The Poetical Works of Gavin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld

THE POETICAL WORKS OF

GAV IN DOUGLAS,B ISHOP OF DUNKELD .

V O L UME I .

4 6 2 9 6

Dunkeld , no more the heaven -directed chaunt

Within thysain ted wal lsmay soundagain ,

Butthou,as on ce th e muse ’s favourite haun t

,

Shalt l ive in D ouglas’

pure Virg il ian strain ,

Whil e time devours the castle ’s crumbl ing wal l ,

A nd ro ofless abbeys pin e, low-tottering to their

(1. Dyer

’

s Poems,1801, p . 89 .

J. ) _;i. V g L A m . A U v a t. .

B I SH OP O F D U N K E L D ,

W I T H M EMO I R,N O T E S, A N D G LO S S A R Y

BY JOHN SMALL , M .A . ,

VOLUME F IRST.

L O N D O N : H .

'

S O T H E R A N C O.

M D C C C LXX I V.

29259

D A V I D L A I N G,

LL.D . ,ETC .

IN RECOGNITION OF H IS LABOURS IN THE VAR IOUS

D EPARTMENTS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE

AND ANTIQUITIES,

T H I S E D I T I O N

THE WORKS OF GAV IN DOUGLA S,

B I SHOP OF DUNKELD,

IS RESPECTFULLY DED ICATED .

PR E F A C E .

T i s a circumstan ce somewhat surprisingthat the long period of three cen turies

and a half should have elapsed between the death of the celebrated

poet,GAV I N D OUGLAS

,Bishop of

D unkeld,and the publication of this the first col

l ected edition of his works . While the separate

poems of the Bishop , which have been printed at

in tervals between 15 5 3 and 18 30,are fully de

scribed in the following Biographical In troduction ,

a few n otes as to edition s of his works formerly

projected may not be un in teresting in this place .

So far back as the year 178 6, the indefatigable

Scotti sh An tiquary,John Pinkerton

,in his “ List

of al l the Scottish Poets,with brief Remarks

,

”

(A ncientScot. Poems, i . p. cxxv.) in timated his imten

t ion of editing the works of such as might be deemed

classic,and

,whose works would “ be reprin ted to the

end of the Engl i sh language.”These he con sidered to

be “ Barbour ;King James I . H en ry the M in strel ;D unbar;Gavin D ougl as;Sir D avid Lindsay;D rum

v i PREFACE .

mond in number seven . Pinkerton ’s multifarious

labours no doubt preven ted the fulfilmen t of thi s

promise to the literary public . His in tention,how

ever,in regard to D ouglas was to reprin t on ly th e

Palice of Hon our,King Hart, and Prologs , &c.

,to

Virgil,” thus omitting the prin cipal work of the dis

tinguished author.

In 1806,however

,there appearedan ann oun cemen t

by the well-kn own Edinburgh publishers , Messrs

Con stable,that the works of the Bishop were

forthwith to appear in four octavo volumes,

under the editorial superintenden ce of Sylvester

D ouglas , Lord G lenbervie . His Lordship was alin eal descendan t of that bran ch of the great family

of D ouglas to which the Bi shop belonged , and hemade exten sive preparation s for the proposed work .

Writing to Mr Con stable on 20th Jun e 18 06, he says“ I should suppose the tran slation of Virgi l would ,prin ted in the mann er of Sir W . Forbes ’ Life , &c. ,

of

D r Beattie,make alon e a larger quarto than either of

his volumes,and the other poems

,together with a

life,historical and critical

,a preface

,and Ruddiman ’

s

G lossary en larged (though our friend Clialmers’

severity on poor Sibbald in his di ssertation in the

third volume of his n ew publication is enough to

terrify one from that part of the undertak ing)would

m ake anoth er—or perhaps the whole might be prin ted

in four volumes of the size nearly of Tyrrwhit’

s

PREFACE . vi i

Chaucer. In the mean time I will immediately set

about collecting materials . One MS . Mr Thomson

will tell you I have heard of in England . Ruddiman

appears to have used one which belonged to the

College Library. Is that still forthcoming , and w il lthe Coll ege allow me the use of i t ? Is thereanyMS .

in the Advocates’ L ibrary or elsewhere in Scotland

that you kn ow of ? Pray shew this letter to Mr

Thomson,and procure and take the trouble to send

me what information you can . En quire if there exists

anywhere any picture or prin t of Gawin D ouglas .”

The Records of the Un iversity of Edinburgh bear

that on the 18 th February 18 07,permission was given

to Lord Glenbervie,to borrow the two MSS. of the

Tran slation of Virgi l, preserved in its L ibrary, andfrom various letters from his Lordship to Mr Con

stable,n ow in the possession of his son

,Mr Thomas

Constable,it would appear that Mr Henry Weber

,

the Editor of Early Engl i sh Roman ces” and other

works (the aman uen sis also of Sir Walter Scott), wasemployed to make the n ecessary collation s .”

Referring to Mr Weber’s conn ection with the pro

posed work,Mr George Chalmers , who had in 18 06

In 1809 Lord Gl enberv ie states , in a l etter to Mr Con

stabl e,that h e paid Triphook £23 for the four large in ter

l eaved volumes, to which two copies of th e Virgil had been

sacrificed , and which h e had don e by the advice of Mr Todd,

the wel l -known editor ofM ilton ’ s W orks , &c .

PREFACE .

published his well—known edition of the poems of Sir

D avid Lindsay,writing to Mr Con stable in August

18 09 states,

I am glad that Mr Weber undertakes

to relieve Lord G lenbervie from h is distress . I pre

sume that my Lord has agreed upon the plan which

Mr Todd,you and I thought the on ly one : taking

Ruddiman ’

s copy as the textto be collated . A ficti

tious text like Tyrrwhitt’

s Chaucer will n ever do ;but, taking the matter up on the other plan

,Mr

IV. may get through in a mon th or two . I t will

give me pleasure to be kind to Mr Weber,and to

give him every assistan ce in my power. I shall be

glad to hear from you on your ultimate plan of Gavin

D ouglas and I shall be the better enabled to help youforward .

In N ovember of the same year, Mr Chalmers in

another letter to Mr Con stable remarks,

\Veber

will tell you better than I can write,in what a state

of mind he left Lord G lenbervie on the subject of

Gavin D ouglas . My belief i s that you w il l n ever see

Gavin D ouglas from h i s Lordship’s hand . He seems

to me to sink under the work,which wasand i s too

heavy for h i s anvil . He feels this , yet i s ashamed to

confess that he is un equal to the task , and he is toohigh-minded to be advised . His dissertation s on the

D ouglases, which m ight be spared , he finds a bore,

now that a friend of yours has cut short the lin e of

that assuming family . He grumbles in the gizzard

PREFACE . ix

when he thinks of this,and

,like his great progen itor ,

Bell-the-Cat,he carries about a con cealed dagger,

Willing to wound , yet afraid to strike .’ All this

while your friend has been trying , as you may have

heard from your H . and W . to help him in every

possible way. But help and in struction are alikeunwelcome to him . He has not yet made up his

mind whether the l anguage of Gavin D ouglas be from

the Anglo-Saxon or the Gothic of Scandin avia,and

we tried in vain to convin ce h im. H e will make a

new Glossary,without any previous preparation ,

in stead of taking Ruddiman’

sor allowingW. to make

him one . If he worked as hard,morn ing, n oon ,

andn ight as your friend , he could n otmake such a

Glossary in less than seven years. But con sideringhis avocation s I believe his task is hopeless. In

saying all this, I endeavour to act with a proper

regard to him and my usual kindn ess to you .

After the lapse of several years Lord Glenbervie,

writing from N ew Park,Lyndhurst

,on 25th April

18 14,after stating that he had

“ en tirely fin ished

the first eleven Books of Gavin D ouglas’ Virgil,

having tran scribed every word with my own hand,

and personally collated the two MSS . of the Edin

burgh College Library, goes on to say

I am therefore prepared to send you theManuscript

of any number of the Books already tran scribed,

which it may be conven ien t for you or the prin ter to

PREFACE .

have,but I must first enquire

,whether he can an swer

for preserving the MS. en tire and un sullied , and alsoa great number of short n otes and memorandumswritten in pen cil on the blank side of the leaves , andwhich

,though n ot to be prin ted , con tain material

hints for n otes . I must also add that,as there are to

be at the bottom of each page of the gen eral Prologue

and First Book three series of n otes , with literal andn umerical referen ces , one explan atory of the versificat ion the second con tain ing the various readings ,andth e third the varieties of orthography, all of which

wil l require the same minute accuracy which we

expect to find in correct edition s of the Greek or

Latin C lassics,a great number of revises will probably

be n ecessary,and therefore i t seem s to me hardly

practicable to prin t the book at Edinburgh within

any reasonable time ; I , who must be the ultimatecorrector of the press

,residing in London i t is there

fore extremely to be wished that some prin ter residen t

here could be employed.

After an in terval of more than two years,Lord

G lenbervie,writing from Pheasantry , Tedding , on 25 th

November 18 16, after stating that he had fin ished

his collations of the MSS . and Edition s of Virgil , says

that h e was “ almost in a state to begin printing it , but

asmy plan i s to g ive all Gavin D ouglas’ extan t works

,

I have still to collate his poem called the Palace of

Honour,and that ascribed to him also

,called King

PREFACE . xi

Hart,and also to wr ite out the in troductory

historical and critical discourse on his life and writings which I mean to prefix

,and con siderably to

en large Ruddiman’

s glossary to his edition . T ill this

i s don e therefore I should be unwilling that the

prin ting of the text of his Virgi l should be begun .

Thus, after ten years labour, it may be said that

the proj ected edition fell to the ground , although much

had been don e by Lord Glenbervie to en sure the

greatest possible'

accuracy in his text, while his accoun tof the fam ily of D ouglas , which he proposed to pre

fix,would n o doubt have been in the highest degree

valuable.

In referen ce to the presen t Edition it may be proper

to state that i t was undertaken to form one of a series

of the works of the early Scottish Poets in course of

issue by the presen t Publish er ;and it follows the

works of D unbar,H en ryson

,and Lyndsay

,edited by

Mr D avid Laing .

In Volume I .-which con tain s the minor works of

the author,viz . The Palace of Hon our

,King Hart,

and Con scien ce—the first of these,The Palace of

Hon our has been reprinted from the Edinburgh

Edition of 15 59,carefully collated with the First

edition,prin ted at London in 15 5 3 . The other poem s

,

K ing Hart and Con scien ce,have been carefully

collated with the originals preserved in the Lauder

dale MS . in the Pepysian Library,Cambridge , and

PREFACE .

the Editor’s thanks are due to the Fellows ofMagdalen

College for the facil ities they afforded for thi s pur

pose.

InVolumes II.-IV .—which con tain the author’s best

kn own work,the tran slation of the ZEneid of Vir

gil—the text has been derived from the Elphynstoun

MS . in the L ibrary of the Un iversity of Edinburgh .

This valuable MS. so n early resembles the MS.

belonging to the L ibrary ofTrin ityCollege, Cambridge,

(which was edited by Mr George D undas, afterwards

Lord Man or,for the Bannatyn e C lub), that it was

thought des irable to use it for the text rather than to

reprin t the Cambridge MS. In thi s way some

advan tage has been gain ed ;a new MS . has been

prin ted,and various readings have been given of

passages which are difficult to follow.

In the Biographical sketch of Bishop D ouglas , use

has been made of information derived from Canon

Myln’

s‘Vitae Episcoporum Dunkeldensium

,

’ the life

by Bi shop Sage prefixed to Ruddiman’

swel l-known

edition of the Translation of Virgil , and the elegan tl ife and criticisms on the works of D ouglas by the

late D r Irving . Many letters and papers , however ,have been in serted which are prin ted from tran s

cripts of the originals preserved in the British

Museum ,the Rolls House

,London ,

and the General

Regi ster House , Edinburgh . Of these one or two

are given in the original Latin ,as they are printed

PREFACE . xiii

for the first time,others

,which are accessible in the

Epistolae Regum Scotorum and Theiner’

s Vetera

Monumen ta,

” have been tran slated .

The Glossary has been prepared with care, andbesides older authorities

,the chief sources of informa

tion have been D r Jamieson ’s well kn own Scottish

D ictionary,the excellen t works by Halliwell and

Wright on Engl ish Ar chaic words, various G lossaries

of the D ialects of the N orth of England, and themost recen t Fren ch

,Anglo-Saxon ,

D an ish andI celandic D ictionaries . As the Glossary has been made

very comprehen sive,comparatively few explanation s

of difficult words or passages are given in the Notes

appended to each volume .

In con clusion,the Editor has to offer his warmest

acknowledgemen ts to D r Charles Wilson ,James

Richardson,Esq ,

Advocate,and the late Professor

William Steven son,D .D .

,by whose en couragemen t

the work n ow fin ished was undertaken,and who

throughout have taken the greatest in terest in its

progress . To the Rev. Walter W . Skeat,he is much

indebted for a thorough revisal of the text of KingHart

,at the Pepysian Library

,Magdalen College ,

Cambridge, and for several valuable notes on the

Palace of Hon our,and on the greater part of the

Glossary,which he carefully read.

To the following gen tlemen , who have furn ished

the Editor with valuable assistan ce—D avid Laing,

PREFACE .

Esq ,LL .D . . John Stuart

,Esq

,LL .D .

,the Rev. R.

D eman s,London

,the Rev. Professor D ickson

,G las

gow,the Rev. Thomas D ickson

,General Regi ster

House,Edinburgh , the Rev. Professor M itchell , St

Andrews,Andrew G illman

,Esq .

,London

,and Mr

James Gordon, of the Un iversity Library

,his best

acknowledgemen ts are also due .

UN IVER S ITY OF ED IN BURG H,

l stJanuary 1874.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .

V OL. I .

1 Arms of Bishop Gav in“

Douglas , Title-page.2. Facsimile of Letter of Bishop Douglas,

1 522, (prin ted at p . Frontispiece .

3 . Signature of Bishop Douglas, 1515 , Page xxxvi i i4. Dunkeld Cathedral

,lxv i

5 . Signatures of Bishop Douglas , RobertBishop of Ross , and Patrick Pan ter,Secretary of the Scottish Council

,Am

bassadors of Scotland to the King of

France,15 17

,lxxxv

6. John,Duk e of Albany

,Regen t of Scot

land,and Queen Margaret ,

7 . Outfrom Rubbing of Monumen tal Brassin the Savoy Chapel , to ThomasHalsey

,Bishop of L

’

eighlin ,’

and BishopDouglas , 1522,

8 . Seal of Bishop Douglas ,9. Facsimile of Title-page of First Ed . of

the Pal is of Honour, prin ted atLondon in 1553

,clxvii i

10-11 . Fac similes ofFragmen ts ofan unknownEd . of the Palace of Honour

,sup

posed to have been printed at Edinburgh , circa1540 ,

1 " Facsimile of first lines of Cambridge MS.

of Tran slation of Virg il , w ith marg inalNotes by Bishop Douglas , clxxii

13 . Signature of John E lphynstoun , Transcriber of one of the MSS . of Douglas

’

Virg il ,

xviii LIST OF I LLUSTRATIONS .

Signature of W illiam,Lord Ruth ven

,to

whom on e of the MSS. of Douglas’

Virg il belonged , Page clxxvFacsimile of Title-page of the EdinburghEdition of the “ Palice of Honour

,

1579, clxxxii

Royal Arms from First Edition of thePalisof Honour

,

”1553

,

Tail piece of Edinburgh Ed . of the “Paliceof Honour

,

”51 79

,

Hawking Party of the time of Douglas,

VOL . I I .

1 . Facsimile of first l ines of the ElphynstounMS. of the Tran slation of Virg il , Frontispiece.

2. Facsimile of Title-page of First Ed. of

the Translation of Virgil , prin ted atLondon

,1553

,Before page 1

V OL . 111.

Facsim ile of Rubric of the Ruthven MS. of

the Translation of Virg il, Frontispiece.

ERRATA IN VOL. I .

Page lxxxv. line 13 , for Lege read Sege .136

,28 , for wo read no .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTROD UCTION .

HE family of D ouglas produced so manymen conn ected with the leading even tsin the history of Scotland that therewas a popular rhym e

So many,so good as of the Douglasses have been ,

Of one surname were n e’er in Scotland seen .

Like most of the old Scottish families , the origin

of the D ouglases has been carried back to veryan cien t

,if notto fabulous times . Their chron iclers

,

however,agr ee that Sholto , chief of the Brigan tes ,

was the first who took the n ame of D ouglas , aboutthe year A .D . 767 . The l egend is , that Solvathius,king of Scotland, having been attacked by D onald

Bane,a bloody battle en sued . The king

’s armywere beginn ing to give way, when Sholto withhis son Hugh and followers arrived , and made sucha furious on set upon the rebel army that D onald

Ban e was slain and his army scattered . Humea

i i BIOG RAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

o f G odscroft adds The king being desirous tokn ow of his Lieutenan ts the particulars of the

fight , and inquiring for the author of so valian tan act

,the n obleman being there in person ,

an swerwasmade un to the king in the Irish tongue (whichwas then on ly in use) Sholto Du G lasse , that i s tosay

,Behold yon black , gray man ,

poin ting at himwith the finger, and design ing him by his colour andcomplexion

,without more ceremony or addition of

titles of hon our. The king, con sidering his service

and merit in preserving his crown ,and delighted

w ith that homely designation ,rewarded him royally

w ith m any great lands , and imposed upon himself then ame of D ouglas , which hath con tinued with hisposterity un til thisAccording to George Chalmers , this distinguished

house,long the rival Of royalty, dates from a period

no further back than the year 1 170 . Arnold,who

wasAbbot of Kelso from 1 147 to 1160, gran ted some

lands on D uglasf Water in Lanarkshire, TheobaldoFlamatico,

” to Theobald the Fleming ,and his heirs .

A s this gran t of Arn old to Theobald i s the firstl ink in the chain of title deeds to D ouglasdale, this

family, says Chalmers , must therefore relinquish theiroriginal domain ,

or acknowledge their Flemish origin .

The branch Of the family from which Bi shopGavin D ouglas was descended was that of “rilliam

,

first Earl of D ouglas , whose son George (byMargaretStewart

,Countess of Angus and Mar) in 1389 had a

gran t of his mother’s Earldom of Angus , and after

wards married the youngest daugh ter of K ing Robert

Histo ry o f House o f Do ng . p , 3 .

‘l l l ug las means Black Water,

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . i i i

III . The fifth Earl in succession,

” and the father of

the Poet,was Archibald

,surnamed from a wel l known

in ciden t in Scottish history Bell the Cat,

” but gen erally styled the Great Earl of Angus. This Earl hadfour son s by his wife Elizabeth

,daughter of Robert ,

Lord Boyd,Lord H igh Chamberlain of Scotland ;y iz .

,

George , Master of Angus, Sir William D ouglas of

Glenbervie,Gavin

,B ishop of D unkeld

,and Archi e

bald D ouglas Of Kilspindy.

The place of Gavin ’s birth has not been ascertain ed. The powerful family to which he belongedhad exten sive estates in several of the coun ties of

Scotland,and one of his biographers remarks thatthe

place of his birth might have been the Castle of

D ouglas in Lanarkshire,Tan tallon Castle in East

Lothian,Dudhope in the district . of Angus and

n eighbourhood of Dundee,or Abern ethy in Strath

earn,in all which places the Earls of Angus had

residen ces. The date of his birth was the end of

the year 1474,or the beginn ing of 1475 .

Of his early years little is kn own . It has beenstated that his father was very careful of his education

, and caused him to be in structed at home in theliberal arts and scien ces . Butif i t be true that oldBell-the-Cat gave

Thank s to Sain t Bothan ,son of m ine ,

Save Gawain , ne’

er could pen a l in e 1'

then the progress Of the youthful Gavin must havebeen due in a great measure to his own natural talen t

for acquiring knowledge. At that period it was notAccording to Hume of G odscroft, the sixth .

TMarmion , canto vi . 15 .

iv BIOGRAPHICAL I NTRODUCTION .

un usual for the youth of the high er classes to be sen tto monasteries to be in structed by learn ed monks ,among whom ,

i t may be men tioned,Ferrerius, who

taught in the Abbey of K in loss,was on e of the

most learn ed m en of his time in Scotland .

The Un iversi ties of G lasgow and St An drews werethe on ly two then existing in Scotland , and the latterwas the on e selected for the completion of the education of the youthful Poet. In the Registers of theUn iversity of St Andrews his name occurs in thelists of Incmporatt, or those who were matriculated inthe year 148 9. The usual course

,then as now

,

extended over four years,and was devoted to the

study of philosophy,in cluding rhetoric, dialectics ,

ethics,and physics . In the middle of the third

year studen ts were allowed to presen t themselvesas candidates for the D egree of Bachelor of Arts ;and for thi s purpose those who had completed ordetermined their course of study during the courseof the trivium

,were called D eterminantes

,such as

acquitted themselves satisfactorily being confirmedas Bachelors by the D ean of Faculty . The Licentiatiwere a class further advan ced

,and denoted that they

were prepared to take their Master’s D egree . Forobtain ing thi s a more extended examination tookplace before they were laureated

,or received the title

of Master of Arts,which qualified them to teach the

seven l iberal Arts . *

D ouglas seems to have enj oyed the advantage ofi ful l curriculum

,as his name occurs among the D e

terminantes in 1492,and among the Licentiati or

Kl io x’

s b y l l . l iail ig , vo l i. , p . 555 .

v i BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

his factouris of the samyn tendis according to the

Priouris lettres, and to summond the said personis tothe xij day of October n ext to cum

,etc .

Ex deliberatione D ominorumTwo years later he obtain ed from the king a presen ta

tion to the parsonage of G lenquhom when i t shouldbecome vacan t by the resignation of Sir Alex. Symson .

He also became Parson of Lyn ton and Rector of

Hauch,now kn own as Prestonkirk , but at what date

i s un certain .

This last prefermen t has been frequently misunderstood by his biographers . Can on Myln ,

in his VitaeEpiscoporum Dunkeldensium where he men tion sGavin D ouglas , styles him Rector de Hawche. By

misreading this word , Bishops Sage and Keith statethat he wasRector of Heriot

,a parish sixteen miles

south of Edinburgh . Later writers supposed itto sign ify Hawick in Teviotdale. We are indebted

,

however , to D r Laing for the true reading of theoriginal MS. which is Hawche

,an an cien t syn onym

of L in ton or Prestonhaugh , better known now asPrestonkirk

,n ear Dunbar. This is born e out by the

earliest MS,of his Tran slation of Virgil , where he

i s expressly styled,

“ Provestof San ct G eylys Kyrkin Edinburgh , and Person of Lyntoun in Lothian . T

Reg . Mag . Sig . ,vol . i. , fol . 16.

T In 1342the church of Linton or Prestonkirk wasannexed toth e col leg iate church of Dunbar. In th e subsequentappointmen tof D ouglas by the Pope as B ishop of Dunkeld in 1516, he was formal ly al lowed to retain his former promotions, “

unacum retention e beneficiorum

,viz . ,

Prepositure de Edinburgh etPrebende doDunbar,

”

see post p . l iii . In hiswill reference is made to teindsdue to him from Aberlady and Preston , while there is no men

tion of Hawick . Sir John Ire land wasParson of Halch in 1423,

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

The presen t church of Prestonkirk is built on anobviously an cien t site

,slightly elevated above the

alluvial haugh-land on the n orthern bank of th eTyne

,and at a distan ce Of half-a-mile from the linn

or fall of the river where the modern village of Lin tonis situated . Iti s probable that at an early date theremay have been a chapel at Linton as well as at theHaugh hen ce the alternation of the n ames of LyntounandHaugh in ecclesiastical records may have hadits origin in the differen t description Of tithes payable from the two places to the pluralist in cumben t .The right of presen tation to this church in an cien t

times was attached,as it i s still

,to the barony of

Hailes,which

,before 145 1

,belonged to the Earl of

D ouglas . Itthen passed in to the hands of Hepburn,

the first Lord Hailes,whose son was an adheren t of

the Boyds and as a daughter of this house wasmother of Gavin D ouglas , his early presen tation tothe parson age and rectory was notun natural .In the retour of the barony of Hailes in 1652 in

favour of George , Earl of Win ton ,there is included

advocatioun of the Church Of Hauche,called the

Prebendarie of Lin ton .

”

I t was about the year 150 1 that D ouglas was appoin ted D ean or Provost of the Collegiate Church of

St Giles in Edinburgh . This church,which was on

a more exten sive scale than any other Of the kind in

when a suit was heard in Parliamen t regarding his right of Pasturage in the Moor of Preston .

—Cltartersof (lee Col l . Church of St.G iles

, p. xxxiii.Inquis. Ret. Haddington ,

N o. 233 . This in teresting information with reference to Hawche hasbeen supp l ied bythe Rev. John

Struthers,m in iste r of Prestonpans.

vii i BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

the coun try except the Chapel-Royal at Stirling, supported a Provost

,a Curate

,sixteen Prebendaries

,and

seven other officers,on the original foundation ,

towhich was superadded a vast number of altars andchaplainries

,some Of them richly endowed .

* The

appointmen t placed him in a situation of dignityandemolumen t

,and he appears to have retain ed along

w ith it his other benefice . While he fi lled these lesselevated station s

,he devoted himself to l iterature

,

and began to compose those works which haverendered his n ame famous . In his allegorical poem ,

The Palice of H on our, fin ished in 15 0 1,he con

cludes with a poetical address to King James IV .,

in which,with what may be called false modesty

,he

refers to his own vulgair ignoran ce,” and says

,

Ressaue this roustie rural l rebaldrieLaikand cunning , frathipuir leige vn leird .

”T

This,Dr Laing thinks with much probability, may

have induced the king to bring the author from hisrural occupation s

,when the opportun ity presen ted

itself,to the more congenial atmosphere of a city. The

precise date of his appoin tmen t is un certain ;but in theTreasurer’s accoun ts i t appears that the sum of n in eshillings was paid on the 11th of March 1502-3

,to

John Ireland,Vicar of Perth,

“ for writing Off thecitations and letters on Maister G awin D ouglas ,Prowest of San ct G elisKirk .

”

iBetween the period when he received his prefermen t

to St G iles’

,and 15 13

,when the disastrous battle of

Lee 's H istory of the Church of Scotland, vol . i . p . 47 .

T See p . 81 . 1 H istorical Notices of StG il es’ Church

, p . xxxiv

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . ix

Flodden was fought , the n otices of D ouglas are veryscan ty . Several deeds sign ed by him as a witn es swhile he was Provost h ave been discovered and on

on e or two occasion s the Provost of St Giles Church

is recorded as having been presen t at meetings of

the Lords of We are . therefore , left to con

jecture that he was either too busy with his l iterarylabours to give much atten tion to publi c busin ess ;or that h e was travelling abroad , and making interestfor himself at the Court of Rome, which then

in terfered w ith the bestowal of all ecclesiasticaldign iti es .It seems probable that at this period he tran slated

Ovid, a performan ce which is now lost , but which musthave helped to render such work the more easy

'

tohim

,for in January 15 12

,he began the tran slation of

Virgil, and fin ished this,the best known of his writ

ings, in July 15 13 .

Wh ilst Provost of St. Giles,Gavin D oug las seems to have taken

much interest in th e due celebration of th e rel ig ious sem ces of

that church, as we fin d that on th e 17th of February 1511, h e,along with th e Prebendaries, having taken in to con sideration thatth e mass of the Most Holy B lood of our Lord Jesus Christ hadbeen omitted to be sol emn ized on that day, bound themselves inorder to guard against any such omission in future

,to have that

mass celebrated every fourth week day, under a penalty of 2d

payable by each Prebendary fail in g to attend on a week day,and

of 4d . for every such failure on a feast day , and in th e even t ofth e mass notbeing cel ebrated at al l , they bound themse lves topay by way of fine , on e merk to the common good of th e

fratern ity of th e Holy Blood—Chartersef St. Giles, E die , p . Ixxx.

In September 1512 Master Gavan e D oug las, Provost of SanctG elis Kirk, wason e of a great Assize when an A ctwas passed an en tthe ressetof Rebe l lis and Personisbeing at our soueran e Lordishorne .

X BIOGRAPHICAL INTROD UCTION .

The first honour he received after this literary featwas the freedom of the C ity of Edinburgh, which

was conferred upon him without charge. On the

30th of September, 15 13 , the Town Coun cil records

bear U lt° Sept . jmvcxiij

° Archibald D owglass, Erllof Anguis , Pronest aaePriestmadeBurgess. Magister

GavinusD owglassPrepositusEcclesie Collegiate BeatiA egidii hujusmodi Burgi effectus est Burgensis procommun i bon o ville , gratis .

”

This honour,it has been surmised

,may have been

conferred in complimen t to his father, who was Provost

of the City, but it may quite as probably have beendue to his l iterary fame. I t is well kn own that at asomewhat later period , the Town Coun ci l of Edinburgh n ot on ly gave the freedom of the C ity to BenJon son

,when he came to visit D rummond of Haw

thornden ,but en tertain ed him at a banequett,

”

which cost,according to the Treasurer

’s books,tua

hundreth,tuenty

—ane pund, sex schillings, and fourpennyis.

*

The year 15 13 , when the Battle of Flodden was

fought, was an even tful one for Gavin D ouglas . His

father,the old Earl of Angus , had pruden tly advised

K ing James IV . not to en ter in to battle with theEnglish . He found , however, his coun sel s disregarded ,and left the field. His eldest son , George , Master ofAngus , and his second son

,Sir Wm . D ouglas of

G lenbervie,were killed along with their Sovereign .

