John of Ireland, or Johannis de Irlandia (c. 1440 - c. 1497) was a Scottish or Irish writer, resident for thirty years in Paris and later a professor of theology. John wrote a book of advice for James IV of Scotland in the Mirrors for princes genre.
John was confessor to James IV of Scotland and also to Louis XI of France, and was rector of Yarrow (de Foresta) when he completed, at Edinburgh, the work on which rests his sole claim as a vernacular writer. This book, preserved in manuscript in the Advocates Library, Edinburgh (MS. 18, 2, 8), and labelled Johannis de Irlandia opera theologica, is a treatise in Scots on the wisdom and discipline necessary to a prince, especially intended for the use of the young James IV. Usually called the Meroure of Wysdome it is the earliest extant example of original Scots prose. In the text, and in the title of the manuscript, it is noted that John finished the work and gave it to the king in 1490.[1]
In the Meroure John refers to two other vernacular writings, one of the "commandementis and uthir thingis pretenand to the salvacioune of man", the other, of the "tabill of confessioune". No traces of these have been discovered. John was first at St Andrews University but left in 1459 without a degree and joined the University of Paris as student and teacher. According to his own testimony he remained in France, 'neare the tyme of thretty yere.' Records of the Sorbonne suggest he came from a St Andrews family, although Perth has been suggested as his birthplace.[2] His name appears on the rolls of the Scottish parliaments, and he is referred to by the Scottish historians, Leslie and Dempster.
See the notices in John Lyden's introduction to his edition of the Complaynt of Scotlande (1801), pp. 85 seq.; The Scottish Antiquary, xiii. I 11115 and xv. 114. Annotated extracts are given in Gregory Smith's Specimens of Middle Scots (1902).
Jean de Launoy however states that he was Irish (see external links), and was sent to Scotland from France.