberton went to France. On his return he passed as advocate, and in November 1626 was appointed a judge of the admiralty court and a justice-depute. In a petition which he presented to parliament in 1641, he stated that he served as justice-depute from 1626 till 1637 without fee; that at the latter date he had been granted an annual fee of 1,200l. Scots, ‘whairof I have gottin nor can gett no payment at all, but am still disapoynted of the samen.’ In November 1641 parliament ordered the payment of arrears for four and a half years, and directed that provision should be made for regular payment thereafter. This arrangement was not carried out, as on 23 July 1644 Roberton again petitioned for payment of ten years' arrears, which was ordered. His name appears frequently in 1641 and 1645 on the special commissions appointed for the trial of delinquents. On 3 April 1646 he was chosen rector of Glasgow University, being described as Judex, to distinguish him from a contemporary James Roberton, who matriculated at Glasgow in 1610, was laureated in 1613, and was apparently made ‘professor of physiologie’ in May 1621.
On 18 March 1647 parliament ordered the payment of 100l. sterling for Roberton's services as commissioner. His name appears on the committee of war for Lanarkshire from 1644 till 1648, and he is described as commissary of Hamilton from 1646 to 1650. During Cromwell's supremacy in Scotland he was urged to retain his judicial position, but he refused to take the oath of abjuration,