The Earl , hearing of the fatal issue, retired to St

Main s, a religious house in Galloway, where he died

of grief in the beginn ing Of 15 14.

Proceedings of So ciety of Antiquaries of Scotland , vo l . iii . p . 206.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xi

While Queen Margaret was in great distress afterthe loss Of her husband, Gavin D ouglas, as the Provost

of St Giles ’ Kirk , was on e of the Lords of Coun cil appoin ted

,with one or two others , to remain daily with

her,for the purpose of giving her comfort and advice

in the trying circumstan ces in which she was placed .

Archibald, son Of George , Master of Angus, who

n ow succeeded to the Earldom ,was remarkable for his

person al comelin ess,and for his ambitious spirit.

A lthough a youth he was already a widower, havingbeen

,according to the evil custom of the time

,married

in his childhood . This young n obleman attractedthe atten tion of Queen Margaret, the youthful widow

ofJames IV.and sister ofHenryV I I I . ofEngland, whohad been appoin ted Regent of Scotland during themin ority of her son James V. The Queen en couragedhis addresses

,and was furn ished by Lord D rummond

with an excuse for following her in clination ,on his

represen ting how much she required the aid of thepowerful D ouglas clan and their allies to aid theEngl ish party in Scotland again st the D uke of Albanyand the Fren ch faction . W ithout waiting for the

gen eral con sen t of the n ation, she wasmarried to himon the 6th of August 15 14 (hardly eleven mon ths afterthe death OfJames IV .)at oneof the altars in the churchof Kinnoul l

,by the Earl ’s n ear relation

,John D rum

mond,Parson of Kinnoul l and D ean of D unblan e.*

By this marriage she had a daughter, LadyMargaret Doug las,born in 1515, who married Matthew,

fourth Earl of Lennox,whose

son,Lord Darn ley

,husband of Queen Mary, was father of King

James V I . con sequentlyth e Royal Family of Great Britain derivetheir descent from this lady. H er tomb, n ear that of her daughter

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

From the in timate conn ection which existed between the Queen and his family

,D ouglas now hoped

for speedy prefermen t,and everything seemed to

favour his views.In the Battle of Flodden many warlike ecclesiastics

were slain along with the King. Among them were

the youthful Archbishop of St Andrews,Alexander

Stewart,

* the king’s natural son

,a man of very pro

mising talen ts , who also held the Abbacies Of Aberbrothock and D unfermlin e

,together with the Priory

of Coldingham George H epburn ,Bishop of the

I sles the Abbots of Ki lwinn ing , In chafi‘

ray, Cambuskenn eth

,G len luce

,with many others . While there

were thus many rich ben efiees vacan t, D ouglas was ,about Jun e ’r 15 14

,appoin ted by the Queen

,Abbot of

A berbrothock , and he aspired to still higher prefermen t.Although the Scottish kings had main tained their

prerogative Of appoin ting person s chosen by themselves to vacant Sees and Abbacies

,the con sen t of

the Pope was an indispen sable form to complete anelection . With so many vacan cies to be fi lled up

,i t

i s n otsurprising that warm con tests and in triguesshould have arisen con cern ing them ,

noton ly in Scot

land,but at the Court of Rome .

The Queen wrote the following letter to the Pope ,requesting the confirmation of her appoin tmen t of

D ouglas to the Abbacy

in -Iaw, Mary, Queen of Scots. forms on e of the most interestingmonumen ts in Westminster Abbey.

0 Educated und e r th e celebrated Erasmus .1’ Hisname as Postulat of Arbroth appearsin the Sederunt o f

the Lords of Coun c il of 2d J un e 1514.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

as the Roman Pontiffs in gran ting letters appoin ting tovacancies in Cathedrals and Abbeys have been accustomed to wait til l they received the requests of other kingsand princes, that persons suitable for the respective kingdoms and faithful to the sovereign m ight be selected,they granted not merely by verbal obligation ,

but bybulls

,a delay of eight months to the kings of Scotland

and their descen dan ts,on account of the sen timen ts of

S incere devotion and firm fidelity,which they

,in critical

emergencies , have shown to the Roman Church . Bythese obligations and bulls the pon tiffs were to conferand promote to sees and benefi ces exceeding in value 200ducats according to the royal request ;as in former yearsthe then Pon tiff Julius did notappoin t to sees even whenvacan t by death w ithin the city of Rome

,without consider

ation of the letters of the king our father and for havingreceived benefits from his son

,our late dearest father

,he

conceded in return the royal privileges. A nd we hav ingformerly written to your Holiness when our most serenedeceased father

,most dutiful to the holy See , was prema

turely taken away from us , and we, whilstan infan t of oneyear old—still , in fact , in our cradle

,—being called to the

crown by the nobles of the kingdom , then particul arlyn eeded your protection ,

that entering upon the government in our infancy we m ight the more peaceably andsecurely reign . This resul t would be greatly promoted byconferring the sees and benefices that may become vacan tin th is kingdom on person s selected by us. For the greaterseesand benefices cannot , con sistently with our own safetyand that of our kingdom ,

be conferred on person s differentfrom those n ominated by our sovereign authority becausethe ecclesiastical order, the first estate of the kingdom ,

isso superior to the others , that Prelates and Abbots , ourchief counsellors , en joy the highest offices of the government, and the greatest weight in the deliberations on affairsof state ,and the custody of the royal person belongs to the

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . XV

Archbishop of St Andrews by ancien t custom,as the king

our grandfather, when quitean infan t,and in circumstancesof much peril , hav ing been in trusted to the charge of thethen Archbishop of St Andrews

,was thus enabled to en joy

along and happy life and reign . From considerations ofthis kind it fol lows that noton ly the presence of an Archbishop , but even his zealous services are due and necessaryalike toayouthful sovereignand to the kingdom . A nd sinceyour Holiness had frank ly declared in briefs delivered to usby your envoy Balthazar on 4th October 15 13 , that yourHoliness would be wan ting in no effort necessary to promotethe quiet of the kingdomand the dign ityand advantage of theRoyal infan tand the Queen his mother;thereforewe imploreyou in the most urgen t manner, by your paternal goodnessto your son

,for the sake of the quietof the kingdom ,

andespecially by your regard for our safety, that our fosterfather , the presen t bishop of Aberdeen

,

ale a prelate distin

guished for j udgmen tand experience, be tran sferred to theA rchbishopric of St Andrews that George , Abbot of

Holyrood,of the order of St Augustine, be appoin ted bishop

of Aberdeen ;that Patrick , Abbot of Cambuskenn eth of thesame order and diocese

,be promoted

’

to the Abbey of

Holyrood ;that the foresaid Abbacy of Cambuskenneth beg iven ,

ad commendam,for life

,to the reverend father

,

Andrew,Bishop of Caithness ;and that the other mon as

teries be g iven in terms of our letters , as follows , in th ismanner

,Arbroath to Gavin Douglas , Dun ferml in e to

James Hepburn , Inchaffrey to Alexander Stewart, Glenluceto the Bishop of Argyle, Coldingham to David Hume , who areamong the chief nobility of the kingdom . If your Holin essdo this , and preserve the privileges of our an cestorsto us ,still but a royal m inor

,you w ill noton ly lead us to consider

that from our earliest in fancy we have been under greatobligations to the Holy Seeand your Holiness, but you willgive consolation to the Kingdom now mourn ing the loss of

Wil l iam E lphinston e .

xvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

the late K ing , and will do much to restore it to a positionthat w ill enable it to acquire glory and reputation . For

our Parliamen t lately came to a resolution that a con trarycourse could not be tolerated in an emergency like thepresen t , when king ,

kingdom , and privileges were alikeimperilled ,

and all here have come to the conclusion thatwe can as l ittle dispen se w ith our beloved Archbishoprecommended by us

,as consen t to the dismembermen t and

partition of the k ingdom. Wherefore we earnestly en treatthat your Hol iness wil l gran t our prayer, and will favourably receive the letter of an infan t king , and gran t thisfavour

,which at an advancedage we may the more amply

repay in that deferen ce to your See which has characterizedthe K ings of Scotland, and your Holinesswil l render us amost devoted son to you by your benefits conferred on us,

who will endeavour to repay such personally , and by ourinfluence with the kings our relatives. We bid your Hol in ess farewell. From our town of Perth the 5th of August

A berbrothock or Arbroath , the most valuable of

the Scottish Abbeys,had been held in commendam by

George Hepburn ,Bi shop of the I sl es ;but although

D ouglas was postulated to it, and signed letters andpapers under this design ation ,

his n omin ation,as will

be seen by the sequel , was n ever completed.

With his n ephew married to the Queen Regen t, itmight n aturally be expected that Gavin would havethus met with little in terruption in his advan cemen t tothe highest dign ities of the Church . Far differen t,however

,was the result. This precipitate match was

the cause of troubles and vexation s to him whichwere on ly terminated by his early death .

The Scottish nobility were fi lled with indignation

From o rig . in Epist. Rog . Sc oto rum ,vo l . I .

, p . 197 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xvii

at the promin en ce of the Earl of Angus , and broadlystated that the Earl

,as the head of the house of

Angus, was already great , that the Queen’s marrying

him had made him greater still , and that, if herauthority as Regen t were to be con tinued, her husband’s power would be so excessive as to endangerthe peace and safety of Scotland . A n indication of

the popular feeling is given in a con temporary D iary,where it i s stated that “ all the Court was rewlitbythe Erle of Angus, Mr Gawin D owglass, and theD rummonds

,but n ocht weill .”

On the 18 th September 15 14,about a month

‘afterthe marriage , Gavin appeared at a meeting Of theLords of Coun cil and gave in a commission in hisfavour from the Queen to compear for her' in Dunfermline

,and except again st the Lords of Coun cil

,

and make protestation s and appeal in her behalf,

and do everything n eedful for her . ” A nd muchshe n eeded hi s assistan ce ;for at the same meetingthe Lords resolved that the D uke of A lbany besent for as Govern or of Scotland , and declared thatthe Queen

,by her marriage with the Earl of A ngus ,

had “ tynt the Offi ce of Tutrix to the K ing her sonand shall cease from using the same in time coming,and shall n ot in tromit with any matters pertain ingto the crown .

”The gen eral dissatisfaction was so

strong that the Lords of Coun ci l sen t the Lord Lyonking—at-arms to inform Angus , that he must forthwithappear before the Lords to an swer for his boldness

in marrying the Queen without their assen t andrecommendation .

When the Lord Lyon ,Sir \Vil liam Cumming , wen t1)

xviii BIOGRAPHICAL I NTRODUCTION .

in to the royal presen ce to deliver Officially the summon s

,he found the Queen supported by her spouse

and his maternal grandsire, Lord Drummond . He demanded to be admitted

,n ot to the presen ce of the

reign ing sovereign ,but simply to my lady Queen

,the

mother of his Grace our King. This,says M i ss Strick

land,was aterrible dereliction

,the fruits of her recen t

deposition by the Coun cil . Itproduced great irritation among the Queen

’s partisans; so much so , thatwhen the herald approached the Earl of Angus toann oun ce that he was summon ed before the NationalCoun cil

,Lord D rummond gave him a box on the

can "

These proceedings indicate a condition of great anarchy in Scotland . The Queen retired to Stirl ingand Perth , while the Parliamen t ruled at Edinburgh .

She trusted that her brother,Henry V I I I . (who was

quite complacen t athis sister’s marriage), would aidher in establishing her fai ling pow er ; She was atthe same time anxious for an opportun ity of beingrevenged on the Lords of the Scottish Coun cil , who hadstopped her dower-rents

,and almost wen t the length

of treating her and her supporters as rebels .A n act was committed at thi s time

,design ed.

apparen tly with the twofold purpose of shewingcontempt for the authority of the Lords of Coun cil

,

and promoting the advan cemen t of Gavin D ouglas.

James Beaten,Archbishop of G lasgow,

and LordChan cellor of the kingdom ,

had expressed his strongdisapproval of the second marriage Of th e Queen .

He was now summarily arrested at Perth by th e.

Queens o f Scotland,vo l . i.

, p . 107 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

Earl of Angus, and deprived of the Great Seal ofScotland

,which was then handed over by the Earl to

the keeping of his un cle Gavin D ougl

On the 21stSeptemberthe minutes of the Lords ofCoun cil bear—“ The Lords ordain s that a letter bewritten under the King

’s Sign et requiring Gavin ,

Postulat of Arbroth,to deliver the keyis of the Grete

Sele frahim to James,Archbishop of Glasgow ,

Chan cellor;”and further

,

“ The Lordsdecretisthat theC lerk of Register sall deliuer frahim the Grete Seleto my Lord Archbishop of G lasgow ,

Chan cellor,

because the samyn was taken frahim vnorderlie .

”

N otwithstanding these minutes which , con sideringthe circumstan ces

,seem rather mil dly worded

,the

Postulat retain ed the title of Chan cellor for severalmon ths . On the 14th of N ovember of the same yearhis n am e occurs appended to a state paper asGawinus Caucellarius.

”

To add to the confusion,Hen ry V I I I . now claimed

the office of Protector or Governor Of Scotland,and

on the 14th of N ovember letters were sen t by theLords of Coun cil to the Pope denying any right ortitle of the king of England to such an Office.The letters were to the effect that the Lords are

informed that the king of England makes his writingto the See of Rome

,calling himself Protectour and

G overnour of Scotland,which are n ot founded on

veritie certifying to h i s Holiness and the College ofCardin als that the said king of England , nor n on e ofhis predecessors

,was ever Protectour and G ouernour

of Scotland and they n euer con sen ted thereto,nor will

euer admit him to the sam e ;and therefore beseech

XX BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

his Holin ess and College of Cardinals that they given o faith thereto

,for eschewing ofgreat inconuenien cies

that may follow thereupon .

”

Henry,finding it impossible to arrange matters

favourably for his sister’s in terest in Scotland,at last

endeavoured to persuad e her to convey herself andher young son s to England. He well knew how

much Scotland would be inj ured by the deten tion of

i ts sovereign in England, as had happen ed in the caseof D avid 11 . and James I . This scheme was promoted by Adam Williamson

,a Scottish ecclesiastic

,

in the employmen t of Lord D acre,Warden of th e

Engl ish Marches , as a confiden tial envoy in theEnglish in terest at the Court of Henry . Williamsonused all his endeavours to gain the Queen

’s con sen t,

and also strove to Obtain the co-Operation of GavinD ouglas in the matter. To Margaret he held outthe prospect that her son might be declared heirapparen t to the Engli sh thron e to D ouglas was displayed the promise Of whatever Scottish benefices hepleased through the influen ce of Henry at the Courtof Rome.Williamson ’s letters to D ouglas and the Queen are

as follow

A dam Williamson to Gavin D oug las.

This is the f ryst letter that I send in Scotland with b’

chir

James Ynglis, Secretary to the Quene.

MY LORD ,—efteral l dew recommendacioun plesse ytyou

to vndcrstand that sen the second day off Nouembre, O II

w iehe l prescntyttthe Queneis lettre to the Kynggis Graceo il Yng lond , hyre derest brother , 1 haf

’fe so l licited the

xxii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

come in Ynglond for succoural l Ynglesmen will ryse withhyr to the distruccioun off hir enimes, and the Kyng andhis brother shall getthe hartis off Ynglesmen

,soo that if

i t happyn the Kyng to depart withowtyshew, his n ewoythe Kyng of Scotland Shall succed to the crone Off Ynglond ,and off th is shall come mor good and vell to botheYnglond

and Scotland than tung can tell . Sehir James can in formeyou in this mater to whome yee shall gyff creden s ;yfI theQuen e tack this vaysand be rulytbe the con sell of her derestbrother off Ynglond, Scotland shall multiplie in grace andryches, and iustys shall be kepyt;and Fran s shall n euerdefeythtvs more , w ich vas the dethtof the King and off

the Lorddis. The Fren s men n ow mokis and scowrnys

Scottismen for ther labour. My Lord,wher can the

Queneand byr childryn be so sure as w ith the noble Kyngoff Ynglond , hir brotherand ther derestvnkyl l ;yff he shu ldnot entrett themvell al l the world vold cry owt on hym ,

and also i t war agens bym sel ff,wherfor latnot the Queue

forsaik this gret and kynd offer off byr derestbrother theKyng in no vysse , yff ye lowffe hir and your blood . A nd

wher ye writ to me to haff a salff condyt, it n edis n ot, for

yee or eny off youris may come and be welcome to theKynggisgrace of Ynglond as to the Castell off Dowglas;how be ytye shall [haf] a salfe condytshortly . My Lord , I

beseche you gyff creden s to my writtyng , for yff I shuldedysymul l with the Queue my mastresand suffrane

,or w ith

the Kyng my nateff prince , or with my Lord of A ngusse , towhom al l my frenddis beyn scrvanttis

,or with your Lord

shipe my most synguler good Lord , it var vorthy that Iwar drawyn wi th vyld horss. Iam come Off a trew stokandshal be treu to al them that shall trust in me;and inespeciall to my suffrein the Quene , to your blood with the

grace off owr Lord , who euer preserue you ;writtyn thexx day off Januarij

Tuns obscquentissimus familiarius,ADAM W ILLIAMSON .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xxiii

My Lord Dacre has delyuerytto Sehir James iij letteriswiche var direct to fals Pan ter the Sacrittary, wherin yeemay see that Murray has gettyn the g ift off al l the bestbenifices of Scotland . Yff the Queme folow the Kynggiscon sell

,as I half vrittyn ,

Murray shal be prevyta tratourand yee shall haue what benefices that yee desyre in Scotland .

My L ord ewyn now wils I vas vrittyng this copy , thynkkyng to haue vryttyn i t ageyn in mun/Jo, ther come a postto the Lord Dacre

,and tuyk bym a letter from the Consell ,

w iche shewis that the Kyng of Fran s is ded,and that the

Duyk is on the see , wherfor it is nedful to mak hast iff yethynk to saue the Queno and hir childryn ,

my Lord o ff

Anguse, and your frenddis.

A dam Wil liamson to Gavin D ouglas.

Thisisthe copy of the second lettre wryttyn to the said Postulatof A rbrothtdelyuer this day to Scotland.

My Lord,—l haff raseyvyta lettre from the QuenysGrace

and iij other from your Lordshipe , w ith on masse off lettrisdyrectto Master Ihon Berry in Flandres the xxvj day off

Januarij , wryttyn in Sanct Ihonston the xxij day off thesame monetht; A nd wher the Quenys Grace and yee

wryttis that hyr Grace with hyr chyldryn and husbond

cannot resort to the merchys Off Ynglond acordyng to thedesyre and con sell off hyr derestbrother the Kyng of Yng

lond,and hys vyse Con sell

,wiche studys for the only velland

suite of hys sister the Quen e and her chyldryn his derestn evoys, I am ryghtsoryand voo therfor . I dred soyr thatand the Quene and yee doo notefter the avysseand consell

[ ndorsed 1515, 20 January, Adam Wil l iamson . The K . o f

Englan d’s care of the K . of Scotts and th e Q . hismother . My Lo .

Dacres a n otable wise man commanded to advise her . The K . of

Scotts h eire to th e Crown e of En glan d . MSS . Brit. Mus. Caligu la,B . V I . fo l . 113 .

BIOGRAPHICAL I NTROD UCTIO N .

off the Kyng byr derest brother it shall twrn byr, byrchyldryn ,

and husbond to ower gret danger and preiudicefor euer ; I know vell that the Quen e has n o sure frenddysin Scotlan d but only my Lord ofi Angus and hys familierseruants;as for the other Lorddis that takysbyr part now

ther is no trust in them,bot to day a fren d to morn a foo ;

gyfi the Queue be in dangerand half the veyker part theywyl l leytf hyr , and than is to layte to repen t . My Lord , Ibeseyk you traist notto myche in yourawn wytt, take thesure vayand leyff the vnsu re . Yff the Quene , byr chyl dryn ,

and husbond com in Ynglond al l the Lorddis Off Scotlandwilbe feyne to resort to byr and to obey hyr, or ellys theiman n edis cheysse som other land to dwell in . The Kynggis

en ten t is on ly,I knaw vell

,that his sisterand byr husbond

shalbe obeyytin Scotland on to the tyme that his n evoys

come toage ,acordyng to ther faderistestamen tand will . ForG oddissack my Lord doo efter the Kynggis conselland yeecanot dooamysse, I ensure you your own contremen wyl l dowi th bym agen s you . I kn aw more than I dyd when SehirJames vas heyr. Take good ten t to my vorddis. I kn awwell

,i t is trew that I say,theilabour agensyou heyr;preveyn

them or yee bee vndoyn ;yff yee soo doo yee shall haff inScotland what promocioun that it shall plesse you to half ,and Murray shall be a sclayfi as he began e . Yee writ that Ihaff notspokyn agen s bym heyr ;yes , in good feytht Ihaffe puthym in such dysfavour her w i th the Kyng andhys Con sel l that , and he be gottyn in Ynglond , he shallneuer profett hys frenddis, nor hurt h is toys. Remembyr

my Lord that the Quene has putbyr and byr chyldryn in

your handdis, yfi yee folow the con sell and avysse off byr

brother the Kyng yee canottdooamysse, as I haue vryttynafore

,your blood is maid for euer. A nd yiI yee doo the

contrary she may cowrsthe tymc that euer she mel lytwithyour blood . Yff the Queue and hyr chyldryn come inInglond by gret possibilitie hys sonys salbe the grettestScottis men that euer vas. I knaw mare than I will vrittin

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . XXV

th is mater. I knaw vell that hyr comyng in Ynglond shal lbe for the perpetual l vell off boytht the rewmys, andspecially for the rewme off Scotland , for withowtthis y aysther shall neuer j ustice be kepytin Scotland , but it shal bea land off rubry, and come to fynal l dystruccion . Yff the

Quen e forsayk this kyn d offer off byr derestbrother I ferthat she shall soyr repen t h eyreffter . Remembyr that heyris vysdom ,

strentht,honour

,ryches to defi end byr in

Scotland is ponerte , dysseyte , and vnsure frenddisnotableto resyste. I en sure you the Kyng of Ynglond is belowytand dred off his Lorddisand subiettis more than vas euereny of hys predyssessursin so short tyme ther is no rewme

able to vithstond hys malys at this tyme ,and wher that yeewrit that yee bee susspect that ye will come in Ynglond ,

me thynk that shuld gyf’f you the mor occasion to come;who

that says agen s you n ow wold say yfi ye var in Ynglond

that yee dyd vysly $0 0 to doo. As for the devysse and maneroff your comyng , yiI the Queue , my Lord Of Angusand yeespecially agre therto , my Lord Dacres wyl l take upon hymto bryng you al l sayff to Carleyl l , under the forme andmaner as he has writtyn to you;gyff creden s to bym for yourawn vell , I coun sell you ;as for the masse of letterisdirecteto Master Ibon Berry in Flandres my Lord Dacres has sendit Vp by post with al l dylygen ce to the Kyng , and thelettre that yee vrat to me wi th al l for the better expedicion .

I dowt notbot the Kynggiswrittyng for your promocionshall be at Rome before the masse . As for the Kyng of

Frans he is deid without eny dowt ; i t is comon her ineuerymannys moutht;ther is a monk come hedyr that wasin Franswhen he deydt, wiche wason n ew yerrisday ;wherfor me thynk that yee shuld mak hast for your own surete

j uxtail lud Lucani Tol le moras,semp er nocuit dtfi erre

paratis.

” Wher yee wri t that ye ned notto fie the land,yee

fi e notthe land butyee come for surte of the Kyng and hismoder the Qwene ,and off your selfand frenddis,and for thevel l off al l Scotland . 1 dar on m e vithowtdyssymulacion

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

[say] gretkynggishas doyn such lyk notbeyngin such dangeras yee bee in ;blame notme thouchtI Speke playn , for Ihaff beyn in the gretestdanger that eny man mychtbe inand schape wi th his lyfi . I haffe lossytmy gooddis that Ishuld half leyfI apon in my age for the Quenyssayk andyourris. I set n otbyal l this a pon tand the Queueand yeewilbe rulytbe consell and doo vell. Sey notbut I haff varnytyou ofl”euery thyng eftermy power, reson and vytt gyff the

Queneand yee doo n otvell , as God forbed but yee shuld ,my days wil be short in this vorld. My Lord I haffe teyna letter that the Lord Flemyng send out off Fran s in Scotland sen Schir James depart frome me he can informe youof what he writtis. I vald half send the lettre to you butI cannot haif it for certen cawsis. Schir James knawisthesentenstheroif .

tuns A DAM W ILLIAMSONE .

*

A dam IVilliamson to the Queen .

Thisis the copy of the Quenis Lettre delyuerytthis day to

Scotland.

Madame , I beseche your Grace at the reuerens off Godfor yourawn synguler vell , and for the promocion off yourchyldryn my natyff Kyngand Prince to folow theavysseandconsell of your derestbrother the Kyng of Yngland, w icheentendythton ly for your vell and the promocion off yoursonys , Your enemys labours to mak peswith your brotherthe Kyng ; I haff seyn their vrittynggis sen Schir Jamesdepartyttframe ;what in covenienssis may fal l to yourhwrttheroff your Grace may soyu vnderstond. Preveyn

your enemys and doo after your brotheris consell , and yff

yee soo doo I en sure you Madame by gret possibilite yourson nys shalbe the grettest Scottismen that euer vas . Ihaffe seyu a lettre off the Lord Flemyngisawn han d sendowtoff Frans . I haff writtyn to Schir James now at this

Mus. Brit. MSS . Cotton . Cal ig ula,B . I I .

,fo l . 303 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . Xxvi i

tyme the sentenstheroff;he can informe your Grace off thatmater;see hys lettre also , Madame;see the lettre thatI haffwrittyn to my Lord the Postulat of A rbrotht;in eny vysse

merk euery y ord well and doo therafter and yee cannottdoo amysse ;yfi yee doo not after the Kyng your derestbrotherisawysse and con sell yee and al l we that takysyourpart shalbe vndoyn in whome shu ld yee traist but in yourbrother

,

‘

wiche is moost able to dyffend you agen s yourenemys. Madame, I en sure you he is the best belowyt

prince and moost dred w ith lowff Of his Lorddis andsugettis off eny prin ce [in ] the vorld to my vnderstondyng .

Perdon m e Madame thouchtI writ playn e to your Grace. Ispek of trew hart , I haife beyn in so gret dangerand lossytmygooddisalso for your sack

“9and in your servys, thatyff enythyng shul d come to you but good , as God forbed , my daysshald be short in this vorld . Yff your Grace prospare anddoo well

,I car n otfor al l my labourand losse ;off on pon t

I am and shalbe trewand feythtful l to your Grace , with thehelp of God

,who euer half your Grace in his holy proteccion .

That is and shalbe my dayly preyer , writtyn the xxvij dayoff Januarij —Your humble Chaplen and Bedeman ,

ADAM W1LLIAMSONE . 1'

To the scheme proposed in these and other lettersof Adam William son the Queen expressed herself welldisposed

,asmay be gathered from the following letterto that ecclesiastic

To our traistC lerk Master A dam Wil liamson .

Traist Clerk,we grete you hartly wele , and we haf

ressauityour cunsel l with the in structions fraour fam iliarC lerk Schir James Ingliss.and consideritthe samyn , quhilk

Th e al lusion here is to Wil l iam son ’s having been shipwreckedwhen on some busin ess of the Queen .

tI ndorsed—Adam Will iamson to the Q . of Scotts . Advisingher to fo l lowe th e direction of K . H . V I I I . Mus. Brit . MSS .

Cotton . Caligula, B . I I I . , fo l . 152.

xxviii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

wasrychtplesant to ws yff i t hadd ben e possible to dooefter the said counsel] ;bot as your self may wele considerthe inoportunitie that wasquhen you war here, and sethin

fer mare,and that folk of this land ar sainquisitife that sic

thing may nocht be performitwithout grete knawledge tosindry folkis

,and there is nane that I may trust bot my

husban d and his uncle quhilk ar rycht glad therto yf i tmychtbe

—praying to be dil igen t in all matteris as you

hafe ben e in tyme past , in vther thingis g ite credens to theAppostolateand Schir Jamys writingis. A tPerth

,the xxi i

day of Januarye .

*

MARGA RET R.

In the midstof these plots an Opportun ity occurredfor the prefermen t of Gavin D ouglas . WilliamElphinston ,

Bi shop of Aberdeen,to whom the Arch

bishopric of St Andrews had,with gen eral assen t ,

been offered,died on the 25th October 15 14

,and it

was common ly reported thathis successor would beAndrew Forman

,Bish op of Moray . The Queen

,how

ever,lost no time in recommending D ouglas for this

the highest dign ity of the Church in Scot land .

She also obtain ed th e assistan ce of her brother

H enry,who wrote the following letter to the Pope

on his behalf

[ Jem‘

y VI I I . to Pop e L eo X.

Mostholy Father, after most humble commendation anddevout kissing of your blessed feet : We have been informedthat the Queen of Scotland , our dearest sister , has latelymost urgen tly recommended to your Holiness a venerableman Mr Gav in Douglas and has en treated that you wouldbe pleased to promote him to the Archbishopric of StAndrews

,the Primacy and Metropolitan Sec of the King

dom of Scotland,in accordance wi th the ancient priv i leges

State Pape rs, Scotland. vo l . i. , No . 12.

