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From the Book of Eminent Burgesses of Dundee 1513 to 1885.
Magister Patrick Young, King's Librarian - 9th January 1618
WHICH DAY MAGISTER PATRICK YOUNG, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE KING'S LIBRARY, IS GIVEN THE FREEDOM OF THE BURGH OF DUNDEE, ON ACCOUNT OF HIS ZEAL IN THE SERVICE OF THE COMMONWEAL, AND FOR THE MODE IN WHICH HE HAS MUNIFICENTLY INCREASED THE LIBRARY OF THE BURGH.
PATRICK YOUNG was, the fifth son of SIR PETER YOUNG of Seaton, and the elder brother of Dr JOHN YOUNG, who was admitted as a Burgess on the same day. He was born in Dundee in 1583, and educated at St Andrews, where he took his degree as Master of Arts in 1603. Two years afterwards he removed to Oxford, where he prosecuted his studies with such conspicuous success that he won the reputation of being a very profound scholar. Following the example of his renowned grand uncle, HENRY SCRYMGEOUR, he devoted himself especially to the classical languages, and was regarded as one of the most learned Greek scholars of the period. He obtained the Rectory of Hayes, in Middlesex, and of Lannerage, in Denbighshire, and was appointed Prebendary and Treasurer of S. Paul's Cathedral, London. He held the post of Librarian successively to PRINCE HENRY, to KING JAMES, and to CHARLES I, an office for which his extensive acquaintance with foreign and classical literature peculiarly fitted him. The high estimation in which his literary ability and scholastic attainments were held by his contemporaries is proved indirectly but convincingly by the following circumstance, which is not noted in any biography of him. In the Journal of the House of Lords for 28th December, 1647 (Vol. IX., p. 616), there is a draft ordinance written in extenso, directing that the sum of £1,000 should be paid ', to PATRICK YOUNGE, in part recompense of his pains in the edition of a most antient manuscript copy of the Greek Septuagint Bible, and other Greek manuscripts." This entry is immediately followed by another draft order for the payment to him "of a further sum of £1,000 for the same reason." As this was at a time when literary labour was not munificently rewarded, it may be concluded that Dr YOUNG's qualifications for these tasks were exceptional. It is alleged that he was Archdeacon of St Andrews, and whilst in that office he presented the ground that had belonged to the Dominican Monastery there to the town for the purpose of founding a school but as this gift is sometimes credited to him, and sometimes to his brother JOHN, the statement seems very doubtful. He died at Bromfield, in Essex, on 7th September, 1652, leaving two daughters, his co heiresses.
The allusion to "the Library of the Burgh" in the entry of Dr PATRICK YOUNG's admission is especially interesting. The Library at that time probably consisted of the remnants of the collections made by the various monasteries in Dundee, which would come into the possession of the Town when the ecclesiastical property was secularized. WILLIAM CHRYSTESONE, Who was Pastor of Dundee from 1560 till 1597, seems to have taken special care of these works, and they are described as having included many rare and valuable volumes. The Town Council repeatedly ordered that inventories of them should be made up, but unfortunately no catalogue has been preserved, and the Library was utterly consumed when the churches of Dundee were destroyed by fire, in 1841. It is impossible, therefore, to say precisely what were the works with which Dr YOUNG "munificently increased the Library of the Burgh," though a very reasonable conjecture may be hazarded. It is known that HENRY SCRYMGEOUR, the Professor of Civil Law at Geneva, bequeathed his library and manuscripts to his nephew, SIR PETER YOUNG of Seatoun, and that these were brought to Scotland by SIR PETER's brother, ALEXANDER, in 1573. The care of this unique library devolved upon Dr PATRICK YOUNG, and it is stated by THOMAS SMITH (Vitae Illustrium Virorum) that "the most valuable portions of it passed into public collections through his [SIR PETER'S] son, Dr P. YOUNG." It is highly probable, therefore, that the gift which the latter made to the Town of Dundee consisted of some of those books and manuscripts which had belonged to his illustrious relative, HENRY SCRYMGEOUR, so that he might keep alive the memory of that eminent scholar in the place of his birth and the home of his kindred.