XXX BIOGRAPHICAL I NTRODUCTION .

Buchan an informs us that D ouglas took possessionof the Castle of St Andrews

,relying on the splendour

of his family, on hi s own virtue and learn ing, and on

his having been nominated by the Queen .

The Queen , however, was un able to main tain himin possession of his new dign ity . John Hepburn

,

Prior of the Regular Can on s of St . Andrews whom

Buchanan describes as a powerful,factions

,and

cunn ing priest—had been Vicar-Gen eral of the Diocese

,and man ager of its revenues during the vacan cy.

He induced his own monks to elect him to theArchbishopric

,under the pretext of an an cien t

right which the mon astery, in conj unction with theCuldees

,had on ce enj oyed . Hepburn then expelled

the servan ts of D ouglas from the castle, and fortifiedit with a strong garrison n or did the Earl of Angus,with a party of his retain ers

,succeed in an attempt

to recover the possession of the stronghold .

The affairs of Scotland were at this time closelywatched by the Lords of Coun cil of England ;andThomas

,Lord D acre of G ilsland

,“larden of the

Engl ish Marches , sen t to them frequen t reports ofeven ts that were passing in Scotland . In his letter

of 27th N ovember, addressed to the“ Lords of the

King’s most Honorable Counsaile

,D acre says

My singuler good Lordis, in most humble wise I com

mende me vuto your good Lordships , pleas it the same tow itt that on the xix day of this moneth at xi of the elok inthe n ight I receyvid your ful l honorable lettres by post ,togiddir with a pacquito f lettres to the Queen of Scottis

,

which I send hir be a seruantof m ine,with deligence,

which com to hir in Striveling on Wednisday the xxi i day

B IOG RAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.

of the said moneth , and therupon she hasmade ansuer inwriting as may appere in a pacquete of lettres which Isen d here enclosed (she durst n otmake superscription).

V erely she has been evill in tented , and was brought andconveyed from Striveling to Edinburghe be the Erl of

Arane and the Chamberlain , and there receyvid by theChancellor and the Lordis of Counsail l in hoppe of her

bertis easeand fulfilling hir mynde. Albeit when as theyhad hir there

,they yode there from hir waies

,and soo she

withdrew hirself be wisdome from Edinburghs to Strivelingon the said Teuesdayand Therle of Anguse w ith hir.The Prior of Sanct Andrews , cal litHebburn ,

w ith all his

perttakers has laid siege to the Castell of Sain t A ndrisbelonging to the Bisshop wherin hir seruantis lies. Mysaid seruantsawe when as the lettres of the same n eweswere delivered to hir Wherupon the erle of Anguse withal l hir household servants to the nomber of 60 horses rodetowardis the reskue and wairn edall there perttakers to thesame. There was neuer soo mickil l myschefe , robbry,spoiling and vengeance in Scotland then there is nowe

,

without hoppe of remedye, which I pray our Lord God tocontinewe , who preserve you my singuler good Lordis. AtKirkoswald the xxvi i day of Nouember.

Yours with hyestseruise ,THOMAS L . DACRE .

*

Although the Queen and the Earl of Angus werefil led with indignation at these v iolen t proceedings,

i., Brit. Mus. MSS .,Cal ig B . i . 154. In th e indorsation of the

letter th e number of th e Earl of Angus’

retain ers is stated at600. Th e Q . of Scotteshardly used byth e n obil itie of Scotland .

Sh e return ed from Edinburgh back to Striveling with the Erle of

Anguiss, who with h er household seruantis to the number of 600

horses hasteth to releeve h er seruantis lying in the castle of St

Andrewes be ing ther besieged by th e prior of StAndrewes .”

xxxii BIOGRAPHI CAL INTRODUCTION .

thev were powerless to assist D ouglas again st Hep

burn,as the latter had the support of some of the

prin cipal n obility of the kingdom . Before,however

,

any further steps could be taken in favour of D ouglas ,a new and more form idable aspiran t for the highappoin tmen t appeared in the person of An drewForman

,Bi shop of Moray

,and Ambassador of Scot

land at the Fren ch Court . Forman was descendedfrom the family of the Forman s of Hutton

,in nice

(le Berwick . He was a man of versatile talen ts,long

busi ed in the subtleties of n egociation ,and on e who

Often pursued his own advan cemen t at the expen seof his coun try. He blended

,

” says Pinkerton,

his private avarice and ambition with every foreignnegociation . His con cession s to Englan d procuredfor him the rich priory of Coldingham his influen ceat the Fren ch Court the Archbishopric of Bourges

and by his in terest at the Court of Rome,the influ

en ce of the King of Fran ce and the Duke of Albany,

he now obtain ed a Bull from the Pope for the Archbishoprick of St . Andrews. He was at the sametime invested by the Pope with the Abbeys of D unferm line and Aberbrothock , and all the other ben ehees held by the lateForman was open ly charged before the Scottish

Lords of Coun cil that he “ had,again st the privilege

granted by the POpe to the King and his successors ,purchased the maist part of al l the benefices vaikandby thaim that deeeisit in the feild in Northumberland be sin i ster information made to his Halinesscontrar the commonweil o f the realm and he re

l l ist «If Se nt,vo l . p . 85 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xxxii i

nired the Lords to assist in defence of the King’s

rivilege .

In an swer to this,Mr Robert Forman

,D ean of

Glasgow,in n ame of hi s brother

,the Archbishop of St

Andrews,Primate and Legate of Scotland , protested

and represen ted that the said Archbishop had purchased the said ben eficesfor observing the privileges ofthe realm

,so that he

,as a Scotsman

,should bruik them

rather than Ital ian s should impetratthe same . ”Forman

,although so successful at theCourt ofRome,

was afraid to publish in Scotland the Papal Bulls,

until he prevailed on Lord Home,Warden of the Scot

tish Marches,by bestowing on his brother the Priory

of Coldingham ,to undertake the support of his cause.

This powerful n obleman enabled the Archb ishop toappear at Edinburgh with men -at-arms

,where

the requisite ceremony wasperformed . Forman,with

his host,th en hasten ed to St Andrews to take

possession of his See, but found Hepburn ,the Prior ,

sufficiently prepared for his reception . So considerable agarrison had been placed in the Castle andthe Church

,that Form an was unwilling to hazard

an attack,and deemed it pruden t to settle his claims

byan amicable negociation . I t wasfinally stipulatedthat he should be put in quiet possession of thePrimacy, and that H epburn should receive a yearlyallowan ce from the Bishopric of Moray

,and should

retain such ren ts as he had already levied from theArchbishopric of St Andrews.

Thus,partly by violen ce , and partly by in trigue ,

ActaDom . Con cil . 25th -January 1515 .

xxxiv BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

D ouglas was disappointed both of the Abbacy of

Aberbrothock and the Primacy of Scotland.

In January 15 15 , however, by the death of George

Brown,B ishop of D unkeld

,an other Opportun i ty

occurred for the promotion of Gavin D ouglas . The

Queen was at the time at Perth , with such of the

Lords of Coun cil as were of her party,and being

informed of the vacan cy, she , with the advice of

these Lords,presen ted him to the See of D unkeld

in the n ame of the Kingfi‘There was

,however

,

already a powerful competitor for this See . The

death of B ishop Brown,which happen ed at his

castle of C luny,had been reported at D unkeld some

time before it actually happen ed,and Andrew Stewart

,

Prebendary of Craig, and brother of John Earl of

Athole, gothimself postulated B i shop by such of the

Chapter as were then presen t . A lthough he was n otcapable of being fully elected according to the canonl aw

,as he had not arrived at the office of a sub

deacon,yet he was supported by all the en emies of

the Queen and her husband . Can on Myln informs usthat the Earl called the Can on s togetherand requestedthem to make choice of his brother, and in the meantime to put him in possession of the Episcopal palace .Some of the Can on s being his relation s , and othersafraid

,they agreed to do all that was desired .

This affair , says l n, went the more easily

,be

cause the Earl was very powerful,and could defend

everybody belonging to the church from plunderers

of every kind .

”

For the names of the lords of her party, see p . lxiv .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . XXXV

On the 17th January the following letter was sen tfrom the Queen to the Pope

Beatissime Pater, paucis supra dichas Reuerendo Patre

Georgeo D unkeldensi Episcopo v iam vn lverse carn isingresso , illa Cathederalis ecclesia pastore, proch dolor,orbata est

,verum nos n e tot presnlum in sperata etrepen tina

morte hoe regnum vacil let,occurrere cupientesad Sanctita

tem vestram confngimus, virum sane omn ium scien tia etprobitate insignem , illustrem Sacerdotem Magistrum GawinumDouglas , de maiori regn i com ital i domo genitum ,

etnobisin primis Charum ,

surrogandnm etpromouendnm ad jamnuper defuncti Episcopi sedem commendamns. Obnixe

rogan tes uthun c hom in em ,v ita moribns et n ostris litteris

tociens ad altioracommendatum ,tandem nostris multipli

catis precibus, si laudatissimav iri merita non sufficiant,saltem ad hanc Cathedram subl imetis, vnde melius sediquamviropronisum fore speramns, neque vnqnam existimare

possimusSanctitatem vestram ejns men tis fore ntnobis ethoc regno ab apostol ica sede indulta priuilegiainfringerevelit

,ant in sueto ordine Scotum quemnis nostris absque

commendaticns assumere ad Prelatnram , cum per brevesnum etoratorem qui hactenus apud n os deg it pol licitasitse nobis etregno in n ul lo offutnram;quod fi rmissime credimusobservariper Sanctitatem vestram ,

quam etoptata concedere etfelicissime valere cupimus. Ex oppido nostro dePerth decimo septimo Januarii.E . V . S . Denoti oratoresJacobus Scotorum Rex eteius

dem TestamentariaTutrixaernatrix CnstosetMater Reg ina .

*

Mus. Brit . MSS . Cal ig ,B . ii . , fol . 364.

—It is fol lowed by thecopy of another l etter in favour of D oug las V ndc sanctissimo

litteris n ostris commendatum fecimn s egregium il lum etil lustremsacerdotem omn ium scien tia et virtute preditnm , pac is culto rem ,

justicie apicem ,et n obis charissimum Magistrum Gawinum

D ouglas .”

xxxvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.

On the 18 th and 21stof January D ouglas wrotethe foll owing letters to Adam W ill iamson and LordD acre

,in which he men tion s the step s that were

being taken for his advan cemen t .

In the second of these letters,dated the 2l stof

January,D ouglas expresses his opin ion of the danger

and impropriety of the proposal of H enry V I II,made

through Adam Williamson for the removal of theQueen and her young son s to England , for which hehas been blamed . In fact

,D ouglas had views which

were quite in compatible with such an arrangemen t.In a letter of Lord D acre

,afterwards in troduced

,we

find that he was scheming to get h imself made

guardian to the young King James V. and his brother,

in place of the Archbishop of St Andrews,who

,both

by an cien t custom and by the will of James IV .,

was en trusted with this duty.

Gavin D ouglasto A dam Williamson.

BrotherMaster Adam I commend me to yow in my hartywyss, and ye sall knaw that sen my last wrytyng of Perththe last day of December

, quhilk I trust ye haf seyn ,and

hard forthar al l thingis be Sehir James , the Byschop of

Dunkelden is decessyt this Monunday the xv day of

January ; and becans yon enyll myndyt ByschOp of

Murray trublysall our promocion es , and has sped SanctAndris to hymsel f wyth Dnnfermlyng , Arbroth , legacy andother faculteys, quhilkisar nedful l and allways man be re

tretyt, yit nocht the less sen syk debatisand contrauersyesar costly and doutuus, in al l auentour the Quenys Grace,

(

my selfand frendis thinkis nedful I be promouit to thatSeyt quhilk now is vacandand but pley , and an rychtgud

BySCl l OpI‘

y of rent and the thryd Seyt of the realm . A nd

to that effect hes the Quenys Grace wryttyn for me to the

xxxviii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

hyswaysand solystation be reuersyt agan . that therby na

preiudice may happyn to the Kyng nor this hys realm ,now

in tyme presen t nor yit in tyme cumyng by enyl l exemple,so that syk doyng n or attemptatis be napreparatyve tootherisin tyme to cum . A nd howth the Kyng solyst hisb rothyr of Fran s to haf that Byschop rendyrryt to bymothyr be po ll ycy or otherways , that he mychtthereftyr bedemanytas efferis, al l thir thre realmis I trast war brochtto grete rest , for he isand hes bene the instrumen t of mekyl lharm , and I dreyd sall yit be of mayr and he be nochtsnybbyt. Tent to bym and yon D uyk gif the Kyng tharluffis the weylfar of hys systerand mast tendyr n evoisandals the quyet of hys awy n realm . Hastansuer ngayu andbe solyst as ye haf beyn in tyme by passyt, and God keypyow ;of Perth the xv iii day of January wyth the hand of

Postscriptto the letter, written in asmal l hand.

The Queyn thynkis ye haf beyn ouer slewthful ] , that salang tym ye heand in Ingland ther hes beyn nocht doyunother in Rome nor the curt of Fran s aganysyon wykkitByschOp of Murray and byddis yow mend that falt . Itemat ye solyst the Kyn g byr brothyr that nalettres pass throuhys realm nafrathat belangisony Scottisman ,

less than hehaf hyr speceal l wryty ngisand request therfor , ffor syk

lettres hes el lis doyn gret harm , and was the first cans of

all the truble anen t the promoci‘on esand i s daly a prepara

tive to solyst yon Duyk of Albany to cum hyddyr . Re

membyr my salue conduct and sped the samyn to me as Imatto yow latly. A nd gif ony of my.

wrytyngis concern

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xxxix

g the Queyn cum furth of Fl mdris or Rome to yourhandis

,nafors bot the Kyng se or kn aw the contentis ther

of, at thai may be thebettyr and mar hastyly sped to byrG race or me , for I wayt hys Hen es wyl l stop nain of byr

Iettriz nor myne quhilk salbe cum to hys honorand avayl l .

Gavin D ouglasto A dam Wil liamson .

Brothyrm aster Adam,I commend me hartly to yow ,

andhes ressanytyour laytwrytyng and credens frayour compan zeon Schir James , and be ye suyr the Queyn and we al lwald be glad to follow the Kyngismyud thar, and thankishys Hen esals lawly as we may of the grete enteyr Infandkyndnesprofyrrytand schawyn to vs , for the quhylkiswebeyn addettytto be hys trew seruandis

,befor al l otheris

,

oural lyegans to our soueran Lord hys nevo on ly exceppyt.

Ye may weyl l considdyr it is noch t to us possybyl l that yedevys

,foralbeytmy Lord and I wyth other frendis mycht

cum to tha partis quhen we plesyt, it suld nocht be possybyl l to carry the Kyng n or his brother thyddyr , thocht peran entourand that full hard wyth gret defyculte and nochthonestly we mychtbryng the Queyn thyddyr in habit onknawyn and dysagysyt, bot nayn other ways ;A nd therforther man be thocht sum other remed , for my wytkan nochtattayn quhow that may be at this tyme. And alswe bein nasyk danger at we h eyd leyf the cuntre, I wratto yowlaytthat the Kyngiswrytyngiswald stan ch al l this debayt,fior I trast thai suld bealsweyl l obeytheyr as in Lundonwyth the mast party of the Lordis. Lat nocht the Kyngspar thar feyr, that and he wald cum wyth hys army or

send hys pyssansin this realm and declar to the pepyl l hysactyon war to haf justyce and gud rewl l , and to cans theKyng hys nevo and the Queyn hys systyr be obeytas thaiaucht

,bot cummand on th i s wyseand n otyfyand the sam

myn to our commonysbe proclamation bot he suld fyndmony to tak his part , for I assur yow the pepyll of this

5“ Brit Mus. MSS. Cott. Cal ig ,B . ii. fol . 357 ,

x1 BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

realm ar saoppressytfor lak of justyce by thevys, rubryand other extortiones that thai wald be glayd to leyf ondyrthe gret Turk to haf justyce. Ye wryte that the KyngisGrace thar heswrytyn twyse to Roym aganys G lasgw , botI had lener he had wrytyn aganys the Byschop of Murray ,and yit nyedlyngis he man wryteaganysthimand [haif] al lhys promotion reuersyt, lyk as at mayr len th the QuenysGrace heswrytyn to theKyng byr brother therapon . MasterAdam , brother, forzetnocht to solystand convoy weyl l mypromotyon to Dnnkeldene, as ye luf me, for I haf gevyn themony quhar ye bad me . Latse quhou ye kan convoy syk amater for your frend , and I sall do mekyll , bot I sall sp [eke]wyth yow in Lundon or Pasch

,for I haf mony devyses that

I wald fayu enclos to the Kyng thar, quhilkis I wyl l nochtwryte. A nd gyf it be possybyl l that ther may be fund onytyme to perform the Kyngis plessonr and desyr as ye hafwrytyn wyth Schir James , I sall do my devoirand full bestto convoy that mater atal l punctis;botI kan nocht hastelybel eyfas yit quhou it may be, l es than the Kyng wald cum

hymself in this realm ,and than mycht he do qubat bym

lykyt, for he wald fynd lytyl l or naresystans;and be yesouer the grettest of our aduersareys crynys bym gretlyat th is hour

,on syk wyse that thai wald geif mekyl l of

thair walzeand to haf hys fauouris. Gyi the Kyng of Fransbe ded it is rychtenyl l for hayth thir realmys. Botheyri s arryvyt a Franch schyp the xv day of this monethinstant

, quhilk proportis nathyng therof, and therfor Iwondyrqnhasuld haf schawyn myLordisof Consell thar syktythyngis. Gyf we had money , I trast we suld debaytweyl lenewch our aduersaris in thir partis qnhyl l the sommyrsesson

, quhen the Kyng mychtmoyf quhatarmy bym lykyt,and than I trast also we salbe mar pyssantthan we ar now .

I am surly informytfurth of Fran s the Duyk dysponysbymnocht hydder qubyl l this nyxtmoyu , less than this decessof the Kyng of Frans caus bym preueyn the tyme, and yitl trast the Kyng thar and hys wyse Con sell hes prouydyt

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xli

mayr warly in al l anentouris, so that the Dalphyn is alsweyll bund to observe the pece and al l punctis therof aswasthe Kyng ,and I trast he dar nocht brek the trewys nor

paceastablysyt, to send the ilk Duyk agayn hys oblysyng;A nd gyf he wald latilk frend mak pace wyth other quhyl lwe beal l reuengyton Fran s for God knawys qubat thaihaf doyu to v s. I haf gud hopeand is in convoyng a materof dyscord amang our party aduersary, on syk wyse that Itrast ye sall heyr quhow this promotion now impetratbeyou dyssatfull Byschop of Murray sall turn to our weyl l ,andcause hayth bym and yon Duyk cum in enyll consaytoueral l this realm

, quhilk man n edwayes redund to our profyt,and sall purches vs mafrendis, and I dred nocht bochtquba saeuer be Kyng in Fran s he salbe mayr glad to batpaceand amite wyth the Kyng of Ingland than hys Gracesal be to except the samyn . I pray yow sehaw this wrytyngto my Lord Dacreand the contentis therof to the KyngisGrace. God keyp yow. Wyth my han d in hast at Perth ,the xxi day of Januarii.

Tun s totnsGAWING DOUGLAS, &c .

*

Gavin D ouglasto Lord Dacre.

My Lord I commend me to your L . in my mast hartlywyss , and astowarttheKyngisdesyrand instructionessendto the QuenysGrace w ith Schir James Inglys hir Henes heswrytyn heyr wyth ansuere to the Kyng byr broder and toyour Lo . and in sum hart as I kowth thynk eftyr my Iytil l

wyt. I haf wrytyn tyl l Master Adam to be schawyn toyour L . and to the KyngisGrace thar quhow soyn he sallcum to his presensand be ye suyr the Quenys Grace , myLordisand we al l wald be als glad to fulfil l the Kyngisdesyr gif it was to vs possibyll as wyth hand or mynd maybe denysit, and kan nocht samekyl l as we beynaddettytfor

Indorsed—“ Gawen D oug lash e to Adam Wil l iamson” and ad

dressed in Bishop D ouglas’ handwriting To his trast frend Mast.

Adam Wyl lyamson .

” —Brit. Mus. MSS. Cott. Cal ig ,B . ii.

, fol . 356.

xl ii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

our part rendyr thankis to his Heyn es therof, and notth

les of a thing he salbe suyr that our sernys salbe hys beforal l othyr men leuyng , oural l egens to our soueran lord hysnevo alanerly exceppit. My Lord ye sall knaw ther is anByschOp latly deid in this land cal lytthe Byschop of Dun

kell, and for alsmekyl l as thir othir benefyces be n ow in

pley and debaittbe this ByschOp of Muray,therfor the

QuenysGrace my soueran lady has wrytyn for especiall writ

yngis to the POpis Helynes for my promotioun therto , andforther hes by thir byr wrytyngis oblystth e Kyngis Gracebyr brothyr to wryte and lawbor eifectuusly to the samyneffect. Quharfor I beseyk your L . that the sayd lettresmychtbe convoyitwyth deligensand gyf your gudassistansand commendation to the Kyng for me , sen our houssysareof the auld al lyat,and mekyl l tendyraquentansand kyndneshesbeyn betwyx tham of lang tym as approvyt weyl l bemy grandfather at the sege of Nawart, and I bel eyf that aymayr and mayr tendyrnes and amyte sall daly incresamongis thaim . Gud war ye suffyrytnaother lettres to hafpassag throw the realm but syk as salbe send frathe Queyn ,

the cansquhy I haf wrytyn to Mast . Adam , and gyf therbe ony sted , seruys, or plesonr I may do to your Lo . I saldo at command

,as knawysGod , quba haf your L. in hys

blyssytkepyng . At Perth the xxi day of Jamuar wyth handof your Consyng , and atal l his power your

GAWYN,Postulat of Arbroth

,&c .

*

To strengthen her authority in making this appoin t

m en t,the Queen having thus appl ied for the assistan ce

of her brother King Henry V I I I . , in respon se to theirun ited application Pope Leo X. wrote the followingapostolical letter in favour of Gavin D ouglas on 18 thFebruary 15 15 stipulating in it

,however

,for a

ratification of th e appoin tments which he had pre

viously awarded to Forman .

Brit. Mus. MSS. Cal ig , B . i. , fo l . 27.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xlii i

Litere Pap e.

Carissima in Cristo fi lianostra etdilectifi lii, salutem et

apostolicam benedictionem . Litterasvestrasaccepimus quibus dilectum fi lium Gavinnm Donglace nobis plurimumcommendastis, et inter al ia vt eum ecclesie D nnkeldensi

,

nuper pastoris solatio destitute, in episcopnm etpastorem

preficeremushortastis. Qua in re nostam vestro intuitu quamvirtutibnsipsinsGavin i , quarum odorem ex locupleti testimon io etrelatione venerabilis fratrie Andree A rcliiepiscOpiSanctiandree nostri etaposto lice sedis per vnin ersum regnum Scotie Legati plene intel leximns, dnximusmaiestatietdeuotionivestrismorem gerere. Verum cum Optima rationeducti decreuerimns nul lam vel promotionem ad aliqnamecclesiam vel prouision em de aliqno monasterio sen eccleelastico benefi cio istiusregn i vacanti vel dein cepsvacaturoul latenus facere

,donec prefatus Andreas A rchiepiSCOpns

pacificam dicte ecclesie Sancti Andree , aliornmqne monasteriorum etbeneficiorum ecclesiasticornm in eodem regnoconsistentinm que sibi in titulum vel commendam contulimus

possession em asseqnatur , Maiestatem etdeuotionem vestrashortamurin Domino

,etprecipue requirimnsvtpro deietreli

gionishonore n ostroque, ethuiussan cte sedisapostolice reuerentiaac justitie cultu velitismandare atque efiicere vtprefatnsAndreas A rchiepiscopus, qui virtute , religion e etin

tegritate plurimum prestat, vestrique honoris atque ampl i ~tudinis dictiregn i studiosissimus existit, quique toto hnicregno apud nos et sedem apostolicam in Romana curia

plurimum utili s,honorificnsetfructuosusesse potest , posses

sion em ecclesie etmonasteriorum ac benefi ciorum huius

modi omnino asseqnatur , n osqueac litere etmandata nostrain dicto regno pro tempore facta debite obediantur, quefaciendo bone opin ion i quam de deuotione etobseruantiavestra in nos et Romanam ecclesiam sanctamque sedemapostolicam concepimns plene respondebitis, honorique

vestro etdictiregn i vtilitaticonsuletis. Quippe ea adirr

xl iv BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

plendo ac prefatnm Andream A rchiepiscopum tanquamLegatum et benemeritumvestrum in paceac tranquil litate

pertractando , id efficietis quod clarissime memorie Jacobusolim Rex Scotorum coniux tnus cui idem Andreas Archie

piscopus ntaccepimus plurimum gratus et acceptas erat,aliique maiores cui semper facere sun t soliti scilicet ut

prouision es etdecreta nostra etapostolice sedis,ac pro tem

pore existentisRoman i Pontificis illic in ea obseruantiaet

renerentiahabeantnr in qua a maioribus tuisaliisque Christifidelibus

, presertim ab hiis qui regnis etprin cipatibusinterris presnnt, haberi debent. Quod si premissa feceritis

prout firmiter credimus, vos quod nos ad confirmationempriuilegiorum et indultorum regibus Scotie a Roman isPontificibus pro tempore existentibus concessornm

,ac ad

prouisionem dicte ecclesie de persona ex dicto regno grata

procedamus, aliisque in rebus ill ins regn i commodaetornamen ta cure habeamns non indigne merebimini. DatumRome apud Sanctum Petrum sub annn lo piscatoris, diexviij FebruariiMO D xv. Pout. nostri anno secundo .*

In May of the same year,however

,John Stewart

,

D uke of A lbany, grandson of King James II .

, andcousin of James IV .

,who had been declared Regen t

of Scotland after the marriage of the Queen with theEarl of Angus , arrived from Fran ce and assumed therein s Of governm en t . He summon ed a Parliamen tto meet at Edinburgh in July, and at a meeting of

the Lords of Coun cil Gavin D ouglas was elected amember.At variou s times between 147 ] and 1493 the Scot

tish Parliament had passed Acts to put down the

n egociation (or purchase) of benefices at the Courtof Rome. A n Act of James III . (Par. vi . cap . 43)

Acta D om . Conc .

,xxvii . , fo l . 26.

xlvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

un to your goode Lordshyppes, pleas it the same to knowethat I receV ed a pac quet of letters from you by pooste theijde day of this presen t moneth , and by my letter therein

conteigned I perceive that the K ings command and yours isthat I should with all conven ien t deligence n otoon ly sendthe Poopestwo br iefesand there COOpiesw ith a pacqnete ofletters to thabbotof A rbroothe , elect of Dunkel l , and withthe same I shuld write un to bym shew ing howe the KinggsGrace hath bene soo good Lorde un to bym to opteyn for

bym the said Busshopricke of Dunkeld,but also yf I coutte

fynde the mean that at the tyme of delyvere of the saidbrefes to the said elect there m ight be presen t a notarywhichs wold testifie the same delyveryng and theruponmake an in strument in due fourme.My Lords, becanse I coutte notbe in suretie to haif aScotts notary redy at the delyver of the said brefes, I sen tthe said brefesand pacqnettwith a servan t of myn own e

,

and therupon made letters to the Quene of Scotts and theelect of D unkeldand send them with the comon notary of

the merchies which canne perfitely speke and understandeFfrench e , to thentcnthe shulde see the delyver of the saidbrefes (the copies of wh ich lettres I send un to your Lordships , herein closed .)A nd as they were riding at Mofi ettxxxvj m iles wi thinScotland on Weddinsday in the mornyng the iiij“l daye ofthis moneth

,SirAlex“ Jearden ,

Kn ight , toke the said notaryand lettres , and because they men tioned of the same breieswhiche my servan t had in keping , the same Sir A lex“ tokethe breies from my servan t , and had the notary and lettresw i th the breies and pacquet to the Lord Chamberlain beingWardain

, and from bym to the Duke of A lbanye in Edinburghe, and there the said notary saw the same brefesandwritings in the Dukes haunde. Of whom he desired thataither the said brefesand writing s were gevin to bym thathe might deli ver them according to there superscription sorels that it wold l ike hys Lordship to cause them be de

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xl vii

l ivered accordingly for his discharge, seying that he comeupon the Poopes message. The said D uke sent the Queuehir letter n nopynned and redd the othre lettres to theConnsale Openly , and then del ivered as wel l the Poopesbrefes as pacqnettun to the custodie of maister Gawen Dunbars haunds, beyng clerk of the Conssail l and kepar of theRegestre , to be furthe comyng wh enn e asthey be called for .

A nd assone as it come to my knowledge that the n otaryand my servan t were arrested I madean other letter to thesaid Elect reciting the effect of my formour letters , as wel lsen t to the Queue as bym with the POOpes brefes, whichletter was delivered to the same Elects hands with al lcelerite (the coopie of which letter I in likewise send un toyour Lcrdshippes). And anon after the same D uke sen t forthe Electand examined bym in the presence of the Counsal l ,whidder he made laubor to the POOpes Holinesseand theKinggsHignesour sovrain Lord for the said Busshopprickeor n ot, or howe durst he be soo bold as to laubor thereforw ithout licence of the K ing of Scots , or G overnour of Scotland in his nonage , whoannswered that he made never laubortherefor

,and what laubor as the Quene his sovrain Lady

made for hispromocion as tutriceand governour to the Kinghir sonne he kuewe not. VVhereupon the Duke beyng frettw ith ire and malice comm itted hym to warde in the castellof Edinburghe , where as he yit remaynes, and then suffred

the said notary and my servan t to departe at ther liberteson Thursday last past after they had been kept viijm daiesin warde.My Lordes , seyng the prem isses come n otto soo good

spede as theKyngsHighness en tended they should haif done,there is noo man l iv ing more sory for i t thenne Iam, whereinI did my best deligence for the spede and performance ofyour commandmentes, as our Lord God knowes. WherforeI beseche your good Lorshippes to have me excused, forhad n otbene the sending of the notary , which was takenas a stranngier in Scotland , I couthe haife conveyed the

xlvi ii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

writinges to the bandes of the said electe withoutdanngier.

For newes, your Lordshippesshall know that I amadvertised be myne espies out of Scotland, that the Bisshop of

Murraye hath not oon ly opteyned the Archbishopricke of

Sanctandros, and is come home in Scotland , but al so theDuke has commanded bym to warde , to remaigne in thePriory of Pettenwene within eghtmyle whar he laundyd ,and n o n erer to come to the courte naconnsaile . It isthought that he shalbe kept in strater warde un to the seasonas he resign es the said Archibnsshopricke to the use o f abastard sone of the late King of Scottes, which came homein companye with the said Duke.The Lord Drommond , captain of the castell of Streveling ,

was sen t for be the D uke to appear afore bym ,upon his

allegiance, whiche at his commyng was accused for thestrik ing of an harrolde , and also that he with other lordesshuld have bene of counsaile to have made the K ings Grace ,our maister, protectour of Scotland , and delyvered the

young king to his hanndis. And therupon he wascomm itteto warde on Weddinsday last past,and shall abyde assise inEdinburghe upon Monday next comyng .

I assure your Lordshippesthat the Quene of Scottescanne

g itt noo noble man to be capten of Streveling , me that w illtake the charge of keping of the younge K ingand hisbroder,for every man refuses her and giffes them to the Duke,which I fereand canne see no remedy

,but in conclusion

the K ing and his broder will come and be delivered to theDukes haundestotheir utter destruction byal l likelyhoode ,and as I am crednblyascertaigned be my secrete espiel .I trust that at the breking up of ther parliamen t to g itt

knowledge of ther determinaciones , and what ordour shalbetaken emonges them ,

and therof I shall advertise youe withal l epede and diligence.My Lordes , if suche letters as the Quene of Scottes haif

sent with the POOpes legate wh ich hath been in Scotland

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION

this yere, passed as well to the Kings Highnes, the Fren ch

Quene, hisand hir sister, as to divers other of you my Lordsof the Kings Counsail , to be mean and solicitous to hisHighnes for hir help , she is right desirous to haif aunsweragain . Albeit whenne she m ight have holpen herself andhusban dswith his freyndes, and also meanes founde anddevised for the suretie of them and hir childer

,she regarded

it littell,

-whiche she nowe sore repen tis , making greatlamentatioun and weping daily for the same . She is greatwith childe . I t is thought by hir freyndis that thorowe theanguyshe of the prem isses she wolbe in great jopardie of

hir lyfe, remembering the daungier that h er husbande,

uncle,and his graundfader stendis in at this tyme , as the

Holy Trin ity knowes , who kepe your good Lordshippes.

At Karlisle,the 14 daye of July

,

Yours at commandmen t ,THOMAS DACRE.

To my Lordis of the K ingis most honourable Counsale .

*

The packet of letters addressed by Lord D acre toGavin D ouglas , in tercepted at Mofi

’

atand handed overto the D uke of Albany, con tained—(L )A letter fromLord D acre to the Queen

,which as we have seen th e

D uke had the politen ess to send to her un open ed . I tis in teresting, as indicating that the Archbishop of

St Andrews having , both by an cient custom , (asstated in the Queen ’s letter to the Pope before given ),t

and also by the will of James IV .

,been made guardian

to h is family,that was now revoked by the Pope in

favour of Gavin D ouglas . A congratulatoryletter from Lord D acre to D ouglas . A veryinteresting letter from Alexander Trumble or Turn

State Papers Scot. , V ol . i. , No . 13 . TPage xv .

cl

BIOGRAPHICAL INTROD UCTION .

bul l,factor for D ouglas, which details the dith

culty he had in getting matters relating to his appoin tmen t as B ishop of Dunkeld satisfactorily settledat Rome . The letter in timates that one of these dith

cultieswas the non -paymen t of 1m ducatis for thecomposition of the confirmatioun of the K ingi s testamen t .” In all lik elihood this refers to the will ofJames IV .

,which was proved at Rome

,

* after hisdeath at Flodden and as Queen Margaret, his widow,

was often in great straits for mon ey, it is probable thatthis fee of 1000 ducats could notbe paid at the timeit fell due

,and it may indeed have been owing to this

n eglect that n o greater atten tion was given to theQueen ’s letters in favour ofD ouglas at the Papal Court .It i s well kn own ,

besides,that Queen Margaret took

al l the assets of her husband,James IV .

,but left his

debts unpaid . A l etter from Adam Williamson,

the old corresponden t of D ouglas , congratulating himon his appoin tmen t as Bishop, and suggesting thatsome reward might now be given to himself—such asa prebend’ s stall in D unkeld Cathedral—in return forhis services . He says very truly , I spek by tyme,for a dum man getti s seldnm land .

The letter from Lord D acre to the Queen is as

follows

Lord Dacre to Queen Margaret.

Pleas it your G raice to knowe that the King is Highnesmy Souerain Lorde your broder is in good healthand mery,blessed be our Lord God

,who hath , upon your lettresand

requestissent to the Popes Holinessand bym ,and for pleas

sour of you,obteignetthe Bysshopriehe ofDunkell of his saidPinkerton ’s H istory, vol . ii . p . 150.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . l i

Holiness to Mlf Gawen Douglas my Lord your husbandisvuele , asmay appere by the Popes breves which I send vutomy said Lord of Dunkel l at thistyme ,and also a revocacionto the A rch ebusshop of Sain t Andrewes of sich autoritieswith the legacie of the king , and hath remittthe execucionof the said auctoritiesand fulfilling of the legacie to mysaid Lord of Dunkel l . W herefore seyng his Highnes didthis at your request

,ye can no lesse do than gif unto hym

condigne thankis by writing. His G raice regardeth yourhonour suretieand well

,with the King

‘and his broder yoursonnes his nephieues, above al l thingis as ye shall wellknowe

,whereunto ye maye fathefnl ly trust. And the holy

Trin ite preserve your Graice. At Kirkoswalde the ijde dayeof July.

*

Lord Dacre to Gavin D ouglas.

My Lord and Cousing : I commend me to you in fullhartly maner

, ascertanyng you , that this day I receved

ane pacquet of lettres from the King is Hienesmy soueraneLord by post, wherin amangis vthir there is two brevi swith the Copie of thame directitbe the POpisHolynes, theoone to you and the vther to the A rchibischep of SanctA ndrois

,and also a litel l pacqnett send to your Lord

schip be your factour in the Court of Rome, w ith a lettirfrom Maister Adam Williamsoun

,whiche I send vuto your

Lordschip with my seruand this berar. My Lord,I

vnderstand by suche lettres as come to me that the PopisHolynes, at the instan t request and gret labour of theKing is G raice my said souerane Lord maid on to him vpoun

the lettres and desyresof the Queues G raice your soueran elady his suster

,hath elect you Bischeip of Dunkeld .

My said souuerane Lord, for the plessonr of the Queenehis said suster

,and also for the grete wisdome faithfull

coun selland stedfastnesthat he findeth ye gif, beris ,andawevnto the said Queue , with duetie of all graice to the King

State Papers Scot. , vo l . i. , No . 13,i .

l ii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

your maistereand his broder my souerane Lordisnephiens,hath optenyd the said Bisch0pryk to you ;trasting thatyour wisdome will induceand connsaile the said Queneandyour n ephieu hir husband to be sure of the said King andhis broder and neuer departe with thame to noon e otherhandis without the hole assent of the Lordis spiritual l andtemporall seyng what possibilitie they stand in .

My Lord , I vnderstand by the OOpie of the two breiffisthat the effect of the oone sent vnto the A rchibischop of

Saint A ndrowes is a speciall reuocation of such auctoriteasthe POOpesHolynescomm itted to him ,

and also of the K ingislegacie, whiche his Hoolines bathe fully remitte to you tobe executand done

,which shall soun de and growe to your

honor and proffite, and for my said souerane Lord en tendisand is well mynded towardisyou , wherefore I hertlie desyreand pray you to deliuer or cause to be deliueritbe anesubstancial l persoun afore a notary and recorde th e briefeto the said A rchibischep , who is fled out of Flaundersandthocht he is kep it secrete in Scotland. Apoun the del iverythereof to mak certificate accordingly.

My Lord , right glad joyous I am of your promocioun eand help , as I am bound to be for the great kyndnesandintere favour that hath bene betwixt ourantecessours andbloid in tymes passed , which shall n ever fale on my partie.A nd of your myud and recept of these writingis that Imaye be certifeid with my said seruand,and thus our LordGod haif you in his keping . AtKirkoswald the ijde dayeof July .

Your lofyng cosyn ,THOMAS L . DACRR.

*

After Lord D acre heard Of the arresting of hisservan t with the letters he had forwarded

,he wrote

to Gavin D ouglas on the 6th of July from HolmAbbey

,as follows

Acta D om . Concil xxvii . , fol 33.

l iv BIOGRAPHICA L INTRODUCTION .

prem isses is theffectof all the writingis that I sende , saifon ly Of the pacquet which I Oppynned notnor sawe.A nd as my said seruantand the notary were comyng

towardis the Queue and youe on Wednisdaye in the

dawyng at Moffett , Sir A l exr . Jardaneand ThomMoffettlarde of Kn ok tok them

,and there writingis fro them ,

andhad them to the Lord Chamberlane ,and fro bym Sir Al exr.

tokeal l the writingisand had them with the notary andmy seruant to the Duke . My Lord there is n o thingexpressed in the lettres but to your honourand promocion ,and may well be red and sene when al l the Lordis erassembled in the Parliament House togidder, as God knowes,who kepe your Lordship. At thabbey of Holme the vjdaye of July.

*

The letters Of Turnbul l and Wil liamson are asfollow

A . Turnbul l to Gavin D ouglas.

Reverendo in ChristaPatri, ac D omino,D omino Gavino

D unkeldensiEpiscopo, saoque D omino colendissimo.

My Lord , I giueand my seruice to your Lordshipin the most humble wi se ;forsamekle as your Lordshipchargitme be your dinerswritingis, that in the materis concernyng your Lordship , I suld ask help at my Lord theBishop of W

'

lsistir at standisOratour heir for the King of

Ingland , and also to solist his Lordship to labour contrairthe promociouns mad in the fauouris of the Bishop of

Murray and his l egacie, considerand thai ware done andspedd con trare our souerane Lordispriuelageand commoun

wele and profit of the realme,I did the sam in conform to

your Lordships writingis;and as for my said Lord Oratour,I fand his Lordship cuir redy in the tyme of neid to doextremlie for your Lordship , and in speciale , anen t yourLordships promotioun to Dnnkeld : A nd

,howbei t

,your

Lordship had stark compeditourisand diners contrare yourState Papers Scot. , vo l . i., NO . 13

,iii.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . Iv

Lordships said promotioun , and mony efiortis and waismaid be small freindis in the hindir hereof : neuirtheles

throw the grace of God and our Ladie of Consolatioune,and other gud friendis, and in speciale of my said LordOratour, your Lordship waspronuncitBischOp Of Dunkeld ,consistorialiter

,on Friday forow Whitsunday

,viz . xxv.

men sisMaij,unacum retentione beneficiorum,

viz . Prep ositure

dc E dinburgh , etPrebende de D unbar . Gif ther was ony

brevis Of the Papis purchestbe my Lord of Murray , directto the QuenisGraceand your Lordship,declarand the Papismynd nocht to dispone apone Dunkeld in the fauouris of

your Lordship on to the tyme that my said Lord Of Murraywas in possessioun e of Sanctandrois I report me to thesamin

,the quhilkis or now,

I trast your Lordship and theQuenis Grace has ressauit, like as I have writin , diuerstymisto your Lordship, andaltherlast, ea: dataquinto huius,and direct the samin to Master Johnne Carre to be send toyour Lordship, with diligens and with the samin lettres Isend to your Lordship the briefad p ortandaarma,and theCOpijS of the Constitutiounis in decimasessione Concilij Lat~erauensis. Your bull is Of prouisioun of Dunkeld

,togidder

with the monitour penal e contraA ndream Stewartin specie,

ac contraomnesalios in genere, I sal l send con forme to yourLordships writing , in al l possible haist ;had nocht ben e Ihadane gret impedimen t in the expedicioun Of the saidbul lis

,thai suld haue bene all speid or now,

tuiching the

quhilk impedimen t, I wraite to youre Lordship at lentheguinto huius. Dout nocht bot con sidering as all materisstandis, I sall do the best I may ;and gif my said Lord theOratour has don e hisdebt tuiching the inhibitioun eand sus

pensioun e of my said Lord of Murrayisfalculteisand legacie

,your Lordship may consider be the Papis breuisdirect

to your Lordship, the quhilk breuis I haue sent, and as Itraist ye sall ressaue the sam in ,

with your lettres. I wraiteto your Lordship to informe the Quenisgrace of thethankisdone be my said Lord

,the Bischop of Wlsistir, and to

l vi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

sol ist h ir Grace to writ to his Lordship , thankand him of his

gud deligence, praying his Lordship to perseueir and con

tin ew, quhilk has nocht al lan erlie desseruitthank , bot bath

thank and reward. Item I wraite to youre Lordschip, howthat there wasane commissioun made ex partePriorisSanctiA ndreeclaliorum[contra]quosfuitprocessamad certascensurasvigore literarumapostolicarum bul lis originalibustransumptisniinime onestis, andaskitthat causs dc nul litate censuraramto be committittoan e Of the cardinals

,&c . The said com

missioune was prOponitbe ane Jacobatius, that is Referendir in vltimasignaturaPapali, viz . quinto huius. Efterthat the Papis Holynes had redd the samin , he deliuerititto the daitar

,on to the tyme that his Holyneswar forther

marauisit,and that was mckle be the solicitatioun Of the

Cardinale Amontan e,and has done largelie at al l for my

Lord of Murray,and yit contin ewis. I cann nocht say how

that commissionne de nul litate ci de retractionep romocionisfacte in personaEpiscopi Jlfom uiensis

, will haue passage.I dred that the Pape w ill n ocht hastelie committ thamateris and caussis

,as yit ; neuirtheles

,ther is diligen ce

done, and sal be done, in the helping of tha materis safer as

be,the cais beand considerit.

I ferlie your Lordship wraite nocht to me to quhilkis

jugisyour Lordship wald haf had the monitour penale, noryit de valere benej z

'

ciorum detentorunz. I did the best as Iunderstand

,and has committit that monitour penal to my

Lord of Cowperand Lindoris, and to the Provost Of Abernethy. As for the retentioun e of Arbroth , I couth n ot

getin specie, becaus it was so recentlie Speid in consistorio .

The help at may be maid in that mater, I sall do my best .I tem astuiching the confirmatioun , and the brieff declaratiounsand absolutiounsrespectiue , I haue maid the reformatioum thereof conform to your Lordships last informatioune

,bot it will be in gret deficulte and excedand

expenses and we get thame in that forme ; I sall spendnothing , nowther in tha materis nor utheris that I ma

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lvii

eschew,bot as or I be frustruate , I will mak honest expen ses

as efferis. I writ to Jerome Friscobald,

ale that quhen yourLordschipesbullis of Dunkeld cummis, that he speid thesamin to your Lordschip ,and that he sal be thankful lie payitof the rest of the bullis and of utheris materis . I willnochtbynd your Lordschip in the bankissub peniscalumnieap ostolice, and be in danger Of thair cursing , so far as Imay eschew thairfor . Mak some diligence and financein the hast your Lordship may, and be reddand him . YourLordschip can nocht haue ane fin ale compt quhil l thatJeromeand I be togidder . I wrote to your Lordschip thebullisware stopp it for the j

m ducatis for the compositioun

of the confirmatioun of the King is testamen t . I w il l nochtconsen tthairtoaliano pactoand I may vth erwayis do. Warane uther man my partie than the Paipe I couth fyndsum remeid . Gif that I may nocht eschew otherwais

,or

that I haue the bullis taryit, and to haue the Paipe graciousto your Lordschip in other thingis that ar able to occur,I will nocht stand in that mater

,for in faithe

,I trow verr

alie had nocht bene the respect Of that money,we suld

nocht haue gotten our en ten t in Dunkeld . Thair was somony impedimentis

,and ay the langar able to haue bene

the ferrar fraoure purpos. I think it mery as it is.Item

,I haue raisitane prouisioun apoun the Dean ry Of

Glasgow for Mastir A nthone Og ilby , certo modo vacantem,

and ane other to Master Johnn e Irwyn e eftir youre Lordschipiswritingis, and I shall send your Lordschip copiisof

the samin, with the next cursour.

Item,

'

asfor my simplenes, your Lordschip may rememberand reward as your Lordschip thinkis tyme

.

and cans. Isal be leile and traist to your Lordschipand your materis safer as I haue grace and knawlage . Th e Italianis has an e

proverbe—fidelisseruusasinusp erpetuus. I waite that I serf

Several n otices of Jerome Frisch obald,the banker, and of fees

paid to him for D ispensations at Rome , are g iven in the “ Ledgerof Andrew Halyburton , 8vo , Edin . , 1867 .

lvi i i BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.

naItal iane ; I traist sickirlie that I serveane noble,dis

cret,and kind Lord

,the quhilk was neuir unkind to n ane

that deseruitkindnesor reward . A nentisW illiam Douglasdispensatioun wr it to me absolut, quhether he is clericusvel scolaris. This I have writin of befor diners tymis atthe directioune of your bullis . I sall writ at lenthe inallmateris . I gait no writing frayour Lordschip sene the ii iiday of Aprile. Pleis your Lordschip to send the tother bil lto my Lord of Cowper, and the blissitTrin ite conserueyour Lordschip eternally. Etsic subscript .

V. R. P. Seruitorad mandata paratissimus,A. TRUMBI H.

"e

A dam Williamson to Gavin D ouglas.

To his especiale gude Lorde, Mastir Gavin Douglas ,Bischop of Dunkeld, and Abbot of Arbroth .

H umillimarecomendatione premissa—My Lord , I mervalethat ye neuir wraite to me nor send this lang tyme past ;I am redde that ye haue me suspecte , bot , the deid prevesthe man—omnis lausvirtutisin actione consislit. Ye ar nowBischop Of Dunkeld and that by the noble King Of Ing

landis writing to the Paipe as apperis, and sum thing bymy labour. My Lord, to be schort , send a secret wysmanin Ingland and that schortlie, w ith kynd lettres to theKingis grace frath e Queneand frathe Erle Of Angusandfrayou alsa. I en sure you my Lord his Grace wi ll n ochtfale the Queme his sistir . Lat hir be radde for naman

,

his Grace with his wys connsale labouris for the weile ofthe Queueand of h ir childryne , hisderestn evois, mair naye trow. Thoch

'

t the Quen e haue nocht al l thingis thatscho desiris at the first, lathir be con tent—quiaquod def ertur non aufertur . My Lord , gif the Queue , or my Lordof Angus, or ye think to do anyth ing with the K ingisGrace , cause the Queue to writ kynd lettres to my Lord of

York,1

' for I assur yow he is hir gret frend and may doActa Dom . Concilii

,xxvii.

,fol . 32. 1 Cardinal Wolsey.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . l ix

maist with hir broder the King of onyman of lifand merit .He isworthy the autorite that he is in

,and that ye wald

sayand ye knew himalsweleas I do. Gif it wald pleis theQuenis Grace to thank him for me

,I war mckle bound to

hir G raice . He is my singulare gud Lord , I leif heir on lieby him for hir saik. As for the BischOp of Murray hislegacy is re

'

vokitbe the Paipe . He is departitfurth of

Flandris,and I think that he hydis him in Scotlan d to mak

dissen tion amang yow. He neuir did g ud in Scotland nor

neuer sall . My Lord , send a secret wye man in quham yematraist

,and he sall bring to the Queneand to yow gud

tithingis. I besek yow be gud Lord to my sisterand to hirhusband Ninzeane Ingl is . I Ink for a Preben d Of Dunkeld.

I spek by tyme , for a dum man gettis seldum land, and Iam yourisquhether ye will or nocht. I am affectitto yowabuf ony man in Scotland as God help me , quba preserueyow. At Lundone the xxx day of Jun ii . Etsic subscript.

tun s ADAM W ILLIAMSON .

9“

The D uke Of Albany, being now in possession of

eviden ce that D ouglas had Obtain ed the Bishopric Of

Dunkeld through the influen ce of Henry with thePope

,deemed th i s a favourable opportun ity of setting

aside one who was so n early related to the Earl ofAngus , and so capable of supporting his in terest.As stated in Lord D acre’ s letter,

“ being fret with ire

and malice ,” he summon ed a meeting of the Lords of

Coun cil to be held on 6th July 15 15 , for the purpose

of laying these treasonable papers before them .

D ouglas, being aware that his affairs were to bediscussed at the meeting, wen t to see the Regen t be

fore it took place . The Secretary of the Coun ci lseems to have been presen t at this in terview

,and

Acta Dom . Concilu , xxvii . , fo l . 32 b .

lx BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

minuted as follows My Lord G ouernour shewthat he was informit be din ers writings from theCourt Of Rome that the said Postulat was prom ovit

to the Bishopry of D unkeld be the King of Inglandiswritings, and the said promotion solicitatbe the Protectour Of Ingland, Cardin al de Medicis, and the

Orator of Ingland 5 the quhilk the said Postulatdenyit that he k new anything Off

,and

,or he had

ben e art or part in the said mater he had leuer haveben e hangit, and n euer had benefice in to the

D ouglas then wen t to the meeting of the Lords of

Coun cil,and was examin ed in their presen ce. The

following minute was made of the proceedings onthis occasion

At Edinburgh , th e 6th day of Jun e [July] 1515 years, in

presence of my Lord G overnour , the Lordisof Consale , andthe remanent of the Lordis underwritten ,

that is to sayanenobleand hon ourable man—D e Planis, oratour to the maistcristin king of Praun ce ane maist Reverend ,and Reverendfaderisin God

,James

,A rchibischop Of G lasgw , Chan cel lar ;

D av id,Bishop of Galloway ;James , Bischop Of Dunblane

Robert,Bishop of Ross ;Androw ,

Bischop Of Cathn es;D av id

,BischOp of Ergyle ;Johnn e , Elect of the His;noble

and michty Lordis, Archibald , Erle ofAngus Colyn ,Erle of

Ergile ;Johnne , Erle of Levinax ;Hew,Erle of Eglintoun

Cuthbert,Erle of G len carne G ilbert

,Erle of Cassil is

Venerable faderisin God,James

,Postulate of Dunfermling ;

Patrik,Abbot of Cambuskyneth Johnne Lord Erskin

,

John ne Lord Flemyn g , Johnne Lord Hay of Yester, Johnn eLord Drummond

,Sir An ton e Barsy

,Monsr. LaBasty, and

Baroun Of Fareris,Master Gavin Dunbar

,Archiden e of StAn

drews,Clerk of Reg ister, Master James Og ilby, Chaunoun of

Ibid. fo l 26.

lxii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

ofmy barn is as I do , and will nocht sustene naman that walddo aganis thar rychtand privelege of my sonn is croune,bot will help to cause justice be doneapoun e ony personis

that w ill attempt in the contrar, and prayithisLordship todo the samin asaccorditof his Office ;and thin k nocht thatcuir I was consentand to sic thingis as ar said or siclike,and it will nocht be found that I did onything aganis theprivelege of my sonn is cronne on my honour, praying yourLordship to g ive nacredence till sic thingis aganis me.

A nd thareto my Lord Gouernour ansuerit, that he wasdeliueritto sustene the privilegeand rychtOf our SoueraneLord to the end of his lyfe atal l his power with body andgudis.*

On the 9th of July the meeting again took up thecase Of Gavin D ouglas , when he pleaded that as hewas an e spirituale man

,

” and as he was1 before atemporal court

,he was beyond their j urisdiction .

The Lords,however

,unan imously overruled this oh

jection . D ouglas then produced a letter which hadbeen signed not on ly by the Queen but by elevenLords Of the Coun cil, preferring him to the Bishopri c.The production of this letter caused explan ation sandprotests which are also given in the minute

,as

follows

Anen t the actioun prOponit be my Lord Gouernouraganis Gawyne, Postulate of Arbroth , that the saidPostulate suld purchese the Bischeprick of Dunkeld in theCourt of Rome contrare the statutis of the realme, the saidPostulate al legitthat he isane Spirituale man ,and thairforemy Lord G ouernour and Lordis of Consell ar naj ugie tohim in the said mater : In presens of my Lord G ouernourthe Lordisforesaidal l inane voce , be sentence interlocutourdecretisand deliueris that nochtwithstanding the said ex

ActaD om . Con cilii, xxvii. , fol . 26 b .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxii i

ceptiouns my Lord Gouernour and Lordis of Consell arj ugis competen t to haue the cognitioune of the breking of

the Actis of Parl iament,and navtheris.

Copialitere Postulatide A rbroth.

The QwenisGrace as tutrice testamentar and Gouernour tohir derrestsonne the Kingis Hienes, with the awis of theLordisvnderwrittin

,for diuersand resonable gud cansisand

consideraciounsmoving thame gevisand grantis thare fullconsen tis and assen tis to ane noble man Master GawyneDouglas, Postulate OfArbroth , for the gift of the Bischeprykof Dunkeld n ow vacand be the deces of wmquhile Georgelast Bischep and possessour of the sammyn e, quhais saulGod pardon ne, and preferris him thairtoand to beansweritthairof asaccordisof the law . Considering he is worthyandabill thairfore baith for his nobilite Of blud

,vertu

,and

science, and for the payne and daily labouris he takis andhas takin for the weilfare and prosperite of the Kingis personeand liberte of his crown e

,and at his power to procure

and mak vnite, cherite, and con cord amangis the Lordisand Estatis of this realme now standing disiunctand atdivisione A nd to this efi ecte our said Souerane Lady andLordis has writtin in our Souerane Lordis n ame thareeffectuis lettres for the said Maister Gawynes promociouneto the said Bischeprik to the Pap is Halyn esand his Cardinalis

,chargeing be the tenour of this wryte in our saide

Souerane Lordis n ame that napersone nor personispresumeor tak apone hand to cum in the con trare hereof in ony

wyse, vndiral l the biest payn e and charge thai may incuraganis the King is Maiestie and his auctorite rial l , and alsthe panis contenitin the Actis of Parliamentand priuilege

grantitbe diuerse Papis to this realmeand Kingis of thesammyne quhen ony sic prelacyis and grete beneficishappinis to naik w ithin the said realme : Certifying thamethat cum is in the contrare that the saidis pan is sal beexecutapoune thame with all rigour without favourisas

lxiv BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

brekaris of the said priuilege and parttakarisaganis theK ingi s Hienesas his conspiratourisand contrare the com

moune wele of his realme;and gif neid be that lettres bewrittin hereapoun e under the signet to mak publicatioun eat the Mercat Corcis of Edinburgh , Perth , Dunde , andvther placis n eidful l . Subscriuit be our said SoueraneLadyand Lordis of Consell in takyn of thare consentis atPerthtthe xx day of Jamaare , the yere of God jm v

°andand xiiij yeris. He ir fol lowis the subscriptiounis Of the

QuenisGrace and Lordisz—Margaret R. ;Erle Of Angus;Erle of Craufurd ;Erle of Erol l ;Alex .

,Erle of Huntlie ;

C .

,Erle of Glen carn ;Alex .

,ElectusAberdonen . Richard ,

Lord Inn ermeitht;Jo .

,Lord Drumond ;W illm s . , Abbas de

Cupro James , Lord Ogilby ;J0 . Lo . Hay of Yestir.

Lyoun Kyng Of Armisand Master James Urqhartaskitinstrumentis, as thai allege that thai desyrithim nocht toanswere in the said mater bot gif he pl esit, hora xi .Gawyne, Postulate of Arbroth , askit instrumentis that

he answeritin the said mater nocht wytht his will , as heal legit, bot because it was decretitthat the Lordisforesaidewar jugisin the cause.W ill iam , Erle of Erol , ash it instrumentis that he put

nocht his hand to the lettre purchestbe the Postulate of

Arbroth for the Bischeprick of D unkeld for nabreking of

the Kingis preuilege, bot erar for affirm ing of his priuilege ,and wald nocht consen t to nathing atmychtbrek hispriuilege.

My Lord G lencarneaskitinstrumentissiclyke .

My Lord Hay of YestiraskitsiclykW illiam , Erle of ErOl e

,ash it instrumentis that gif he

has done onything in'

tymis bygane , being with the QuenisG raice

, that he n ow reuokitand renuncitthe sammyne .

My Lord Drummond ashi t siclyke .

The Lordisdeliueris that nochtwithstanding the lettreproducitbe Gawyne , Postulate Of Arbroth subscriuitbe the

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxv

QuenisGraice and certane Lordis for the promocioune of

the Bischepryk Of Dunkeld to the said Postulate , that hehas brokin and v iolat the Actis of Parliamen t maid thairapone, because thai haue fund that it is n ochtane sufficien tlettre nor licence to saife him frathe hrekyng Of the saidisA ctis of Parliament for the purchessing of the saidBischeprik of Dunkeld .

The Lordisdecretisand deliueris that theActis of Parliamen t maid apoune Clerkispurchessing placiis at the Courtof Rome w ithout the Kingis licence salbe putto execuciounapoune Master Gawin Douglas , Postulate of Arbroth , in al l

poyntis efter the forme and tenour of the sam in ;becausehe has brokin the said Actis and Statut in the purchessingOf the Bischoprik of Dunkeld without the Kingis licence ormy Lord G ouernouris of commendacioune or laudaciouneto the Papis Halynes for the sammin

,as was clerelie

vnderstand to the saidis Lordis.

*

D ouglas, being n ow found guilty , in curred thepun ishment of ban ishmen t from the kingdom , butit was determin ed by the Regen t and the Chan cellorthat he should be sen t to prison . The Castle of

Edinburgh was then selected as the place of his confinement. He was afterwards committed to th ecustody of John Hepburn (his form er rival for th eArchbishopric)in the Castle of St Andrews . Fromthen ce he was con veyed to the Castle Of D unbar, andagain to the Castle Of Edinburgh .

The Regen t , who se ems to have begun his rule inScotland with great severity, n ext called Lord D rummond to accoun t for his audacity in striking the LordLyon of Scotland when perform ing the beh est Of theCouncil . He found him guilty, and sent him prisoner

ActaDom . Con cilii, xxvu . fe l l . 38 , 39.

lxvi INTRODUC TION .

to Bl ackn ess Castle , confiscating al l h is lands and

goodsSuch

,then was the un expected and unfortunate

result of the long sch eming OfD ouglas for ecclesiasticalprefermen t .

The Scottish ben efi ces,for wh ich we have seen so

much in triguing was practised,were Of great value

in compari son wi th the endowmen ts of the presen tEcclesiastical Establishmen t. I II 15 60

,when th e

value of mon ey was n early four times high er thanat presen t

,the revenues Of the Archbishopric of St

Andrews amoun ted annually to £2904,besides 30

chalders of wheat,41 of bear

,67 of oats

,12 bolls of

meal,and 4 of malt . The See Of Murray was n ext in

value after it came D unkeld,which D ouglas in one Of

his letters before given ,describes as “ an rychtgud

Byschopry of rent . ” Its annual in come amoun ted in15 60 to £ 15 05

,10s. 4d

,besides 4 chalders of wheat ,

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxvi i

3 7 of bear,64 of meal

, and 28 of oatsfit It hadorigin ally been a mon astery of th e Culdees

, andSt Columba was its patron sain t . The monasterywas greatly en larged by King D avid

,about the

year 1 127 , who made its head the first bishop .

Situated close to the river Tay,the Cathedral

,which

seems to have been completed soon after the year1450

,with its gray square tower rising up from

amidst a mass of trees,must have been an obj ect of

great dign i tyand in terest in former tim es . Even now

the ruin s of the n ave are singularly grand .

On e of the predecessors of D ouglas was B ishopSinclair

,whose conduct in the war of independen ce

with England procured for him the n ame of thewarlike B ishop

,

” while Robert the Bruce,sympa

thising more with his heroic than his ecclesiasticalqualities

,called him his own Bi shop.

An other predecessor of D ouglas , Bishop Lauder ,by whom the building of the cathedral was completed

,

made many addition s to its furn ishings . Can on Mylnrecords that “ he procured many priests ’ vestm en tsof silk

,and a deal of silver work , such as six candle

The Ben edictine Abbey of Aberbrothock to which Doug laswas postulated , wasin 1560 worth annual ly £2488 , 3s. , besides 20chalders of wheat, 118 of bear , 168 of meal , 27 of oats, and 1 lastan d 3 barrels of salmon . But from this rental there fe l l to bededucted al l owan ces to the monks on the establ ishment

,who were

paid at Kyn lossatth e fol lowing rate For habit sil ver,ilk monk

haiffand 50 s . be yeir For thair fische and flesche be yeir , il kanehaiffand 8d . in th e day for thair fiesch eand 2d in the day for thairfische .

" They had al lowances for thair fyir, buttir, can dil l , spiceand lentrum meitt. For braid and drink ilk ane of thaim haiffandin the yeir 19bol ls 1 firlot2 pecs, extending in th e hail l to 16 chalders 15 bol ls 1 firlot.

”—A ccountof Scottish M oney, die , p . 12,and

Stuart’sR ecordsof Kin loss, p 159.

lxvi i i BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

sticks,on e cup

,two phials

,three fiaggons, a box for

the chrism,a cross

,in which there was a part of our

Lord’ s cross,a vessel for holding the Eucharist , of

con siderable weight , and an other for the holy water,two in struments for sprinkling the holy water , andtwo in cen se cen sers . There was over again st the

great altar a pain ting , represen ting the twen ty-fourmiracles Of St . Colme

,and above this two statues of

the sain t . There were two pillars,on which rested

two angels , who held two candlesticks of fifteenbran ches

,according to what i s said in the Revelation

of St . John . Each of these bran ches was suspendedby a silken rope. He made a pillar for supportingthe great wax lights at Easter , with a bishop

’s chair,

and a ben ch for the choristers .” In 1500 BishopBrown gave various gorgeous dresses , as also a coverfor the altar of blue and gold . He made a pulpitof brass

,divided into four division s

,each of which

supported the statue of an Evangel ist, and when theGospel was given out, it was in that division whichan swered to the n ame of the Evangelist whose Gospelwas then read . He made a lesser pulpit

,which was

supported by the statue Of Moses behind,on which

there wasa candlestick of three bran ches. He causedthe upper parts of the pews to be pain ted . He renewedthe thron e of the holy cross , the chan cel , the altarsof St . Martin and St . M ichael . He caused images Ofthe apostles to be made

,and portraits Of the other

sain ts to be drawn upon the wall all around . A s forthe kings , n oblemen

,bishops

,and others who had

been benefactors to the Church,he caused their

figures to be drawn upon the wall behind the altar,

lxx BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

In 1508 a wing was built to the palace , and adj oining to it a handsome private chapel . B ishop Brown

furn i shed the palace in 1509,and left the furn iture

to h i s successors in Office .

*

\Ve must now return to the imprisonmen t of Gavin

D ouglas , which was deeply felt by his friends , bywhom strenuous efforts were made for his release .

The Pope was appealed to,and the fol lowing letter

of A lexander Turnbull , the agen t ofD ouglas at Rome,addressed to the Earl Of Angus , shews the steps which

were taken on his behalf

A lexander Turnbul l to the Earl of A ngus.

JHESUS.

My Lord , I commend my seruice oneto your L . in the maisthumble wisand emplesit the sammyn to wit, that eftir l

gatinformation at my Lord of D unkeldin , my maister, wastakin and in j uriously put in preson , I causit the Papi sHalynesto be informithereapon ,and has sped ane breilf ofthe Papis Halynes direct to the Duk for the deliuering andrelaxin of bym furth of preson ,

the copy of the quhilk breffyour L . sall resaff; A nd I purposit incon tinen t til hafsend the said breff hame sathat it mychthaif beyn intimatand presen t till the Duk , bot efter that thar com heir writing at the QuenisGraceand your L . war remouitof the land ,and for certane respectis cummyn in Ingland , I knew nochtto qubat frend 1 mychthatf send the said breff to thateffect at the sammyn mychthaf beyn present till the Duk ,and thar is natrast freind now in Brugis that I madirectmy writingis, for Master John Barry the quhilk conwoyit

my writingis of befoir has writyn to me and has excusit

hym . Thar i s laitly past in Ingland a fam iliarand secretar

Statistical acco un t o f Scotland , x .

, p . 972.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxxi

of the Bisschop of W lsister * direct be the Pap is Halyn eswyth the cardinales hat till the A rchbisschop of Yorke

,

’

r

the quhilk wasmaid Cardinale at the request of the King isGrace of Ingland;and your L . mychtfynd the waifor tocaus bym to con sen t to pas in Scotland wyth the Papi sbrevis , and to presen t the sammyn to the Duk of Alban efor the deliuering of my maister furth of preson ,

and tohaf his ansuer thareapon . I thin k that war the best waithat we couth fynd, for I dreid that con sidering as the caisis now,

thar is rycht few that w ill be contentitw ithin ourrealme to presen t ony thyng to the Duk til his desplesourmathis way be wroucht. I sal getbreuisin diueris form isin the faworisof my Lord , and alssal getspeciall commandand writing of the Pape til l the said secretar to presen t thesaid brevis to the Duk ;A nd gif your L . gettis h is con sen tyour L . masolist the King is Grace of Ingland to wryttothe Bisschop Of Wlsister hereapon ,

and at the Bisschop mawryt till his said familiar cal lit Bon ifacius for to acceptthis materand tak it one bym for the luff of A lmychty God .

Remembir apon my L . ,for war his L . at l iberte he wald

nocht n eg lek your L . n or vtheris freindis. I haif sped abreff of the Papis apon the confirmation of the King i s testamen t efter my Lordis wryttyng and diners informationsend to me thareone

,and has send n ow to the QuenisGrace

the copy Of the said breff and has writtyn till hir Graceat l enthtthareapon ,

an d siclik tuiching vtheris materis.Item

,Jerome Friscobald duel land in Brugis causitbe his

commission Symon de Recasolisand Ren ald de Recasolishis reSponsalisin Rome for toansuer me for the expeditionof the bul li s Of Dunkeldin ,

and vtheris materis concern ingmy Lord and freindis. A nd sen thai bullis war sped , andat thai wnderstand at my Lord was in preson , Jerom haswrittin here till his responsalis,and has suspendit that comm ission

,and sathai w il l nocht amsure me of a dukat quhil l

that thai haf vthir command of Jerome and n ow is nocht

Worcester . 1 Wolsey .

lxxi i BIOGRAPHICAL I NTRODUCTION.

the tym as your L . knawis to want credens con sideringmateris that occurris

,for but creden s may I do nocht heir

for my Lordisand vtheris freindispresen t , nor yit for mynawin honour ;quharfor I beseik your L . to fynde sum way ,and cansme to haf credens Of part of fynance now in thi sneid

,for Jerome Friscobald has duel land in London a son e

cal litLeonarde de Friscobald,and Leonarde hasSymon andRenald de Recasolis atansuristil bym here tharefore yourL . mafynd the wai to caus Leonarde for to wryt to hisresponsalis for toansure me of sameki l fynance as your L .

w il l witschaff, quhil l efterwart at we mafynd sum vthir

way ;for now passis the Pape furth of Rome to Florens ,to Bollone

,and to Peis, and we half mony smal freindisin

the court ay waitand tharawantage . For that caus as thePapis Halyn es remouis I mon addres me ay to be thar, andthat w il l draw me to the mar large expensis. A nd wyth the

grace of God A lmychty I sal do sic diligens efter my powerat your L . and vtheris freindis sal be applesit. BaltassarSteward is in the way cumand furth of Scotland here wythcommi ssion and creden s frathe Duk til the Papis Halynescontrar my Lord of Dunkeldin as I am informyt;quhehthat euer h e cummiswyth his creden s he w ill be met. The

Papis Halynesand mony vtheris gret men of gud merwalisof the scharp and gret extremite don to my Lord of Dun

keldin and vtheris freindis. The Pape wi l l nocht hastely,as I wnderstand

,turne apon my Lord of Dunkeldin ,

for nain formation mabe gev inaganis his L . ,

for the Pap has beynand the Cardinalis saoftinformitof his nobilite

,sciens ,and

vtheris gud nobile properetis, that thai w ill nocht gif hastecreden s. A nd tharfore at your L . be of gud confort andremembir your L . nobill progenitoris, and addres your Lwyth the consal and help of gud freindis to conwict themaleis of your innemys, the quhilk has lawboritand lauborisyour L . vtir distruction ,

the quhilk I traist in God A lmychtyand your L . gud gouernance sal pasal l thare powar. A nd

pleis your I eftir your L . has considerit this writting to

BIOGRAPH ICAL INTRODUCTION . lxxii i

sen d me amsure thareof;your L . may fynd the way ayequheh any writingis cummys heir to the Bisschop of

W lsistir to caus your writingis send to me to be direct tillthe Bisschop , for he standisOratour for the King of Inglandand common ly ilke monetht an is thar cummis writtingis

ti l l bym. A nd as ony thyng occurris,saat it ples your L .

I sall certefy your L . thareof. As the warld standisnow,

n owthyr mamy Lord wryt to me nor yit I magetwriting conwoitto his L .

—God A lmychty remeid This stormi s sawiolent it manocht lest. A nd I getnafynance inhast I mon perfors cum my wa, for I haif lewyt of mycreden s sen June

,and I war rychtWay and Iaichth to de

part now quhill my Lord war a free man,and owt of

trubil l,sathat I mychtvthir wais do . The B isschop of

W lsistir sped a breiff Of the Papis in August direct to theDuk for the deliuering Of my Lord , and send the sammynto the King of Ingland. Gud itwar at that breiff war presen t to the Dukand to haff his ansur

,and send the sammyn

heir sathat we do heir thareftir. A nd the glorius Virgynconserff your L . eternaly. At Rome the ferd dai of Nouember.—Your L . seruitor

,

SR. A LExR. TURNBULL .

*

The following letter of the Pope to the D ukeof Albany is worded in strong language, directlycen suring the D uke for the in sult he had given tothe H oly See by imprison ing D ouglas , and awarding pain s and penalties to him and all person s aidingopen ly or secretly in the detention of the Bishopthese penalties to extend to the second gen erationOf their descendan ts

D ilectof lic nobiliviro JohanniD uciA lbanie RegniScotieG ubernatori.

Dilecte fi li,salutem

,etc. Nuper per nos accepto , quod

‘ A ddressed .

—To my maist speciall Lord my Lord Erle of

Angous. MSS. Brit. Mus,Calig . B . v. ,

fo l . 97 .

lxxiv BIOGRAPHICAL INTROD UCTION .

n obilitas tua dilectum fi lium Gawinum electum Dunkeldensem ,

quem ad supplicationem carissimi in Christo fi liinostri Jacobi Scotorum reg is illustrisac dilectorum fi liorum

presidentium Consilii regn i Scocie ecclesie Dunkeldensitunecerto modo pastoris solacio destitute in Episcopum pre

feceramus, etpro quo prefatnm Jacobum Regem ac te perdiuersas nostras in forma breuis l iteras attencius hortatifueramusvtidem rexassisteret, ettu cum rege et consilio

prefatis, eidem Gauino electo in assequendapossessioneregiminis etadministrationis ipsius ecclesie D unk eldensis

fauorem et auxilium exhiberetis; ac cui an tea pro regn iScocie quiete per alias nostrasmandaueramus, vtvenerabilifratri nostro Andree Archiepiscopo Sanctiandree quemlegatum natum dicti regn i quoad uiueretcum certis facultatibuscreaueramus

,n ostro nomine inhiberetne donec aliud

sibi mandaremus l egatum se nominaretnec sibi con cessisvteretur

,ad te euocari feceras. Et cum super huiusmodi

mandato cuius penitus ignaras erat , cum interrogasses,ipseque Gawinus jurejurando respondissetipsius mandatisibi per nosfacti h ullam habuisse nec habere noticiam

,sed

il lin s prorsus inscium esse , tu ira accensus, honorisquetui ac proprie salutis immemor , eum temere etiniuriose

capiens, demum careeribus mancipari facere seu mandarenon formidaueras, in nostrum etapostolice sedis non leuemOffensum

,atque an ime tue detrimentum anathematis, prop

terca et priuacionis feudorum et inhabilitatis descen

den tium ad ben eficiaobtinendaet ecclesiastici interdictialiasque multiplices penas in constitucione con sili i Viennensis con ten tas , incurrendo Nos per al ias nostras l i terasceiam in forma breuis nobilitatem tuam in Domino hortandam duximus, vt huiusmodifacinoris atrocitatem celeriremedio corrigere , et Opportuna satisfactione emendarestuderes

,eundemque Gawinum electum quam primum

relaxarietad pristinam Iibertatem reintegrari procuraies.

A lioquin expediens nobis ymmo necesse futurum erit pro

prefati Gan in i elceti liberacione et nostri et huiusmodi

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxxv

sancte sedis honoris conseruacione , ad oportuna dicticonciliietaliarum constitucionum apostolicarum proditaa jureremedia con tra te

,etalios ad detencionem eiusdem auxilium

consilium etfauorem,directe uel indirecte , tacite uel expresse

prestan tes prosilire , eorumque descenden tes vsque [ad] secundam gen eracion em inhabiles , etal ios qui cum possentillan egligebantemendare easdemque amplius penas in currissedeclarare et pro talibus nunciari et ab omn ibus areiuseuitaridebere . Nos ig itur qui vnicuique in iusticiadebitores sumuseidem Gauino electo n e cuius liberacio diuciusdifferatur

,de celerisprouisionisremedio succurrere volentes

premissa ad memoriam n obilitatis tue de nouo duximus

reducenda, candem nobilitatem tuam quam special i dilexion is affectu ex visceribus caritatis prosequimur atten ciusrequiren tes

, quatinus te statim iusticie cui ceiam ipseastringeris te exhibeas—etiam utnos ab huiusmodi curaliberes

, prefatum Gawinum electum relaxari et ad preetinam libertatem reintegrari cum effectu facere et

emendare nul latenus differas. A lioquin inuiti et con tramen tem nostram cogimur pro iusticie debito nedam adconciliiet constitucionu maliaque a iure proditaremediahuiusmodiverumetiam acriores cen suras etpenas con tra te,etquoscunque alios deten cioniipsiusGawiniel ectiauxiliumconsilium et fauorem directe uel indirecte

,tacite vel ex

presse prestan tes, eorumque descenden tes usque ad secundam generacionem procedere, etalias in has nostri pastoralisoffi cii partes interpon ere, prout pro ipsius Gawini elcetiliberacione et libertatis ecclesiastice etauctoritatis sedispredicti conseruacione conspexerimus expedire. Datumetc.

*

In order to trace the steps by which D ouglasregain ed his liberty, and was inducted into Ofiice, wemust shortly glan ce at the affairs of Queen Margaret,

MSS . Brit. Mus. Cal ig . B . v. ,fo l . 97 .

lxxvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

w ith which it was his fate to be so in timately

conn ected .

The Regen t A lbany , after his severe pun ishment

Of Gavin D ouglas and his relative Lord D rummond ,kept th e Queen also in a kind of captivity in WhatD ouglas from sad experien ce kn ew to be , and in asubsequen t paper

,calls the wyndy and richt

vnplesant Castell and royk of Edinburgh ,” and de

prived her of the custody of her young son s . She

at last found this treatmen t so irksome that shefled to the Border Castle of Blackadder

,and after

wards to Harbottle,where she was del ivered of her

daughter, Lady Margaret D ouglas , subsequently the

grandmother Of King James VI . Soon after thi s shewen t to London and was well received at the Courtof her brother Hen ry .

The Regen t now became sensible of the impruden ceof his conduct towards the sister of the king of Eng

land . He sen t letters to Margaret, beseeching her tolisten to reason

,and declaring his aversion to rigorous

measures . The Queen replied to his ambassadorsthat apprehen sion s for her life had con strain ed her toquit Scotland ,and demanded the tutelage Of her son sand the Regen cy of the kingdom . She related her

grievan ces at the hands of Albany in a long paperwh ich she submitted to his ambassadors

,in which the

following particulars are very graphically givenAnd at the comynge of the said Duke in to Scotland

,

he made me fare and pleasante semblance , and afterwardspurposed by the advice of his Counseill

,to take the King

and his broder , my said tender childer from me . A nd

thereupon caused the Lord D romonde,being Con stable of

my said Castle of Stirling , whiche had the keeping of mv

lxxvii i BIOG RAPHICAL INTR ODUCTION .

In the furste to lowse Schir Gawen Dowglas, and causehym be putto libertie, giffand bym ane benefice of iim ori i im ffrankis.

I conceyue by the credence of the said Master Jamesthat he causes be con tent for my pleasour to putat largeand libertie Mastur Gawen Douglas , and to geve hyme abenefice of i i or i i im ffrankis. I doute n otbut the POOpesHolynesacceptethand taketh the said Master Gawen for theBishop of Donkeld

,like as his said Holyn es signyfyed

vnto youe by oon Of his breves lately sen t and conveyedvnto youe by Carlyl l , Harrold de armes . Glad would I beto see the said Bishop at libertie, albeit ye gave vuto hymenoe benefice

,but that ye wold suffer hyme to en joye and

occupye his aun e promocion ;howbeit I doe remyte thereformacion thereof to the Poopessaid Holynes, trustinge hew ill see redress in that behalve as right, and the liberties ofCristis churche dooth

In con sequen ce Of these negociations D ouglas atlast Obtain ed his liberty . Hisimprisonment had lastedabout a year. On the 30th July, 15 16, the n ame ofthe Elect of D unkeld appears in the sederun t of the

Lords Of Coun ci l , and again on 15 th September .On the 20th of that mon th

,the Regen t , who seems

now to have become favourably disposed towardsD ouglas , wrote the following letter to the Pope on

his behalf

To Leo X. Sovereign Pontifi’

.

Most blessed father, we are happy to kiss your feet.Some time since the church of Dunkeld became vacan tby the death Of George its late Pastor, who died at home .The Presiden t and Chapter, residing at Dunkeld at thetime

, postulated to the church as their pastor, though as tosacred matters they could not canon ically elect, an il lus

MSS . Brit . Mus. Cal ig ,B . vi ., fo l . 117 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxxix

trions man,Mr Andrew Stewart

,by both his paren ts

procreated of royal blood,son of the Earl of Athole , and

powerful in those parts .They committed to his keeping and protection thelands

, castles and places belonging to the Bishopric, thatby his authority the incursion s of the Forest people mightbe repelled.

But your Holin ess,as was reported by the most

Reverend Cardinal de Medicis , assumed to the church of

Dunkeld Gavin Douglas ;who , by the frequen t letters ofyour Clemen cy to us beingatlast reconciled to us

,is now

admitted to the possession of that church .

Lest, however, any tumult or sedition should arise, wehave persuaded the other, who under pretence of his beingpostulated held the forts and castles

,to en ter in to an

agreemen t, which , if confirmed by the authority Of yourBlessedness

,would happily end the whole affair. What we

therefore en treat at presen t is, thatal l defects of lawanddeed

,and all errors being removed, the con tract may be

ordered to be observed .

A more full relation will be made by the most ReverendCardinal of St . Eusebius.Most Blessed Father

,farewell. From Edinburgh , the

28th day of the mon th of September, in the year of Salvation

,15 16.

9!e

A ll difficulties as to his appoin tmen t having passed ,D ouglas had n ow to go through the ceremony of cons ecration as Bi shop of D unkeld .

A lexander Myln ,on e of the Can on s of D unkeld

,

and who subsequen tly was the first Presiden t of theCourt of Session

,wrote the lives of the Bishops of

that See . In his book we get some in teresting particulars Of the proceedings regarding the B ishop

’sinduction in to office. Myln states , that James Beaton ,

Tran s. from orig . in Epist . Reg Scot tom . i p . 222.

lxxx BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

Archbishop of Glasgow ,and Chan cellor of Scotland

,

accommodating himself to the new turn of affairs,

invited D ouglas to G lasgow,where he himself per

formed the ceremony of con secrating him to the episcopal office and as he kn ew that his funds were lowfrom the circumstan ces in which he had been latelyplaced

,n oton ly paid all the expen ses Of his consecra

tion,but gave him presen ts of j ewels .

*

The n arrative Of Myln ,who was a con temporary ,

g ives but little information as to the con secration of

D ouglas, a ceremony which forms an in terestingepisode in the history of the Church in Scotland.

Itwould appear that about the year 148 9,K ing

James IV .,ei ther actuated by deep religious feeling, or

imitating a similar practice in some of the con tin en talkingdoms , caused himself to be enrolled among theCanon s of the cathedral church Of St Kentigern atGlasgow. A n Act Of the Scottish Parliamen t passedin that year erected Glasgow into an Archbishopric

,

and a Bull of Pope Inn ocen t V I I I . was Obtain edconfirming the same. The Bishops of Dunkeld

,Dun

blan e,Galloway

,and Argyll were made suffragan s to

the new Archbishop,and th ese sees

,w ith Glasgow

itself,were thus withdrawn from the province of St.

Andrews .This measure was strongly opposed by Andrew

Forman,Archbishop of St . Andrews ;and as the Bull

of the Pope was on ly in favour of the then Bishop Of

G lasgow (who had died some years before the appoin tmen t of D ouglas to D unkeld), there was a difficulty as to whether the con secration of D ouglas

Vitae Episc . Aberd , p . 73 .

lxxxii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

Primati etLegato , meo Metropolitan o et Primati , et

successoribus tuis canonice intrantibus. Sic me D eus

adiuuet, etper hec Sacrosan ctaD eiEwangelia.

”

Myln g ives a graph i c accoun t of the circumstan ces

which occurred on D ouglas taking possession of his

See °

After his con secration he first visited St . Andrews , onMichaelmas week , and then the church of Dunkeld. The

first n ight he wasveryafiectionately received by the clergyand Iaity

,whoal l praised God for so noble, so learned , and

so worthy a bishop. He published the bul ls at the greataltar

, gave his bl essing , and lodged at the Dean’s house

,as

he had no access to the palace , which , w ith the steeple ,Andrew Stewart’s servan ts held out for him

, and theyrefused to del i ver them in their master’s n ame

,alleging

that they did all by the authority of the Regent . On thisaccount he was forced to have the service of God performed in the Dean ’s house. To this place he called theCanon s

,and received their homage , and i t wasw ith their

whole heart they yielded him homage ;on the other handthe Bishop swore to keep al l the statutes of the chur ch .

A fter dinner he con sulted the gen tlemen and clergy whow ere w ith him as to what course he ought to follow in

that con jun cture . Some advised him to send notice tothe Regen t , others would have him go in person .

In the m idst of these con sultation s they are informedthat Andrew Stewart wasin arms

,with a design to relieve

those who held out the palace . That instan t a discharge ofcannon shot came from the steeple and palace . Then al lthe people of rank hurried to the Bishop

’s defence . Thesewere the worthy Dean

,James Lord Og ilvy, Dav id Master

o f Crawfurd , Col in Campbell of G lenurquhar, Lord Kinfauus, the Prebendary O f A lith

,and many other church

Form . Inst . Ecclcs. MS,St. Andrews

,£0 1. 53 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxxxiii

men . Notice is sen t of these transaction s to the B ishop’s

friends in An gus and elsewhere upon which the next daythere came such crowds from Mon trose

,from the low parts

of Fife,and the coun try round about

,that the town could

scarce hold them . Butfor al l their num ber the Prebendary of A lith had laid up such abun dance of everything , that there was room and provision s for al l the men

,

and also for their horses .The B ishop elect , not hav ing it in his power to reliev e

those who held out the palace and steeple, is forced to

retire to the woods. Then Bishop Douglas , on his sidesummon ed them to surren der

,under pain of excommunica

tion . For fear of this threat, partly by force, partly by

stratagem ,the steeple was putin to the possession of James

Carm ichael,of some of the Prebendaries

,an d Of theBishop

’shousehold . This putthe people in the palace in great fear :they Obtained a truce and a suspen sion of the excom

munication for some hours ;but after that time they werestill unwilling to surrender ;however , by the merits of St .

Colme they gave up the palace without bloodshed .

Upon this the Earl and his brother wen t to court tocomplain of what had been don e ;the Bishop wen t also todefend himself. For some time there were mutual accusations . However

,by the wisdom of some Of the coun

sel lors they agreed upon these terms : That AndrewStewart should retain al l the Bishop

’s ren ts he had lev ied ,and should also have the churches of A lith and Carg il l ,upon condition of paying some chalders of victual to theBishop .

From this time the church and the whole provin ce had

peace ;and though the Bishop was loaded with debts heyetgave himself to good works. His first work was thebridge , one arch of which his predecessor had fin ished .

and his executors drove the p iles for other two ;BishopDouglas con tinued this work . A nd upon receiving twohundredand forty pounds from B ishop George

’s executors ,

lxxxiV BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

the work wasbrought the length thatal l travellers on foothad an easy passage. Hisother good works , Spiritual andtemporal , I leave to the pens of the higher Canons .

”

Being at last in peaceable possession of his See,

D ouglas engaged with diligen ce in the discharge of

h i s duty amongst his clergy and peop le . He al sotook a promin en t part in public affairs

,as his n ame

occurs as having been presentat several meetings Ofth e Lords of Coun ci l . At one Of these he waselected

,along with the Secretary of the Coun cil ,

Patrick Pan ter,to proceed to Fran ce and assist the

Bi shop of Ross,Ambassador there

,in ren ewing the

an cien t league between the two n ation s . Theydeparted on the 1 7th May 15 17 , and after arrangingmatters satisfactorily they return ed to Scotlandabout the end of Jun e

,as appears by their follow

ing letter to VVOlsey requesting a safe conductthrough England

Maist reverend in G od , efter dew salutation ,We suppois

that it is knawin to your Lordschip how be command of

c ure souerane lord and master the King of Scottis we ardirectit nocht anerly for peax and amite betuix theRealmis of France , Ingland ,

and Scotland,but als for

vniversal l concorde in the K irk Of God with sufficien tauctorite and special l commande gevin to ws to transportwsquhare itsall be expedien t for the prem isses and therapon we in thir partis have Spokin with the K ing of

France , and now we vnderstand that the Due of Albany,

G ouernour of Scotlandand tutour to cure souerane Lord is( l lSCC Il dltin Bertaigne quhais Secretare Gualtere Malynny,as we beleuit

,suld have cummyn throw Ingland and

h roeht to wsane saufconduct. W e herfor thocht n ecessur e to aduertis your Lo . this tyme , to effect that we

Trans . of Perth An tiquarian Society,1 , p . 66.

lxxxvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

all h is legs and arms before he had stirred a steptowards Scotland

,took the opportun ity of going to

France at th i s time for the purpose of sign ing thetreaty and visiting his own vast estates in thatcountry .

Before leaving Scotlan d he delegated his authorityto the Archbishops of St Andrews and G lasgow,

andto the Earls of Arran

,Angus , Argyle and Hun tly

The power of Angus now became so great that in15 20 a design was formed by his powerful rival , JamesHamilton

,Earl of Arran

,to seize him

,and in all pro

hability afterwards to put him to death . The carrying out of this scheme caused the well-known fightwh ich i s recorded in Scottish history under the nam eof Clean -th e-causeway .

”

The Earl of Arran and the Hamilton s met in thehouse of James Beaton

,Archbishop Of Glasgow ,

situated at the bottom of Blackfriars ’ VVynd, to deliberate on the mann er of the execution of the plot . *

The Palace of th e Bishops of Dunkeld , and of Gawin Douglin particular, th e friendly oppon ent of th e Archbishop, stood on

the opposite Side Of the same street, immediately to the west of

Robertson ’s Close, and scarcelyan hundred yards from BlackfriarsWynd . It appears to have been an extensive mansion , with largegardens attached to it, runn ing back n early to th e Old Town wal l .

Among th e pious and munificent acts recorded by Myln of

Bishop Lauder, th e preceptor of James I I . , who waspromoted toth e See of Dunkeld in 1452, are th e purchasing of a mansion in

E dinburgh for himself and successors, an d th e founding of analtarage in St. Giles

’ Church there to St. Martin . It cannot bedoubted that the man sion thus giftedand en larged was a building

,

we l l suited by its magn ificence for the abode of the successive ’

dig n itaries of the Church who were promoted to that exaltedstation , and that it formed another striking feature in this streeto f palaces . Its vicin ity both to the Archiepiscopal residen ce an dto the Blackfriars ’ Church—the later scen e of rescue of Arch

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . lxxxvi i

The Earl of Angus hearing of their in ten tion s , sen t hisuncle Gavin D ouglas to state that he was willing toretire with his party from the city

,if they were per

mitted to do so in safety. D ouglas in the mean timereminded Beaton that it was his busin ess as a churchman to preserve order. The Archbishop purposed

,if

n ecessary,to assist the Hamilton s in person

,and had

put on armour below his ecclesiastical vestmen ts . H e

made excuses to D ouglas , layingthe blame of the wholematter on the Earl of Arran

,and con cluded by saying ,

There i s n o remedy,upon my con scien ce I cann ot

help what i s about to happen . At the same tim ehe struck his breast w ith his hand

,when the coat of

mail was heard to rattle . D ouglas perceiving th i s ,said How n ow

,my Lord

,methinks your con scien ce

clatters .After leaving the Archbishop , D ouglas wen t back

bishop Beaton by Gawin D ouglas—affords a very satisfactoryil lustration of on e of th e memorable occurrences during th e tur

bulent m inority of James V . This ol d Episcopal residen ce hasother association s of a very differen t nature ;for we learn from

Knox’s history that, when h e was summon ed to appear in th e

Blackfriars Church on th e 15th of May 1556, and his Opponentsdeserted the ir intended attack through fear , “ th e said JOhn e

,the

Same day of th e summondis, tawghtin Edinburgh in a greattaraudien ce than ever befoir h e had don e in that toun e ;The placewasthe Bischope of Dunk el lis, his great loodgeing , whare he con

tinewed in doctrin ten dayis, boyth befoir and after nune .

” Amodern land occupied th e Site of Bishop D oug las

’

palace and th epl easure grounds wherein th e poet was won t to stray, and on

which we may suppose him to have exerc ised hisrefin ed tastean dluxurious fan cy in realising such a gardyn e of plesan ce as h edescribes in the Open ing stan zas of his Pal is of Hon or, was til lrecently crowded with m ean dwel l ings of th e artisan and labourer ,which in their turn have been swept away in an exten sive scheme

of city improvements. Wilson’

sM emorialsof E dinburgh, p . 339.

lxxxvii i BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION

to his n ephew,and bade him defend himself l ike a

man .

“ For me,

” he said,

“ I will go to my chamber

and pray for you .

Sir Patrick Hamilton,a wi se and moderate man ,

brother of the Earl of Arran , now advised his brotherto avoid coming to blows, when Sir James Hamiltonof D raphane, a n atural son Of the Earl

,upbraided

him w ith cowardice in declin ing the combat. SirPatrick then cried out

,

“ Bastard smaik,I shall fight

this day where thou darest not be seen andfollowed by the Ham ilton s

,threw himself sword in

hand upon the Spearmen of the Earl of Angus . Atlast the H amilton s were completely routed

,and fled

out Of the town in great confusion ,leaving seven ty

two of th eir number dead on the streets,amongst

whom were the Master Of Montgomery , and SirPatrick himself.Archbishop Beaton

,who took part in the fight, and

who,Buchan an informs us , flew about as a firebrand

of sedition ,narrowly escaped. He was taken from

behind the high altar in the church of the BlackFriars where he had fled for san ctuary, and owed thepreservation of his l ife to Gavin D ouglas .W hen the Regen t Albany left Scotland in 15 1 4

,

Queen Margaret began to make arrangemen ts for her

return thither. After leaving the Engl ish Courtshe proceeded to Berwick

,where She met her hus

band,the Earl Of Angus, who had remained in Scot

land during her visit to her brother. The Queenhad many causes of quarrel with A ngus. He had

cruelly deserted her when she was on her way to

London , and that at the very time when She was

XC BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

Franche , quhairin come ane G onsailis, an e seruand of the

D wik Of A lbaneis, and hes brocht diners writingis tosyn drie of this cuntre assurand thaim that w ithin schortt

tyme he salbe within th is ralme , quhilk w ill nother cum

for honour nor proffeitto the Kingis Hien esOf th i s realm ,

for I am assurit he repen tis richt sair the last tyme hedepartitfurth of this realm in the fassion as he did. The

Castell of D unbar is hayth w ith mwnymentisand wyttalis

prowidit as evyr wes ony in the yl e of Bartane . The

said Lord takkis plane part w ith the freir that seykis

pensyoun apon my benefice of Dunkeld , and sais largisliethatI sall regret that cuir I yeid that gait . In Inglandyour Grace and W i sdom maconsidder th is , and supple oureyoung King that it cum nocht to syk poyn t as m en belewis,

and evir he cum heir again . A nd I beseik your G raicethat the K ingi s Hyenesand your G raice haif me and myafferis recommenditin Roym e ;and as for vther n oweltiS

thar is nayn hotatal l the Lordisin th is Realm araggreandand at gud poyn t , thankatbe Almychty God , quba mothaifyour G raice eternalye conseruit.

At Edinburgh th is penult day of Februar, be yourSeruitour

,D UNKELD

,etcfi“

At last,in N ovember 1521 , the D uke of Albany

return ed to Scotland,and was received by the Queen

w ith every appearan ce Of friendsh ip . The Earl of

Angus, when he foun d th e Regen t was supportedw ith a strong Fren ch force,and waswell suppli ed withmon ey and ammun ition ,

fled to the Borders ,and tookrefuge at the K irk Of along with the Lords

A (l clressed .

—Toan e mayst reuerend fadir in G od , Ar chibisch ep

of York . D ocqueted .—Ed1nr .

,28th February, B . of Dunkeld to

th e Lord Cardinal l aduertising a messenger come into Scotlandfrom the D . of A lbany, who is soon after expected to be ther .

MSS .Brit . Mus. Cal . B . I . ,

fol . 77. Probably th e Church o f

St. Mary , of Upsetlington , n ow Ladykirk , Berwickshire .

x c i i BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

i s nalytil l besynes cansis him mak Sik travale now at Sik

poyn t of necessite, quhen I ,andall his frendisin thir partis ,mychtsacvill waunthis help and gude connsale. Neuertheles baith we and he , ful lieassuritin youre gudenesandhye wisdome, beleving fermlye that his passage towart theKyn gsHyenesand youre Grace mychtavalegretum ly, n ochtalanerly to himselfand ws, bot alsuato the weil fare Of thisrealmeand surtye of the Kingispersoun my Souerane, derestn evo to the Kings Hienes youre maister, has presentlyedirect him

,ful lye instruct in that behalf, vnto his Majesty ,

as said is . Beseking youre Grace to tak gud hede to themater, and qubat stede , plesour, or lauchfull seruice I maydoo or procure to be done to your pl esour in thir partis , Isalbe glayd to fulfyl l the samyn at the commande of youreGrace , as knawis our Lord God , quba haue youre Grace inhis blissit keping eternalye . A t the Kyrk of Steyl l thexiii day Of December

,subscriuitwith my hand .

Youris, with his lauchful l seruiceARCHBALD

,ERL or ANGUS .

To my Lord Cardinal lisGrace of Inglaund .

’is

I nstructionsfor B ishop D oug lasf rom the Earl of A ngusandothers. 1521.

Instructions and Commissioun for my Lord of Dunkeld ,to be schawin on to the Kyngis Grace of Ingland on thebehalf of my Lord of Angus his kyn and freindis, Lordm e

,Lord Somervel

,thar kyn and frendis, for the weil

and souerte Of thar Souerane Lord ;and to apout w ithhis Hien esapon thirarticulis efter following , or ony otherisnotbeing heir exprest, as is thocht expedien t be the K ing i sGrace

,his Consale , and av ice of the said Bischop for the

securite forsaid.

I tem,first he sal sehaw how the Duke of Albany is cum

to Scotland, and throu his pretendittitil l to the eroune , i t

is presumyt, he having the keping of the King our SouerMSS. Brit. Mus. Cal .

,B . vi .

,fol . 211 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . xcii i

ane your nevo and the reule of his realme and subiectis,

gret suspicioun and danger of his person . Quharfor w ithout hasty helpandassistance Of the KingisGrace of Ingland ,

i t is thocht til ws that our souerane Lord forsaid standisin gret juperte of his l ife ;the quhilk help and we mayhaue

, we sal deand liff in the querrell for the sonerte of oursaid Soveran e , w ithout quhais help it is nocht in our powerto perform ,

and as we maywe sall luke to the mater in themeyn tyme .

I tem,it is thocht till ws at our said Souerane can nocht

be weil and souerlie kepit w ithin his realm ,the Duke Of

Alban y beand G ouernour thereofand presen t In the realme ,the said Duk alswahav ing the Lordis keparis of the Kingis

person at his commandmen tand plesour .

A lsuai t is thochttil ws that gif our Souerane suld remane in his aw in realme

,the D uke being in Scotland and

Gouernour tharof, that thir thre Lordisquhilk now hes then ame of the keping of the King ,and hes nocht in deid , thaior otheris his keparis to be apointit be the parl iamen t ofScotland suld haue the nom ination and pon ting of al hisseruandisabout him , sik as cukisandal other men of Office

,

as thai waldansuer for to God, to thar consciensand to tharSoueran e

,and nocht the Lordis quhilkis now hes him in

keping , ilkane of thame cumand thar four moneth , quhilkisin maner cumis for a schawing or a sycht, seand the saidDuke of A lbany poyntisal l Ofiiciarishim self about our saidSouerane . A nd alewa hes keparis of the castelland kepisbath wach and wardabone the K ing and Lordis keparis ofhis person . A nd alena the Lord kepar for the tyme has na.manerof rewlenowtherof ourSoueranysdiet , norpoyn ting ofhis seruandis about him ,

n or abilzement of his personQuharfor but help and remeid heirof to our apperance ,o ur said Souerane is gane without the mercy of GodAlmychty.

I tem,we think and knawisbe experiens that the Quene,

be ev iland seinistar consal e , is mekil l inclynytto the plesour

BIOGRAPHICAL I NTRODUCTION .

of the Duke in al maner of thingis,and ar neuer syndry boteuery day togidder, owther forrow none or efter ;and as itis supposithes in tendit a diuorce betwix the Erle of Angusand the Queue

, and quhat consale the said Queyn e hadgevin byr be the Bischop of G lasgw,

the Abbot Of Halyrudehows

,and Master John Can tlie

, quhom to the said Dukenow at his cumyng in Scotland hes gev in to hir th ir promotion s. the Ar chbischiprik of Sanctandrois to G lasgw ,

the Bisch0prik of G lasgw to theAbbot of Halyrudehous, andtheAbbacy OfKilwynyng to Cantlieand othertwabenefi ces,and als hes had G rissel l hys seruand remanand w ith theQueue thir thre quarteris of this yer for the completing of

his purpos;and a gret part of this consale fader frer HenryChadworth

, quhilk the KyngisGrace of Ingland sen d tothe Quen e, knawis in euery behalf.

I tem , the said Duk of Al bany come at his first hame cum

yng to Striueling quhar the Queyn was,and frathyne to

Lithgow bath in cumpany togidder, and syne til Edinburgh ,

and apon the secund day efter thar cummyng til Edinburghthe said Duk with the Queyn wen t to the Castell quhar theK ing was, and thar the capitane deliveritthe keys to theDuke , and he deliverit thame to the Queue to dispone ath ir plesour , and syn e scho gave thame to the Duke agameas hir maist trast for the keping of the Kingis persone.I tem , gif our Souerane can nocht be the con sent of the

thre estatis of Scotland be transportit furth Of his realme .

nor yitthe Duke OfAlbany to devoyd the realme, that thanthir thre lordisquhilkis suld have the keping of the K ingi sGrace

,or otheris sicl ike as sal l pless the thre estatis to

apout , to haue the nominatioun and pon ting ofal l Officiarisand otheris at ar necessar to be about our said Soueranys

person , sik as thai wil ansuer for to Godand thar Soueraneapon thar allegeance ;and at the saidis Lordis being keparis and otheris his t ciaris forsaid salbe cleirly relaxitand quytclamytto haue namelling with the said Duke, ontothe tyme our said Souerane be of perfite age as can be

xcvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

mar securite the saidis Lordis hes subscrivit this writew ith thar handis . Atthe Kyrk Of the Steil l , the xiiij dayof December

,the yer of God jm . v

°. and xxi. yeris.

A RCHBALD ERL or ANGUS .

GEORGE LORD Hon .

JON SOWMERWELL .

*

D ouglas was at the same time summon ed to Rome ,as appears from the following letter of Lord D acre

,

although the obj ect Of his mission i s not clear. SirHenry Ell is th inks that Albany thus arranged matters ,

probablv fearing the talen t of D ouglas for n egociation

,and to preven t a long residen ce OII his part as

the agen t of the Earl of Angus at the English Court;fbut from the tenor of the letter of D ouglas to V

VOlsey,

dated 1st January 15 22,it would appear that he

an ticipated having to defend himself again st certainimpeachmen ts .

Lord ThomasDacre to Cardinal I'Volseg.

My Lord , pleas i t your Grace, the Busshop of Dunkeld issommon ed to the court of Rome by the meanes of the Dukeof A lbany

,who is right glad thereof, one way seing that

his quarrel] is so good , and moost special l that he maylawbor to the K ings Highnes and your Grace to lettheDuke of Albany in the acheving of his dampnable myudand en treprise for the suyrtie of the K ing his Souerain ,whiche is in good belen e that with the help of the KingsHighnesand your Grace shall com out of the dangeour ofthe said Duke and his dampnable purpose , w ithout which iti s past remedie , but onelie in the mercie of God . A nd if i tcan be thought good for that purpose, that the said Bussh

’

op

MSS . Cott . Cal ig ,B . vi.

,223 .

El lis ’ Orig . Letters,3d series, vo l . i.

, p . 286 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION. XCV l l

remane still and send hisproctor to Rome with his an swer,w ith som favorable lettre in his favour fro your G race to theKings Oratour at Rome. I trust he wilbe ordred therinaftreyour Gracispleasure , whom it will pleas your G race to bringto the K ings presence , to the in tent that he may shew to

his Highnesand your Grace the vehemen t dangeour that theKing his Souerain stands in and also to declare certain instrueions made by Th

’erle Of Angus , the Lordes Home

and Somervell, on the behalf Of them self and other ther

kyn , freindes, and partietakers, for the wele and suyrtie of

ther Souerain ;to the which Articles, standing with theK ings highe pleasure for the partie' of the said Lordes ,they ar bodely sworn vpon the holy Evangelists to perfourme the same in the presen ce of the said BusshOp Of

Dunkeld and me , whom I beseche your Grace may befauorably herd. I haue graunted to the said Busshop Of

Dunkeld a saufconductby theauctoritie of myne Office ofWardanre;becausethetymewasso shorte, and the dangeourOf his message grete , he could nottarie of going and com

myng to and fro th e Kings Highnes. Howbeit I hauewriten to his said Highn es for a saufconduct

,which I

trust shal l mete bym or he com to your presence. A nd theblessed Trin ite preserue your Grace. At the Castell ofNorham the xv daye of December.

Yowerswitesserues,

THOMAS L . DACRE.

To my Lord Cardinal lisGrace?“

The following letters to Wolsey were writtenby D ouglas wh il e he was engaged in these n egociation s . The first ann oun ces his arrival in Engl and ;th e second caution s VVOlsey again st Gaultier Malynnethe D uke of Albany’s Secretary

,who on th e part Of

the D uke requested VVOlsey to detain D ouglas in

MSS. Brit. Mus. Cal . , B . vi fol . 215 .

9

xcviii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.

London ;the third con tain s the an swers of D ouglasto the statemen ts of the D uke ’s Secretary and thefourth caution s Wolsey again st John D un can son andEvangelista, sen t by Albany and the A rchbishop ofG lasgow to prej udice him again st D ouglas.

Gavin D oug las to Cardinal lVolsey.

My Lord , in all hmnble and dew maneyr I recommendmy lawful l seruyce onto your Grace , quham plasytknaw Iam cummyn in this realm ,

send from my lord Erl l of Angus ,othir Lordis of Scotlandand grete personagis to the KyngisHyenes apon certan n eydful l dyrectiounes, and speciallyconcernyng the weylfar and surte of his derrestnevo theKyng my Soueran . A nd gif I , quhilk am onknawyn wythhis Magestye , durst haf presumytto haf wrytyn on to thesamyn

,I wald gladly , besekyng your Grace to support me

in that behalf,and that it motplays Yow to shaw me in

quhatplaceand qubat tyme I sal l cum to your Grace , andsafurth on to the Kyngis Hyen es, and salbe verre glad toawaytapon your command . A nd gif it had nocht beynfor this he fest of Crystis natyvyte, and als that I am sum

part accrasytby the way,I suld haf cummyn strecht to

your Grace ;besekyng elyke wysthe samin to pardon thismy hamly wrytyn ,

and to send ansuer tharof at your

plasour . A nd the blyssyt Lord preserue your Grace inlang and eternal l prosperite. At Waltam Cros this Crystymmes evyn . By the hand of your chaplan wyth his

lawful l seruyce,GAWYN

,Bischop Of Dunkeld

,etcf‘“

Gavin D oug las lo Cardinal l Vo lsey.

Pleiss your Grace,Maister Galteor

,Commendator Of the

Abbay Of G lenl use and secretar to the Duke of Albany,

cal litG ouernor of Scotland,is cum to London

,and with him

Ross Herald and ane nothir pursauantcall itGarrik, quhilk

State Paper Off. W olsey’

s Corresp .

,iv .

, 71.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

ingerand write I declarithim playnlie I wald pass throchtthis realme, and navther way, and gart schew him qubatday I wasappoyntitto entir in the gronde Of Ingland , thequhilk l kepit trewlye. A nd thus youre Grace may con

sider quhatfauoures he beris tome,or how I sul d be intretit

gif I war in Scotland y uder his subieccion ,or yit gif I pas

to France or ony vther part qubair he mon sollistouy thing ,quhen he is sabald w ithin this realme quhairin I traist hehas lytil l credence as for to sollistyour Grace in my con

trar. A lbeytye haif grantitme the Kingis Hienes saufconduct

,the quhilk I traist I haif notforfalt

,nor yit your

Grace will suffer be brokin . A nd beside this the materis petious gif ony kirk man suld be stoppit gangand toRome for his lauchfull defence , and summond thiddir ;andneththelessyour Grace knawis full wele I may be lichtlieintretitto remane here

,bot nawayis at his commande

nor desyre ;and full wele wotyour hye wisdom qubatis to be don e or ansuerit to sik an e petitioun mekle

better than I or mon y sik can ymagyn . A lbeyt gif

i t mychtstand with your pl esour I wald besyk your G racetoansuer to this Galter

,that gif the Duke his maistere

wil be con ten t myac tion and mater be remittitfurth of

Rome to your Grace,and before your auditor

, quharof Iwald be glayd , your Grace suld cause me remane. And

ell is guby or how suld ye hald me framy lauchful l defence ,quhilk is of the law of nature

,specialie I havand the Kings

saufconductto pas, as said is . This is my littil avise vndercorrectioun of youre Grace , quhom I beseyk to pardon thismy sahaymlye wryting . A nd the haly Trin ite haf youreGrace in his bl issitand eternal l keping . At Lundone thisNew Ycris day . Subscriuitwith the hand of your humbleservytorand

C I—IAPLAN OF DUNKELD .

To th e maist Reverend Fader in G od an d hismaist singulargu de Lorde and Maister , my Lord Cardinal lis Gracie of York

,

Legate dc Latere and Chance l lar of Ingland, &c . MSS. Brit.Mus. Cal ig ,

B . vi. , fol . 213.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . ci

Gavin D ouglasto Cardinal Wolsey.

Placytyour Grace, ye had yistyrday syk byssynes that Imychtnotschew your Grace qubat I thocht twychyng thecummyng Of this Scottis prest Schir John Dun canson , qubayistyrday presentytwrytyn gis to the Kyngs Hyenesandyour Grace foran salue conduyt, and i s cummyn furth of

Scotland wyth gret dylligens apon v ij days , and is rycht

famylyar wyth the Duk of A lbanye and special l seruand Of

a lang tyme to the A rchbischOp of G lasgw;and has brochtwytbym wrytyngisand dyrectyon es frathaim hayth to besped in Fran s, Flandris , and Rome, as I know by his wordis.

A ls thar is cummyng wyth bym an Italian cal lyt. Evangilista, the maner of a Lombard in Scotland, to con voy bymat merchandishandis heyrand in Flandris. Gyf your Gracehad seyu thar lettreand dyrectyones I trast ye suld knawmony things tharby and gif your hye prudensthynk isSpedfull at salue conduct be sped her at the in stance and subscript-yon of the said Duk

,I reportme to your gret wysdom

or yit that the said BischOp of G lasgwys materrs and

promotion for Sanctandrs suld prosper, consyddyryng he isthe mast spycial l man that manteinysand allways hesmanteinyt the said Duk . I dreyd alsso this Duncanson is

dyrekkytin my con traryand to dome hurt,and beseksyour

Grace to provyd the rathar sum remedy tharfor, and gif itmychtstand wyth your plesour that he had napassage forthe causys forsaids on to the tyme your Grace knew marefully his dyrecyones,and gyi your hye pruden s plesysso do ,I wold nain knew this cam by my desyr, becaushe fenyeisbym famyliar wyth me, quharby perauentur I sall knawsum pert mayr of his myud , albeytI knaw ellis the fynesof the man and nayn mayr dowbyl l in our realm . D o aspless your Grace quham God preserue. At Lundon thisEpyphanye day wytthe hand Of

Your humble SeruytourandCHAPLAN or DUNKELD .

To my Lord CardynalisGracefi“

Brit. Mus. Cott. Cal ig ,B . vi . , fol . 424.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

The in terferen ce of D ouglas in the affairs Of Queen

Margaret now met with a severe pun i shmen t—theloss of his Bishopric and other prefermen ts .In order to meet the charges which had been

brought again st her by Angus and his un cle , theQueen sen t messengers to Henry, armed with vo

lum inous in struction s on her behalf. In these thefollowing statemen t occurs

I tem,ye sall geve his Grace to vnderstand ofth e guid bering

that he [the Regent] dois towartme,and how he has putin

my handis the disposition of the Bishopryc of Dunkeld nowvacand for the del ict of hym that had it , and h esgeuine methe profittis tharof, and hes gevin e to my seruandis an eAbaysyand other benefices for my helpand favor, quharforI pray his Grace richt efi ectuoslie that he help not thesaid Dunkeld

,considdering the gret evil l that he has done

to this Realm be hi s cvil l counsal l,for he has bene the

cans of al l the dissention and trobill of this Realme,and

hasmaid fals and evil l raport of me baithtin Ingland andScotland

,and for that effect the lard Of Wedderburn bruder

was send to your Grace to that effect;and sen I helpitto gethyme the benefice Of Dunkeld I sall help hyme to wan t thesamyn . A nd considdering the evel l that he has done tothis realme

,and the displessourishe has done to me baitht

in word and deid . to my y tter dishonour,at his pouer,

quhilk he can notd eny,I trast that your Grace wil l not

fauor hyme nor mak him nahelp nor fauor bym,for that

salbe your honourand myn and your guid schawing ye atthis tyme guidand kynd brodyr to me , as my trast is ye sall ,I salbe your humbill and Obeysant sister in al l thing ,that I mado your Grace honour and profytand pl esour,and sal l gladly take pane apon me to intertene guid peaceand concord betwixt your Grace and the King my son

your nefue,and othyrwaisto haf me excusitwith my just

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

vehemen t ennoye that I dar n ocht auentor cum in your

presence, quhilk cansis me thus wryte to your nobill Grace,beseking the samyn of youre grete goodnes to haif com

pacien ce Of me desolattand woful l wycht;albeytI gran t Ihaif deseruytpuuycioun ,

and am vnder the King is mercyand youris, notfor on ly falt or demeritt Of my avne , but byraisonn of thair ontreuth that causitme labour for the weleof thair Prince , and thair securite, quhilk n ow has wrochtthair avne confusioun and perpetual l schayme and hasseruit me as your Grace may considdyr, that sol listit theKingis Hyenesand your Grace to wryttand doo for thameso oftyn tymes and so largely in diuerss sortis , alswele tothair support and confort

, quhairof as now I most nedisvndcrly youre mercy . Albeit I dowte notbetyour hye prudence consideris profoundly my part thairof, and my holetrew mynde al l tyme but ony dissimulan ce , that in goodefayth am forthir dissauitin this mater then ony vtheris, byraisoun quharof I am so full Of sorowe and displesour thatI am wery of my avne lyfe and promittis to Godand yournoble Grace , as your humle seruand and ane true Christis

prei st , that I sall n euir have n or tak way with the Duke ofAlbany

,the vnworthy Erl Of Anguse , n or navtheris that

assistis to the said Duke,but your express commande and

avise;nor neuer sal l pass in Scotland but at your plesour, solang as this wikkytDuke is thairin or has rewle thairof ;and I traist my brother and vther my frendiswill vse mycounsale .

-A lbeytyon young wytlesfwyl l has runnyn apoun

his avne myscheyf be continewall persuasioun of wylyesubtile men ,and for lak Of good con nsale, schewing to him ,

Idowte not, mony fenzeitlettresand wounderful terouris;thatthe Lord Humeand vtheriswald pass in and lefe him allan eand that I wald be takinand haldin heyr,and that Galter theDukissecretar hadappoyntitwith th e Kingis Hienes for hisdistructioun ,

and the Duke to mary the Qwene. I dowte notsik thingisand mckle mayr has bene sayd ;and with thisthe wrytyngisat your Grace causitme send furth of Ham

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . CV

toun Courte on San t Thomas daye come notto him quhill

the xiiii day of Januar,and so he has remanytcomfortles

in the menetyme quhil l the tothir subtile folkis had con

voyitthair mater. W ald God I had sendane seruand of myavne with tha writingis, or past myself with thame , in caissI had lyin vii yeris eftir in preson ,

for I fynd absense aneschrew

,and deligence with expeditioun mycht haif don e

grete goode. A lbeytOf verite thair may be none raisionablenor hon est excuse that suld causs ony creature brek hislawte or promyt. A nd I beseyk God that I may see himreally punystfor his demerittisand promyssisbrokyn maydto the Kingi s Hien esand me his wid e, and sall be glad tosol listthe King is Hienesand your Grac e to this effect at allmy powere. Notheless I beseke your Grace to remembrethe welefare and securite Of the K ingis Grace of Scotland ,my souerane lord and maister

,and to sol list the Kingis

Hyechn esto that effect , for his Grace has maid no falt but isaluterly innocen t . This is and wasmy principal ] directiounand causs of my hyddyr cuming, as your Grace full welevnderstandis/

‘

albeit I wald haif procuritas I cowth the

weylfayr of my self and frendis besyde, gif thai had not

wrocht in the contrar to thair awn e distruccioun and myn esa fer as in thame lyis;and gif I durst be so bald as tosoll ist your Graceand shew qubat wayiswar best for theweyl fare of the young K ingis Grace my Souerane , I wald be

glayd to endeuor myself thairto at the command of yourGrace. In caissn ow I dar n otauentor to propon e nasikthingis, by raisonn that I am dissauitbe my most tendyrfrendisin my fyrst interpryss, in con trar to al l goode lyklyh Od or natural l equite. Besekking your Grace Of your

gracious ansuer and qubat ye will command me to doo,

and to be my good Lorde , and to lat me knaw gif it beyour plesour that I awaytapon your seruice and doo mydeuisee as I aucht of dett, and wald be glayd so to doo , forfurth Of this Realme will I notdepart so lang as I mayremane thairin with the Kingis plesourand youris, quhat

cvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.

penurite and distress so cuir I susten e. A nd your graciousansuer herupoun in wourde be message or writing I humlybeseyk , or gif it pleis your Grace I cum myself to yournobill presence thairfor ;and G od A llmychty preserue yourG race eternalye. At the In of Carlyle the last day of

J aunar. Subscriuitwith the hand ofYour humble seruitorand dolorus

CHAPLAN or DUNKELD,etc.

To my Lord Cardinal lis good Grace .*

At this time D ouglas drew up the followingMemorial for the purpose of being laid before HenryV I I I .

,in wh ich he included every Objection he could

collect again st the D uke Of Albany being govern orOf Scotland . The original documen t i s undoubtedly

in his handwriting, and stil l exi sts in the Cotton iancollection .

Jll emorial of certain charges concerning the D uke of A lbany.

Ill emorandum—Primus,thare aucht no man to be a.

G overnour Of ony realme,or tutor to an e childe w ithin age ,

l es than he mychtbe respon sable for sik ane charge, andhad therwith to mak payment for al l sovmesand goodisintromettitand disponit by him . A nd swith it is

,the

D uke Of Albany has nane heritage of his avne, nothir inScotland nor in France

, quhairby he is , and cuir wasanevnsufiicientgouernour to the Realme of Scotlandand to theK ing is Grace. Besyde thisalsua, his fader deytbann eist,forfaltitand rebell to the crovne Of Scotland , quharthrochthe is vnhabill to that or ony vther Office, heretage ,orautorite within the realm e of Scotlaund.

Secundlie, he is subdite to the King in France, havandof the said K ing besyde his wiffisheiritage, (quharthrow heis the Kingis wassell) bOith pensioun and Officis as one of

State Papers, Scotland, MSS. ,vol . i., No. 85.

cviii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

tuouslie,far besyde the old custum by tripil l quadrupill

moir expens then was woun t .Ferdlie

,ony gouernour or tutor aucht to procur the

wel efareand proffite of the realmeand young K ing that hetakis in gouernance and tutele, and suld mak thair causbettirand no thing wers, quhilk gif he dois and hurtis therealme or cheild

,notabyl lye by al l raisoun and lawis he

tynys his Office,and aucht to be removittherfra, and so has

he done in this sort as eftir fol lowis;quhairfor he is werraysuspect and suld alwayis be removitfraony sik office orautorite

,and besyde that , aucht tobe compellitto refounde or

recompensall the skaythis don e by him .

F irst , notal lanerlye spendisand waistis he the K ingistresourand rentis to his avne vseand at his avne pl esour , botalso the furnessiug Of the castel lis foresaid. Neyr th ir two

yerisby gone he hes furn eistcertane Fran chemen wageouristo the novmer of aucht skoir persounis, gevand euery one ofthois

, quhilk ar butveray knavis, i ii i pundis Scottis in themon th Of the King is cofferis;and De laBastie, quhom he leftvmquhile his deputin his absence, v pundis Scottis eueryday , and efter his decess so moche to the Lord Hammyltoun ,noth ing n eding thereof nor no proffite done therwith to theRealme .

Secundlie,he has spendit in his vse the fyfty thousand

fraukissentfrom the France King to the King of Scottis insobyr recompens Of no litil l skaith sustenitby the realmeof Scotland for the querrel l of France ;and elikewise dinersvtherissovmesquhilkishe has ressauitnow at his last beyngin Fran ce to the support Of Scotland

,to the valeu as is

al legitOf twenty or twenty foure thousand Franche crovnisof the son .

Thridlie,the King is riche govnysOf moist fyne cloith of

gold tursit w ith fynest sabil lis he has analiit, togidderwi th the hangingis and apparalingis of his chalmeris

pal it Of purpurand we luetcrammesyn ,and maid clothing

therof to sum Of his pag is and seruandis, and has conyeit

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . cix

in plakkis the Kingis grete siluer stopis double g ilt, thatin the hole mon tis to one richt grete sovme.

Ferdlie,he has sauld and analiit the Kingis thre grete

schippis, richt costlie and precious jowel lis wourth threhundreth thousand frankis

,and cost I dar say with thair

artelyery and ordinance twyis that sovme,besyde vther

smalle barkis analiit by him also,and the money tharof

spenditby himand to his vsealan erly, and n euir one pennyof the samyn returnytto the Kingisprofiitnor the realmes.

Item,diners landis and heretagis that fallis in the Kingis

handis by recognitioun , forfaltour , or vtherwayis, this Dukegevisand sellis sik landis at his pl esour quhilk by no waishe may dispone nor analie, nor yit the King himselfe in hisl esage vnto the tyme he be xxv yeris complete may dispon eoranaly none sik thingis by the expres lawis of Scotland .

I tem,besyde mony vtheris small wardis and mariagis

(quhilkis skairsly may be nowmerit), within thir two

yheris this Duke of Alban y has sauld the wardis landisand mariagis of Drummond

, Sanquhare, and Barnbowgal l , quhilk war wele wourth fourty thousand pund of

Scottis money,and n euir on e penny hereof come to th e

Kingis proffite ;togidder n ow laitlie with the warde andmariage of the airis female of Invervgy bettir than ten

thousand pundis Scottis.I tem

,besydeall this , he beyng or remanyng in Scotland

suld putn o goode ordour of j ustice n or pol lecyapperandliethairin ,

bot rathare doo thairto distruction dammage anddounputting of al l sik as he trustitwald nocht be conformto his mynde , or that wald be con trarious to ocht him plesitdoo;albeyt his in ten t war nevir so wrangwous, as may beW ell provitapperandlie by the slauchter of the last Chalmerlan

,and also by his lettres oftand mony times sen t in

Scotlan d to foster discorde and to mak impedimentis tofrendschip concordeand vnite , quhilkisscheweth him planelyno goode gouernour nor to haif ony zele of goode rule n orwel efaire of Scotland

,butalanerly to procur his avne

CX BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

avantage. A nd besyde this also howhe sol listisandmantennysthe Qwenis Grace to remane from hir husband

,aganis the

law Of G odand holy churche ,and in contrar hir avne honourand Of his bloode

,efferisnotto be reh ersitand to that effect

sol listitcertaine Lordisand vtheris his seruandis to geiihirdayliecounsaletherto , causing thamemeneandprocure so thatthe remayning with hir husban d wasn otpayit of her dower,and remayning from him makis hir be furneistOf the K ingiscofferisw ith vtherisauantagisbesyde, in contrar justiceandto the King of Scottis sumptuous cost ;in fraude also of thebandand con tract maid thereupoun betuix boith the king isand ratifiiteuery tyme Of trowis

,that sche suld be thank

ful lie payit and con ten t Of hir dower.Item

,besyde this also the beneficisand grete prelacens

that wakis it is said that he sel lis for grete sovmesOf money ,quhilk is verray vn leful l , and schewis perfitelie his governament and remanyng in Scotland aluterly in contrar thecomon wele tharof, quhilk the moir clerelie may be verifiitby this that the two first yherishe remanyitin Scotland theRealme wasn euir in ordour but in to troubleand myscheyf,and thre or foure tax or contributioun rasitapoun the

pepil l by him w ithin the said two yheris;and n ow elikewise

at his last returnyng in Scotland has stent the hole realm toone contributioun and taxtOf twen ty five thowsand pundScottis , quhilk manifestlie schewis him no wise n ecessarebut verray improffitable for that realme .

Item,besyde the surfait expensis of the King is ren tisand

“

casualiteis as is abufe expremit, he has maid one RobertBertoun , on e verre pyrettand sey revare Comptrol lar, andan eMaisterJOhnneCampbell, one bastard bribour quhilk hadnotv i cl. wourth of goode of his avne, Thesaurare, the quhilkisas thai allege by thare comptis ar superexpenditso largelie ,that the K ing is inathir of thair dettisten or twelf thousand

pund Scottis howbeytGodandal l the realme of Scotlandknawisthe Kingis Grace is richt evil l furneistin clething

and al l vther n ecessaris, on sik one sort (schayme to be

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.

n o regent nor gouernor of Scotland les then he returnytinthe realme on the first day of August nixteftir, quhilk wasLammes day last bypast, and failyeing that he come notinScotland or then

,dischargithim Of his office , and thame also

of thair athis made to him, and hereupon sen t to him thair

ambassadourand expres writingis. A nd so it is that he returnyt notin Scotland quhil l the end of Nouember nixt

thereftur,and was neuer sens elect n or chosin Of n ew.

By raison quhairofal l that he n ow dois or sall doo in thatrealme is expres wrong, vsurpit conspirassy and tyrannybut onyautorite, like as in maner boith his doyngisandwourdis to the ilk Scottis ambassadour prOportis, saying prowdly quhen he herd Of this actand the forsaidwritingis, qubat ar thai in Scotland that dar be so bald forto degraid me Of ocht

,albeyt I remanytfurth of Scotland

this xxvn yheris, so hardy thatony tharin presvme or attemptsik thing , I knawe thameal l well eneuch .

’

Item,it is n owise to be foryetthow the A rchibishop of

Glasgow n ow beyng Chancel lar Of Scotland intendisandprocurisby all maner wayishow h is brothir dochter childerin

,the Erle of Arans son s

,mayattayn to the crovne of

Scotland,like as by his wourdisquhen he baptist the first

childe may be wele coniectoure , quhare he said thus Quhowayt then I may l eyf till I see and putthe croy n e on thischildis hede. By raison quhairof, he beyng of sik myndei s aluterlye suspicious and our dangerous a persoun to bereony autorite in Scotland , nor to mell with the K ing ismaist noble persoun by himself or ony him pertenys.

I tem,finalie it is to be reducitto remembranshow in the

[tyme] Of Alexander the thrid King of Scottis,in his youth

the King of Ingeland Henry the Thrid then beyng hisfader Of law and not so tendir of bloode as his vucle

,

come in propir persoun to Werk Castell apon Twede , asthe Scottis cornikle rehersis

,and thare maid to be removit

from the K ing is counsale al l sik suspect Ofiiciarisas wasnotpro lhtable , and made vtheris to be chosen in thar stedisor placis.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . cxii i

Item,abufe al l this is to be considerit that the Kingis

Hienes,movitof verre raisonn

,natural l equiteand piete , suld

and may also by al l lawis procure and defend the welefareand surety of his deirestnevo the yong Kyng of Scottisandhis realme, without ony mandattor vther commissioun hadoraxittherto, but onl ye by raisonn that hisGrace is oneconiunctpersoun and so tendir of bloode to the said youngKing ,andthuspersutemaybe maid or deducitbefor thePopisHolynes, and he to interpone hisdecrettandautorite thertoor than by quhatsumeuir vther leful l fassoun or waye theKingis maieste thinkismost expedien t. Butall wayis thecaussisabufe expremyitbene none evill ground, but verrelefull and j ust fundament for the samyn ,

and ar dowtles ofverity euery wourd.

*

Whilst D ouglas was in the midst of these n egociat ion s

,the death of Andrew Forman

,Archbishop Of

St Andrews,and Abbot of D unfermlin e

,took place .

The eager expectan t of these ben efices was the

Chan cellor,James Beaton

,Archbishop of Glasgow

who dreaded the rivalry of the B ishop Of Dunkeld .

He therefore exerted his utmost endeavours to accomplish his ruin . Unfortun ately for D ouglas atthis time

,war was declared by the Engl ish again st

the Scots,the latter j oin ing with Fran ce in an

allian ce again st the Emperor Charles V. and HenryV I I I . D ouglas was therefore n ow residen t in anen emy’s coun try

,which was represented to his dis

advantage athome.Beaton accordingly gotthe following proclamationdrawn up in the name of the young king, James V .

,

with the advice of the Lords Of Coun cil and thethree Estates Of Parliamen t .

Brit. Mus. Cal ig ,B . iii . , fol . 309.

h

cxiv BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION

Proclamation of James V. againstGawin Douglas, BishOpof D unkeld .

We, James by the grace of God , K ing of Scots,to al l

and several our lieges who shall see this letter, give our testimonyand solemn assurance Know that by the Lords ofour Council and three estates of the kingdom ,

before andin presence of our dearest cousin our tutor and governorJohn

,the noble Duke Of Albany , &c .

,it is decreed and

promulgated , as follows : At Edinburgh on the 21st dayof February , in the year Of our Lord 1521 , in presenceof the illustrious prin ce, John Duke of Albany , royaltutor and governor, the Lords of the royal Council andthe three Estates of the kingdom have resolved , decreed andordained

,Forasmuch as Gav in Douglas , Bishop of Dun

keld,not on ly w ithout the permission and leave Of our

sovereign Lord the King . his Tutor and Regen t of thekingdom,

and three Estates of parliamen t, but even in

direct Opposition to the orders of the said Regen t , hasen tered England wi th the in tention Of residing there, withtreasonable in ten ts against this kingdom ,

as from unequi

vocal indications may be con jectured,having joined the

English , the enemies of this kingdom even after the declaration of war. By this conduct, according to the statutesof parl iamen t. he has incurred the crime Of high treason ;‘and thatno indulgen ce may be shewn to rebels plottingrebell ion so audaciously

,in pursuance of the decree Of the

foresaid Lords,our royal letters have been despatched to

the Vicar-General of St Andrews,the j udge ordinary hav ing

j urisdiction over the foresaid Bishop of Dunkeld , the saidmetropolitan see being vacant, that the Dean and Canon sOf the Church of Dunkeld

,andal l others having interest ,

under pain of ecclesiastical censure shall make up aninven tory of the revenues of the foresaid Church , and shallshewand exhibit the n ames of those in possession of suchrevenues and emoluments , and none of the Canon s nor theDean aforesaid shall intromi t therewith unless by special

cxvi BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

authority Of our said Tutor, approve ratify and confirm .

G iven under the testimony of our great seal.ale

A letter was also written by Beaton to Christian

I I,K ing Of D enmark

,in which he besought that

m on arch to command his min i sters at Rome to dissuade the n ew Pope

,Adrian V I .

,from n ominating

Gavin D ouglas for the A rchbishopric.

‘r

That D ouglas had some hopes of this prefermen t

appears from the following extract of a letter of LordD acre to Cardin al Wolsey, dated the 14th Of March

1522 Please i t your Grace Iaduertised you of twoschyppesof warre of the D uke of Albanycs which wasredie to depart ;which the xith day Of this monthwen t furth , a bark and v marchantis shippes withthem that lay within the kee at Leith . In whichshippos Of war th’

erle of Angus and his brodre is

gon e towardis Ffraun ce. The Lord Flemyng andThomas Hay the K ingi s Secretary in ther company .

Beseching your Grace to be goodand gracius to theB ishopp Of D unkell , in whom I verely trust is nothingbut troughe, and that it wald pleas your Grace towrite in his fauor to the Popis Holines for the Arch

bisshopricke of Sain t A ndrowes, seing that it i s bruted

in Scotland , that he i s postulate therof, and, if it couldbe purposed

,it shuld mak mervel lous grete brek in

Scotland,for he which has the gift of the D uke is the

man that rewles him moost OfanyTran s. from orig . in Epist. Reg . Scot. i., p . 328 . It is satis '

factory to find that th e Scottish Parl iamen t, in February 1524,about eighteen months after Douglas

’s death, passedan A ctto the

eff ect that th e charge above made against him for treasonablypassing in to Eng land was “ in al l th e punctis therein contenitvane

,

vntrew,and had naveritie .

”Scots Acts

,11 p . 290.

Ibid ., tom . i. , p . 333 . I State Papers Scot., vol . i.

,No . 87 .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION. cxvii

Whilst D ouglas resided in London , he enj oyed thefriendship of Polydore Vergil , the historian of Eng

land,who was the friend of Wolsey

,and was on

terms of familiarity with the person s most emin en tfor rankand learn ing at the Court of Henry. Vergi lin his history of England alludes to D ouglas asfollows

Of late on e Gawin e D owglas, Bishop of Dun chel l ,

a Scottishe man,a mann e as well n oble in ligniage as

vertewe,when he understoode that I was purposed to

write this historic,hee camme to commun e with mee

in forthe with,we fell in to friendshippe , and after he

vehementlie requiered mee , that in relation Of th eScottishe afiaires

,I showlde in n o wise follow the

presiden t of an historic of a certain e contriman of

his,

*promisinge within few dayse to sende mee of

those matters not to be contemn ed, which in deadehee perfourmed But I did not longe enj oythe fruicion of this mie frind, for in the year of ourLord MDXXII .

,he died of the plague in London . T

The sad even t which deprived Vergil of his friend ,and Scotland of one Of her ablest men

,took place

in September 1522,in the house of his Old friend

Thomas,Lord D acre

,in St Clement ’s parish , n ear

London . At the time of his death he was in theforty-eighth year of his age. Hiswill i s dated thel 0th , and probate was gran ted on the 19th Of September.Agreeably to his own injunction s , Bishop D ouglas

wasburied in the Hospital Church of the Savoy, on the

t The H istory of Scotland, by John Major or Mair.

1‘ Vergil

’s Eng . H ist. (Camden Society), i. , p .

cxviii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

left side of Thomas Halsey,B i shop of Leighlin ,

who

died about the same time,and the following inscrip

tion was placed on their tombHie jacetThomas Halsey Leglinensis Episcopus

in basilica San cti Petri Romae NationisA nglicorum

penitenciarius, summae probitatis vir, qui hoc solumpost so reliquit, vixitdum vixitben e . Cui laevusconditur GavanusD owglas, nation e Scotus , DunkeldensisPraesul

,patria sui exul

,Ann o Christi 1522.

Holinshed iL states that D ouglas enj oyed an

h on est pen sion to l ive on from H enry V I I I . butthis may be doubted

,as there i s n o allusion to

it,nor to any arrears accruing from it , in the gen eral

inven tory of his mean s and effects . On the con trary,

the Bishop seems to have been reduced to straits, as

in his w ill there is men tion made Of some of his silverplate being pledged to various person s.The w ill Of Bishop D ouglas , which is preserved in

the charter-chest Of the an cien t family of Lindsay of

D owhil l,i s very in teresting, as being almost the oldest

documen t of the kind respecting a Scottish person of

n ote,and it i s fuller and more precise than many sub

sequen t on es . Itis as follows

Herc l ieth Thomas Halsey, Bishop of Leigh lin , Pen itentiary ofth e Engl ish nation in th e Church Of StPeter ’s at Rome

, a man of

gr eat probity, who l eft on ly this character behin d him—‘

h e l ived,while h e l ived , wel l . 0 11 his l eft is buried Gavin D o uglas, a nativeof Scotland , Bishop Of Dunkel d

,an exile from his country. In

the year of Christ 1522.

Owing to a fire which happen ed in the Savoy Chapel in 1864,

the brass tablet which marked the spot of th e interment Of the

two bishops was removed from its p lace . Th e tablet is stil l preserved , and a cutfrom a rubbing from it is here insertedT Chron icles, vol . iii . , p . 676.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

lVill of Gavin D ouglas, Bishop of D unkeld,1522.

INVENTARIUM omn ium bonorum quondam Reverendi inChristo patris , etdomin i , Gawini, miseration e divin a, Epis0 0piDounkeldensis, factum apud hospitium domin i Dacrisin partibus A nglie, in parochiaSancti Clemen tis propeLundonium

,decimo die men sis Septembris, anno Dom in i

mill esimo quingentesimo vicesimo secundo , coram histestibus

,Henrico Grahame , Johanne Baxtar , dom ino

Jacobo Hendersoune, Capel lano , et Magistro DavideDouglas, Presbitero , ac notario publico . IN PRIMIS , res etbona in palatio Dunkeldensi, mag ister Robertus Grahame ,Canonicus ejusdem ,

habet sub inven tario manu publicorumn otariorum signato . Item

,bona in Glony, Silvester Ret

tray in Gudy habet in ven tarium eorundem manu magistriAlexandri Douglas Canon ici Dunkeldensis conscriptum .

I tem , bon a in Crawmond, A rchibaldus Douglas, germann snoster

,habet in custodia. Item

,bona in hospitio Vil le

Sancti JOhannis,dominus Thomas Paule Capel lanus habet

sub inven tario . Item,bona in hospitio Edinburgi, dominus

Johannes Geddes, Capel lanus, habet in custodia.

I tem,fatetur se habere in bonis

,viz .

,in integris procur

ationibus sue DiocesisDunkeldensis, Ann i Dom in i mil lesim iquingentesimi vicesimi primi , n onagintaquatuor librasmonete Scotie

,salvo justo calculo. Et de quotis testa

mentorum ejusdem ann i. extendentibus per bon am estimationem ad summam centum librarum

,salvo justo calculo ut

prefertur. Item,fatetur se habere de firmisterrarum snarum

terminiPenthecostesultimi elapsi, extendentibusin pecuniaad ducentas quinquagintal ibras , in manibusMagistrorumG eorgei Hepburne , Decan i Dounkeldensis, et RobertiGrahame canon ici ejusdem

,quos constituimus nostros

vicarios gen erales , factores, etprocuratores ad l ites , causas ,etnegotianostangentia, etconcernentia. Item

,fatetur se

habere de decimis garbalibus Ecclesiarum parochialium deLit-till Dounkeldensi, etCapeth , extendentibusad decem et

CXX BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

n ovem celdras victualium farine et ordei, viz. de croppaann i instantis, viz. anni etc. quingentesimivicesimisecundi,et de eisdem Ecclesiis viginti octo celdrarum avenarumpro pabulis equorum, pretium bolle farine pre

tium bol le ordeiac pretium bolle avenarum ,Summa

I tem ,fatetur se habere in decimis garbal ibus Ecclesie

parochial is de Cargil l ejusdem crOppe, extendentibus adtrigintaduas cel dras farin e, etordei

, pretium boll e farin e

pretium bolle ordei Summa Item,in

decimisgarbalibusEcclesie de Ouchtergavyn , extendentibusad decem celdras

, etocto boll as farine et ordei, pretiumbolle farine pretium bol le ordei Summa Item

,in

decimis garbalibus Ecclesie de Tibbermure viginti octoceldras farine

,et ordei, pretium boll e farine

pretium bolle ordei Summa I tem,in decimisgar

balibus Ecclesie de Forgundyny, extendentibus ad trigintaceldras farine

,etordei

, pretium bolle farine , pretiumbolle ordei Summa Salva tamen semper estimationeequitantium decimas garbales predictarum Ecclesiarum .

I tem,fatetur decimas garbalesEcclesie de Alithe concessaset

al locatasnobilietpoten ti domino de G lammys, pro solutionedotis. I tem

,in manibusA rchibaldiDouglas german i nostri ,

pro assedatione garbalium Eccl esiarum Parochialium deA birlady, etAbercorne, de croppa ann i instantis, extendentium ad summam tringintarum quinquagintaduarummarcarum monete Scotie predicte , utpatet in dicta assedatione. Item,

fatetur se habere in manibus Hugon isDouglas burgensisde Edinburghe , pro assedatione decimarum garbalium Ecclesie de Crawmond ej usdem ann i ,cxtendentium ad summam ducentarum quadragintamarcarum monete predicte. Item

, fatetur se habere in manibusDavidis Berclay de Cul lerny, pro assedatione decimarumEcclesie Parochial is de Strathmiglo , extendentium ad summam ducentarum quadragintamarcarum . I tem ,

fatetursibi deberipro decimis garbalibus Ecclesiarum de Boucle,etPrestoune, per intromissores earundem,

summam octo

cxxii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

quinquagintaduorum nobilium,continentem pondus octo

librarum . I tem,fatetur se habere duos ciphosargenteos, cum

crathera,ct COOpertori

'e impignoratos Johan n i Johnesoune c ivi Londonii, pro viginti nobilibusaureis

, ponduscuiuslibet ciphi xxiii unciarum , et pondus crathere cum

OOOpertoriO I

Item,fatetur se habere in pecun ia monitata, duodecim

scuta gallicana aurea, de pondere liis. I tem,fatetur se

habere duos mules,unum masculum, etaliam femellam

,et

duos equos, unum ,viz . pil i albi , etaliam pili bruneti.

SUMMA OMN IUM BONORUM.

D EBITA QUE SIBI DEBENTUR.

IN PRIMIS,Anthonins Duninaldis mercator

,Londinii

commorans, tenetur sibi astrictus in summam undecim

l ibrarum sterlingorum , de resta majoris summe pro excambiofacto ex Oppido de Deip ad Civitatem Londoniensem

,ut

patet ex tenore Obligationis dictiA nthonii. I tem,quoad

reliquadebita que in partibus Scotie sibi debentur, refertse compotis sui Camerarii, etgranatariorum snorum .

DEBITA QUE A LI IsDEBENTUR.

IN PRIMIS,spouse quondam Roberti Richardsone . burgensis

de Edinburghe , ducentas marcas, etultra, ad bonum com

putum. Item,JObanniErmar

,burgenside Perth , etuxori

Willielmi Bell, penes corum debita , refert se suo prioritestamen to an te suum recessum ,

necnon camerario suoDounkeldensi

,etDom ino Thome Paule granatario suo apud

Perth,quoad solutionem eorundem ,

et defalcationibus, etacquitantiis eorundem desuper receptis. Item

, penes debitaMagistriEdwardi Cunynghame

, etquan tum ad solutioneme orundem , refertse Domino Johann i Geddes presbytero ,et acquittantiis dicti Magistri Edward desuper exhibitis.

I tem , fatetur se debere Magistro Matheo Geddes , proA cup with a lid.

1 Something here is wanting to complete the sentence .

BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION . cxxiii

pecun ia mutuata , viginti quinque marcas monete Scotie .

I tem,diversis civibus Londonensibus, pro suis cotidianis

sumptibus in esculentis,et poculentis, ut patet in libri s

dietarum, extendentibus ad xli n oble

,xvii grotis, i ii (i. ,

summa xiii li. xv ii s. vii i (I. Item,Richardo Wilkensoune

hospiti suo , decem le nobil lis, quatuordecim grossos ,

summa lis . I tem, pro custodia equorum domui etfam ilie

sue,ad gramina, vi i i 8 . Item

, pro liberatione et re

demptione Margarete Crichtone de l e Comptoure , temporeegritudinis eundem tunc custodientis, summa vigintitriumsolidorum

, pro cujus solutione prestitit fidei-jussores.

I tem,Domino Dacris, decem l ibras. Item ,

scissoribus pro

galigis, et factura vestimentorum,xiii s . i ii i (I. Item

,

lotrici vestimentorum Domin i,v s . i ii i (1. Item

,Domino

Thome Paule granatario de Perth , summa septem librarum ,

quinque solidorum,x d . del iberata Georgeo Geddes Senes ~

callo , pro n ecessariis Domin i misse Dunkeldensi.SUMMA DEB ITORUM.

SUMMA OMNIUM BONORUM DEBITIS ABSTRACTIS.

CUM n ichil sit certius morte , nec incertiushora mortis,hin c estquod Ego Gawinus, indignus Episcopus Dunkelden sis

,eger corpore , sanustameh mente, condo Testamen tum

meum in hunc modum : I n p rimis, do et lego an imammeam Deo omnipotenti, beatissimeque Marie, et SanctoColumbe patrono meo , totique celesti con tubern io

,corpus

que meum sepeliendum in choro Ecclesie Hospitalis SanctiJohann is baptiste de Savo ie, prope London . Item

,do et

lego prefato Hospitali unum par le chimeris de n igro lesatyn

, cum capuceo eiusdem. Item , do et lego Ecclesie

parochialiSancti Clemen tis pro jure funerali , meam togamde le tany satyn furitam cum le soumyeis. I tem,

do etlegosacerdotibus in die sepulture mee indigenitalibus, etprocereis etreliquis n ecessariis ad n ostras exequias spectantibus, summam trium librarum xi ii s. i iii (I . I tem

,do etlego

Magistro Matheo Geddas Capel lano nostro,togam laneam

cxxiv BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

viol eticoloris in Scotia furritam,cum le soumyeis. Item

,

Magistro David Douglas Capel lano , togam meam de le tanygrauss, cum le chalmelett ex parte in teriori . Item

,Mar

garete Douglas con sanguinee nostre, cum Petro Carmychel lavun cul o nostro

,tricentas marcas . Item

,Christian e

Douglas con sanguinee n ostre apud Elchok , ducentas marcas. Item

,Henrico Grahame consanguin eo nostro cen tum

marcas. Item,Johann i Baxtar cen tum marcas

,si bona

adhuc extendunt ultra solutionem debitorum, sin autem

quadragintalibras secundum modificationem Executorum;

I tem , Georgio Geddes familiari nostro , quadragintamarcas.

Item,Hugoni John esoune fam iliari nostro

, quadragintamarcas . Item

,Magistro David Douglas, decem libras .

I tem,dom ino Jacobo Henderson e, decem marcas. JOhanni

Buyde , alias Delamott, decem marcas. Item,Johann i

M‘Cuddy coquo , quadragintasol idos. Item ,

do et legomulos et equos meos antedictos meis servitoribus non

habentibus equos, equaliter inter ipsos distribuendos.

Residuum omn ium bonorum meorum do etlego in dispositione Executorum meorum ,

viz. A rchibaldiDouglas german inostri

,etMagistriRoberti Grahame Canon ici Dunkeldensis,

quos,utmemini, constitui meos Executores in priore meo

tes tamen to , veluti pro presen ti constituo, quibus addo et

constituo G eorgeum Douglas consanguineum meum , et

magistrum Matheum Geddis,Vicarium de Tibbirmure

coexecutores. Insuper constituo ven erabilem et egregium

virum dominum Wil lelmum Halgil l , preceptorem dicti

Hospitalis de Savoie, superiorem etmoderatorem bonorummeorum antedictorum in partibus Angl ic existentium ,

ut

ipsi disponanthujusmodibona pro salute an ime mee , proutrespondere voluerint coram summo Judice , in districto

examine. Nolo in super in aliquo derogare priori meo

Inven tario vigore constitutionis pre sentis Testamenti , et

executorum in eodem ,sed volo quod utrumque sortiatur

effectum pro meaultima voluntate perimplenda.

pro Registratioue, v iii 3 . iii(1. ob.

cxxv i BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

had two son s legitimised in one day,and five daugh

ters in another .Among the estimates of the character Of Bi shop

Gavin D ouglas , to be found in the writings of authorsof n ote

,perhaps the most in teresting is that given by

John Lesley,B ishop Of Ross , the Scottish historian ,

who flourished n otmany years after Gavin ’s death,

and who thus expresses himself con cern ing himIf he had n otmixed himself up with the nationaltumults

,he would have been truly worthy of being

con secrated in the writings and memory of all,on

accoun t of his fragrant wit and singular erudition .

”

On the whole,it will be admitted that the Opin ion

formed by Lesley is a j ust estimate Of the characterof Gavin D ouglas 5 and though his varied accom

plishments must be acknowledged by all , we cannotagree with the indiscrim inate panegyrics which havebeen paid to his memory by later biographers.In 15 13

,when D ouglas completed his tran slation

of Virgil , he bade adieu to his poetical studies

A nd w il l direct my labours euermoir

Vuto the common welth and G oddis gloir .

He accordingly appears on subsequen t occasion srather as a statesman than as a poet

,and in that

capacity his conduct was not free from blame . It

will always be a subj ect of the greatest regret thata man of his gen iusand learn ing should have forsakenhis tranquil l iterary labours

,and wasted his abilities

on in trigues , some for his own aggr andisemen t, andothers occasion ed by the selfish policy of his n ephew ,

the Earl of Angus , which rendered him ,in the latter

part of his l ife,the victim Of persecutionand calamity .

cxxvii BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION .

Of Bishop D ouglas no portrait i s kn own to exist .

In H . M . Record Office there is preserved a detachedseal of a circular form ,

with a full length figure of abishop within a Gothic n i che. In base

,a shi eld

quarterly , first Angus , second Abern ethy,th ird

Brechin ,fourth Stuart of Bonkil on an escutcheon

surtout,D ouglas. Round the seal is the following

in scription

S . ROTVNDV GA\VIN I EPISCOPI DOVNKELD .

ACCOUNT OF THE WRITINGS OF BISHOP

GAVIN DOUGLAS.

THE extan t l iterary works of Bi shop Gavin D ouglasare notcommen surate with his ackn owledged ability

and learn ing. His con temporaries represen t himas having been emin en tly skilled in divin ity andin the can on law. His tran slation Of Virgi l atte stshis accurate kn owledge of Latin while the request

of Lord Sin clair , that he would also tran slate

Homer, shows that he was con sidered as wel l ac

quainted with Greek . His poetry exhibits an exube

ran t imagin ation and i t has been well Observedthat

,in this particular, his faults are those Of super

abundan ce , rather than deficien cy. hVith quali

fication s of such a high order , it might reasonably

have been expected that, had political matters n ot

in terven ed, he would have enriched our literature toa greater exten t .

In his youth , D ouglas selected Ovid as his favourite author 5 and, as before stated , his first l iterarylabour was a tran slation of the “ De Remedio

Amoris of that poet 5 but of this work no trace cannow be discovered . It has been supposed that he

found the exercise of tran slating this book desirableto cure him of a youthful attachmen t

,which

,by

CXXX ACCOUNT OF THE WRITINGS OF

The daisy sweet,the marigoldand rose,

That al l the n ight their silken buds did close ,Lest icy Times their tender twigs should searExpanded fragran t and , as Titan rose,Each ancient tree h is greeny glories shows ,Emerging joyous from the darkness drearA l l living things the kindly warmth did cheerThe idle grasshoppers both chirptand play

’d,

Th e sweet laborious bees melodious music made .

Delightful was the season , May’s first hour,

The glorious sun uprising in his power ,Bathed with a k indly heat al l grow ing thingsNor boisterous Eolus

,with blast and shower,

Nor Saturn,with his aspect sadand sour,

Dar’d in that place unfurl his icy wingsButsweet Favon ius thither fragr ance bringsA nd little streams

,half-h id in moss

,do run ,

Making a pleasan t chime, and glancing in the sun .

A sudden l ight n ow gleams from the skies, and thepoet falls in to a swoon in which he has a remarkable vision . He finds himself tran sported in to adesert

,through which r ushed a hideous flood . In

thi s doleful region ,he begin s to complain of the

cruelty Of Fortun e,when the goddess M in erva ap

pears,attended by many fair ladies and gallan t men .

After the cavalcade passes,the poet sees two caitiffs

approach,who prove to be the arch-traitors Achito

phel and Sin on . The latter informs the poet , thatthe party are passing through this wilderness on theirway to the Palace of Honour. He inquires how such

Thisand several other passagesare from a modern ized versionO f th e original given by P. Fraser Tytl er, Esq . in his Lives ofScott. Worthies, vo l . iii p . 154, whichare, in il lustrative contrast tothe original , notwithout interest .

BISHOP GAV I N DOUGLAS . cxxxi

wretches are associated with so polished a court,when

Achitophel an swers that they were there as hai l andthunder Often occur in the lovely mon th of Mav.

After describing the death Of Actaeon,which the poet

witnesses,he descries D iana

,moun ted onan elephan t ,

approaching , attended by a train of chaste and truevirgin s, flouris of feminitie .

’They pass by the poet ,

who remarks that the number Of D iana’s followers i ssomewhat scan ty. He now finds the desert becomestill more loathsome to him

,when at length he Oh

serves ashin ing light in the n orthern sky,and h ears

distan t music . At last,he sees the court of Venus

approach,with the goddess seated on a gorgeous car .

He then describes in eloquen t terms her matchlessbeauty.

*

Venus is attended by her son Cupid , and by Mars ,mounted upon a barded courser ‘stout and bald .

’

The mighty Mars a barded courser bore ,Grim was his look

,his body large and square,

His sinewy neck in breadth a Span or more,Round wh ich did shortly curl his crisp brown hair ;His limbs well -kn it

,and Of proportion fair

Were clothed in panoply Of radian t steel .On Venus still he gaz

’d w ith amorous air,A nd she her kn ight him cal l ’d in woe or wealWhilst o ’

er his noble form her love-litglances

A train Of lovers , happy and unhappy , follow theamorous queen

,and the poet

,ruminating on their

Miss Strickland is of Opin ion that the poet is here describingthe charm s of Margaret Tudor, th e young Queen Of

’

James IV .

afterwards married to his n ephew. Q ueensof Scot. i . 103 .

1 Tytler’

sScot. Worthies,vol . iii. , p . 158 .

cxxxii ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS or

fortun es,recites a ballad on the in con stan cy Of love .

enus,hearing these unwelcome sen timen ts, bites

her lip and her party,finding the poet in his retreat ,

bring him before their queen . A court i s con stituted

,and a clerk called Varius arraign s the poet

for studiously endeavouring to defame Venus andher 'fol lowers. He Obj ects to the competen ce of

the court,as ladies are not usuall y invested with

judicial fun ction s 3 and what is very amusing, theauthor here pleads in j est what he did seriouslyenough in earn est fifteen years afterwards , that hewas ane spiritual man

,

’ and that he ought to be remitted to his j udge ordinary?le

Venus,much irr itated

,finds him guilty, and he is

greatly alarmed at the pun ishmen t which is to beawarded to him . He expects either death, or atran sformation in to the form of some wi ld an imal .At this j un cture

,the court Of the Muses comes

on the scene,attended by all the famous poets

both an cien t and modern . Venus then relates toCalliope the case of the poet . At the suggestion of

Calliope,i t i s agreed to pardon him ,

on condition

that he shall write a short ballad Of a more cheerfuln ature than the one which procured his arrest . Thishe does extempore in a strain

,which is so far satis

factory,that he i s at on ce set free . He thanks

Calliope for her mediation,who

,taking a fan cy for

him,puts him under the charge of a sweet nymph ,

ind,in the company of the Muses

,he sets out on a

vuvage round the world . They at length reach the

See ante, p . lxii .

cxxxiv ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS or

Butpass we on —Upon the field I spied ,Woven of silk

,w ith golden postand hook ,

A goodly tent unfold its wings Of pride ,To whose delightsome porch me drewmy lovely guide .

”ale

A fine pavi lion i s here pitched,where Ovid

,Virgil ,

and other poets recoun t the deeds Of an cien t heroes .The Muses then resume their travels

,un ti l they reach

a charming valley.

At last,the rock is seen which is the end of their

j ourn ey. Iti s Of slippery marble,with onl y on e pas

sage to the summit . The n ymph and the poet comm en ce the ascen t

,but on n earing the top, they find a

deep abyss full of brimston e,in which many wretched

creatures lay dead, and others were sweltering in the

fl ames . The nymph informs him thatthese are peoplewho

,pretending to pursue the path of honour, but

really following pleasure , fell in to this sorrowful lake .The nymph now seizes the poet by the hair

,and carries

him to the top of the rock,in the same way that Habak

kuk was conveyed to Babylon . From this eminen cehe sees the misery of the world

,and a goodly vessel

wrecked on a sandbank,with many Of the crew

perishing in the waves. His guide informs him thatthis ship i s called The Carwell (or ship) of the Stateo f Grace

,

’ and gives him an outlin e of the Christianfaith . One of the peculiarities of the poem is theunnatural blending Of Christian subjects with theheathen mythology, and i t i s somewhat incongruousto find a nymph of Calliope ’s train expounding thescheme Of redemption }

L

Scott. Worthies,vo l . iii. p . 160.

tIn his Virgil , Book IV . 0 . 6, he describes the priestesses ofBacchus as nuns—V ol . ii. p . 193.

BISHOP GAV I N DOUGLAS . CXXXV

On turn ing in another direction , he sees the PalaceOf Hon our

,—aplace Of such tran scendan t beauty as to

defy description . In a garden ,he sees Venus seated

on a thron e,covered with precious gems , and a

m irror placed before her,surrounded by three golden

trees . In this mirror might be viewed the deeds Ofevery one

,and all the even ts Of sacred and profan e

history. Some of these are enumerated,and the

poet then passes to the description of games , hunting ,hawking, etc. , and the n ecromancy of Roger Bacon ,

and other famous magician s . Venus observes himwh ile looking in to the mirror , and recogn ises himas on ce having been her prison er . She now askshow he likes thi s place

,and then reminds him of his

promise to write some poetry to free himself whenhe was in danger. She gives him a book to put inrhyme

,by which

,doubtless

,the poet mean t Virgil .

This he accepts,and engages to obey her comman ds .

The struggles Of many question able characters toin trude in to the Palace are n ext described such asSinon

,Achitophel

,Jugurtha, and Tryphon . Catilin e

,

whom he sees trying to getin at a window ,is driven

back by a blow bestowed on him by Ci cero w ith ah eavy book.

Looking in at a small orifice , the poet discovers ahall in the palace of more magn ificen ce than anythingto be found on earth , which he thus describes

In high relief of rich and massive gold ,The borders round the doorsand w indows shoneEach towerand turret , beauteous to behold ,Of polished ivory form

’d : ne was there one

That did notShow inlaid its walls upon

cxxxvi ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITI NGS or

Bright shapes of birds ,’m idst sweet enamell

’

d flowersA nd curious knots

,carved in the snow-white bone ,

W ith matchless cunn ing by the artist’s powers.

SO perfectand so pure were Honour’s lordly bowers .

Butpass we on—the nymph and I did wendStraight to the hall , and climb

’

d a radian t stair,Form

’

d al l of topaz clear from end to end .

The gate was shut, but through a lattice thereOf beryl

, gazing , a tran scendant glareBroke dazzlingly on mine aston ished sight.

A room I Saw—but oh,what tongue shall dare

To paint that chamber, so surpassing brightSure never such a view wasgiven to mortal Wight .

From every part combined , roof, wall , and floor,A flood of light most gloriously was cast

A nd as the stream upon m ine eyes gau pour ,Blinded I stood awhile : that sight surpast

Aught that in Eastern story read thou hastOf richest palace, or of gorgeous stallOn diamond pill ars, tall asany mast ,

C lustering , and boundWith ropes of rubiesal l ,The sapphire arches lean t of that celestial hall .

The very benches, forms , and footstools mean ,

Were shap’d of smaragdineand precious stone ,

And on the carpet brillian t groups were seenOf heroes Old , whose steely corslets shoneEmbost with jewels —near them

,on a throne

Sat Honour, mighty prince, with look severe,A nd deep-set awful eye, whose glance alon e

SO full of m ight and glorious did appear,That all my sen ses reel

’

d, and down I dropt with fear.

W i thin her snowy arms that Lady sweetMe caught , and swiftly to the portal hied

cxxxviii ACCOUNT OF THE WRITINGS or

Petrarch,in which various shadowy train s succeed

each other in a somewhat sim ilar mann er. ” It

may,however

,with more probability be surmised ,

that D ouglas had before him Chaucer’ s Temple of

Fame,

” when he drew the outlin e of his Palace of

Hon our. Chaucer’s allegory takes the form of adream

,in which the poet finds himself in the Temple

of Venus,when ce he is carried

,n ot by a nymph ,

but by an eagle, to a magn ificen t palace built upon amoun tain of i ce

,and supported by rows Of pil lars , on

which are in scribed the n ames of the most illustriouspoets. Many of the names given by Chaucer are tobe found in D ouglas yet, on the whole , the arrangemen t and versification of the two poems are so un

l ike,that to D ouglas must be accorded the praise of

having con ceived and successfully completed an ori

ginal design .

I t has been supposed that Bunyan may have borrowed the idea Of his Pilgrim

’s Progress from that ofthe Palace of Honour. In his famous allegory, theChristian hero

,l ike the poet in that Of D ouglas , is con

ducted by supernatural beings through a great varietyof strange scen es . In both the j ourn ey ends at aplace of ce lestial glory , while there is a limbo or abyssby the wayside

,a little before the ultimate Object is

reached. There is,however

,a marked contrast be

tween the poet,j oin ing the gorgeous , though incon

gruous, cavalcade trooping to the Palace of Hon our ,and Christian wending his way through D espair andthe Valley of the Shadow of D eath to the Shin ingCityq

L

H ist. Of Scot. Poetry, p . 277.

TEssay on Sco t. Poetry, by Prof. N ichol , p . xxvi.

BISHOP GAV IN DOUGLAS. CXXXIX

The n ext poem of D ouglas i s his allegory Of theprogress of human l ife, to which the title of

“ KingHart ” has been given . This poem was first prin tedby Pinkerton from the manuscripts Of Sir RichardMaitland

,preserved in the Pepysian L ibrary

,in Mag

dalen College, Cambridge. In 1784 Pinkerton wen tto Cambridge , and tran scribed the MS ,

a great partof wh i ch he published in 178 6, under the titleOf An cien t Scotish Poems

,from theMS. Collection s

Of Sir Ri chard Maitland of Lethington ,Kn ight .

”

In th is collection K ing Hart forms the first poem .

Pinkerton ’ s edition of it,however

,con tain s importan t

errors,some Of wh i ch are due to the Obscurity of

the MS,and some to misreadings of the editor

him self.These diffi culties led Pinkerton to suppose that i t

was written by D ouglas before hi s Palace Of Hon our.D r. I rving, in his H istory of Scoti sh Poetry, con sidersthat, as the versification i s superior to the Palace ofHonour

,and as the author does n ot enumerate it

among his ear ly works , i t was written by D ouglasafter his tran slation ofVirgil was completed . D ouglas,however

,in con cluding hi s version of Virgil , takes

a farewell of poetical composition ; and we maytherefore assume

,if we are to attach importan ce

to this declaration,that King Hart was written

between 15 01,when the Palace of Hon our was

fin ished, and 15 12,when the tran slati on of Virgi l

was begun .

King Hart (or the heart Of man) is represen ted asa mystical king in all the bloom of youth

,and sur

2 vols. 8vo .

cxl ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITI NGS or

rounded by attendan ts,who are person ification s of

the propen sities of e arly manhood . The king, although a feudal monarch, i s stil l far from enj oyingfreedom

,as these “

ythand servitouris,

” or busyattendan ts

, govern him without any hope of his getting quit Of them. He has also five servan ts

,who

are the five sen ses , appoin ted to guard him fromhis en emies . N otwithstanding all the care whichis taken of the king , he is sometimes betrayed .

Honour,coming to his gate, is den ied admittan ce by

the attendan ts,as the king was feasting ; but by

mean s of some con trivan ce,Hon our gains access ,

and cl imbs up to the great tower , stating thathis presen ce would add to the embellishmen ts of

the castle .The palace Of D ame Pleasan ce is n ext described .

This Queen,with a legion Of fair attendan ts

,passes by

the castle Of King Hart , whose sen tries are alarmedat the number in her train

,and report what they saw

to the king. Youthhead and Fresh D elight, two ofthe king

’s attendan ts,volunteer to ascertain of whom

this party may con sist . They set out,but are so

surprised with what they en coun ter that they areeasily made prisoners .

Youthheid forth far’d—he rode on Innocen ce,

A milk-white steed that ambled as the w indWhilst Fresh Delight bestrode Benevolence,A palfrey fair, that would notbide behindThe glorious beams had almost made them blind ,

That forth from Beauty burst beneath the cloudW ith which the goddess had herself enshrinedSitting , like Eastern queen , in her pav ilion proud .

cxli i ACCOUNT or THE WRITINGS or

king i s grieved , but is still more so when he finds thatYouthhead

,D isport

,and Fresh D elight desert him .

Consciencethen arrives,and breaks in without question

or resistan ce. Sadn ess also in trudes,and whispers

something in the king’s ear . D ame Pleasan ce now loses

all patien ce,and, wh i lst her royal husband is asleep ,

collects her train and deserts h im . Wisdom andReason now coun sel the king to return to his owncastle

,where he finds but little comfort. Languor

welcomes him at the gate. Strength creeps outata postern and

,as he departs

,D ecrepitude

,with a

hideous host,is seen coming over the moor. They

carry the castle by storm,and mortally wound the

king , who prepares for death , and makes his last wil land testamen t . To Queen Pleasan ce he bequeathes hispalfrey Un steadfastn ess ; to Gluttony his

“ meiklewamb ” and diseased l iver ; to Rere-Supper (or asecond supper) he leaves his worn-out stomach ; toChastity his con scien ce

,to be scoured from the rust

which had long clogged it to Freedom his thread

bare coat ;to Foolhardn ess his broken brow ;andto D ame D anger a spear which had lost the head.

Like the Palace of Hon our,King Hart i s a work

which in its execution i s quite original. In it , however,may be traced some ideas which show that D ouglas wasfamiliar with Piers the Plowm an

,the famous poem

of John Langland, written more than a cen tury before .In Passus ix . Of that poem

,Lady An ima is en closed

inacastle , with D o-well,D O-bet

,and D O-best as her

keepers . Inwit or Con scien ce i s th e seneschal of thecastle, whose son s , corresponding to the five sen ses ofD ouglas , are appointed to guard Lady An ima

,

BISHOP GAV IN DOUGLAS . cxliii

W'

ork-welland G o-well,See-well

,Say-well

,and Hear

well . The castle is afterwards explained as Caro,or

the body ;Lady A n ima as Life , and dwelling in theheart Of man . Various other allegorical characters ,similar to those men tion ed in King Hart, are to befound in the twen ty division s ofLangland

’s long poem .

Of the poem called Conscience,which

,in the pre

sen t volume,follows King Hart , there is little to be

said . The origin al is also preserved in the MaitlandManuscript

,and i s written on folios 192 and 193 .

It i s an invective again st the growing desire of

churchmen for wealth . As occasionally D ouglas hasShown in his ideas similarity to those in the poemof Piers Plowman

,it seems notimprobable that he

may have been familiar with the accoun t given in

that poem (B . xx. of an angel proclaiming woe

to the Church,on its receiving Con stan tin e

’s gift oflordeshipe and ren tes .

”

This poem was probably the mean s of anotherpiece of the same kind being written , which is sti llextan t

,the author of which is however un known . It

i s as follows

ON

Quheh doctourispreichitto win the joy eternal l ,Vnto the bevin eftir our Lordisassense,

Thay causitjustice, but bud or favour carnallThay causitbe pvnistfleschly vyle Offense,Gaif benyfi ce to Glerkis Of Conscience

Ban natyne MS,fol . 89 b, and Ramsay

’s Evergreen , i . 159.

Cxliv ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS OF

And sathe Feind had sic invy thairon ,

Gart scraip away of Conscience the Con ,A nd sabehind wes levit bot Science.

Than wer al l Clerkis for Scien s promovit,A nd thay that wald to study maist apply

Botyit the Feind at Scien s was eommovit,

Gart scraip away Of Scien s the SciA nd salev it Ensbe his fals slie invy,

Quhilk suld be for gold or geir exponit,Quhairby benefice ar now of dayisdisponit,ButScien s or Consciens for to sel land by.

O soveraine Lord and most excellant King ,Gar putthe Con and Sciagame till Ens,

And rewl l thy realm w ith justice in thy ringGife benefice to C lerkis Of Consciens,Of wisdom and honour to stand at thy defensSe in thy court that Consciensay be clene,For corruptioun befoir thy dayis hes beneA ganis justice, with vthir grit Offen s.

The most remarkable of the works of Bi shopD ouglas is unquestionably his Translation of the x

/E '

Nt’fd

of Virgil , which he began in 15 12,and fini sh ed

according to his own statemen t

Apon the fest Of Marie Magdalene ,’

the 22d Of July 15 13,so that it was a task o f

only eighteen mon ths , during two Of which hewas unable from business to proceed with his

labours .

Itwas at the request of his cousin Henry , Lord

cxlvi ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS OF

A lthough D ouglas has discharged his duty as atran slator with great fidelity

,he has not escaped

cen sure . The learn ed Fran cis Jun ius , author of theG lossarium G othicum and other works

,in a letter

to Sir W . Dugdalefif remarks' “ In my perusing

of this Prelate his book (to say so much by the way),I stumbled on man ie passages wherein this wittieGawin doth grossly mistake Virgil, and i s much ledout Of the way by the infection of a monkish ignoran ce then prevailing in church and commonwealth .

”

D r. Irving remarks on this criticism very truly that ,in the passages which depart most Widely from theoriginal , D ouglas has not been misled by his ignoran ce Of the language , but by hi s adheren ce to thediffusen ess prevalen t in his own time . The learn edRuddiman also states that

,from careful Observation

of his skill in explain ing many words throughout hiswhole tran slation

,he shows “ how great a master he

has been of the Latin tongue .

The charge brought again st D ouglas by Jun ius isnotdeserved

,for in on ly one or two instan ces can he

really be blamed for positive mistran slation s,and

these are n ot such as seriously to detract from th emeri ts Of his workfr Jun ius certain ly appears tohave studied D ouglas

’

Tran slation very carefully,and left in MS. a glossary of i ts obsolete wordswhich still exists among his books bequeathed to

Life of Sir W . Dugdale , by W . Hamper, p . 383 .

tOn e of these m istran slations may be noticed at p . 22 of vo l .

iii. where the word “viscum

,

”

in E n . vi . 1. 205 , is rendered

as g um or glew,in place of “ th e m istletoe

,which Virg il the re

refers to .

BISHOP GAVIN D OUGLAS . cxlvi i

the Bodleian Library . Itwas con sulted by Ruddiman

,who informs us that in it “ many of the hardest

words are wholly omitted he has mistaken th e

mean ing of others, and very rarely gives the orig inal

ofany.

”

While to D ouglas belongs the honour Of being the

author of the first metrical tran slation Of a C lassicalwriter in Britain

,he was soon followed by others , in

emulation of his success . One Of these was the Earlof Surrey

,the great improver of the English language

after Chaucer,and the earliest writer OfEngl ish blank

verse . The Earl tran slated the second and fourthBooks Of Virgi l, and this work seems to have beensuggested by the prior version Of D ouglas , as he

frequen tly copies it. This is particularly observablein the second Book , where many lin es are adoptedwith hardlyany alteration . The following passage in

D ouglas may be compared with the correspondinu

passage in Surrey, and i s on ly one out Of many whichare given by D r. N ott as establishing the fact of theEarl ’ s indebtedness to his Scottish predecessor . l

~

D OUGLASThe G reikis chiftanes, irkitof the weirBy past or than samony langsum yeir,A nd oftrebutitby fataile destany ,

A ne huige hors , like an e greit hi ll , in byCraftelie thai wrocht in wirschip of Pal las.

SURREY.

The Greeks’ chieftansal l irked with the warWherein they wasted had so many years

,

Preface to D ouglas’ Virgil , p . 3 .

‘

l‘ Works of Earl of Surrey, by Dr. N ott,V o l . i. p . 227.

cxlvi i i ACCOUNT OF THE WRITINGS or

A nd oftrepulsed by fatal destiny ,A huge horse made , h igh raised like a hillBy the div in e science of Minerva .

Besides many passages shewing con siderable descriptive power

,there may be in stanced

,as specimen s

of the felicity of D ouglas in his version of Virgil ,those detailing the destruction Of the Palace of Priam

and the death of that king in the second Book thecomplain t of Queen D ido

, and the accoun t of herdeath in the fourth Book the spirited accoun t of thefun eral games in the fifth Book ;and the passagein the sixth Book where ZEneasand the Sibyl arrivein the Elysian fields .For a specimen of diffuseness

,the following tran s

lation of the lin e ZEn . v . 429 may be taken

Immiscentque man us manibus, pugnamque lacessunt.

Now, hand to hand , the dintis Iichtiswith a swakNow bendis he wp his burdoun wi th a myn t,( )n syde he bradis for till eschew the din t ;He etlisyondir his avantage to tak ,He metis him thar

,and charris him with a chak ;

He watis to spy, and smytisin all his mycht,The tOdir keppishym on h is burdoun wycht;Thai foyne at vthir, and eggis to bargane .

*

In con cluding his tran slation , D ouglas in timates

hi s belief in the perpetuity Of his fame, and takes

farewell Of his poetical studies

Thus Vp my pen and instrumentis full yoyrOn Virgil lispostl fix for evirmore,Nevir, from thens, syk materis to diseryveMy muse sal now be cleyn contemplatyve.+

\Vo rks, p . 249. TV o l . iv. p . 223 .

C l ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS-

OF

simply a kind Of roman ce made out of the ZEn eid,with

some trifling addition s , the whole forming but a smal lvolume . D ouglas gives a full accoun t of the deficiencies of the author

,viz —the omissi on Of the greater

part of the first three Books,with the total wan t Of

the fifth his statemen t that the storm in Book I . wassen t forth by ZEOluS and N eptun e

,whereas N eptun e

saved fEneas from the storm his perversion of thestory Of D ido ;his rej ection of the descen t Of E n easto the shades as fabulous his confusion of the Tiberwith the Tover and his substitution Of Cri spina for

D eiphobe as the n ame of the Sibyl summing up thewhole by the assuran ce that this book is no more likeVirgil than Satan resembled St. Augustin e

Nor namar l ike than the dcvill and Sanct Austyne .

D ouglas then en larges on the difficulty he experien cedin his own tran slation from the imperfection s of theScottish language , and the Prologue i s con cluded byhis asking acharitable critici sm from his readers .The Second Prologue is a Short address to Mel

pomen e moralizing on the destruction Of Troy.

The Third Prologue is descriptive of the con ten tsof the third Book of Virgil , and invokes the assistan ce of the Virgin for its completion .

The Fourth Prologue con tain s thirty-five stanzas .Iti s directed again st the danger of unbridled love .

O f this he quotes many in stan ces from the Scripturesand the C lassics

,and especially refers to the un

fortunate D ido , the accoun t Of whose fate i s describedin the following Book Of Virgi l.The Fiflh Prologue , being in troductory to the games

BISHOP GAV IN DOUGLAS . c li

described in the fifth Book Of Virgil , exemplifies theamusemen ts that are suited to the tastes of differen tclasses Of men .

The Sixth Prologue is adapted to the subj ect treatedin the corresponding Book Of the i

ZEneid, which is theaccoun t of the Vi sit Of fEneaS to Hades . The poembegins byan apostrophe to Pluto , Patron Of the deipAcheron .

”

The author then caution s his readers n otto treat the subject of this book lightly, but to read itmore than twice . He gives a comparison of theChristian and Pagan religion s , and an account Of

the belief in Purgatory , the origin of which has been

attributed to Virgil. He avows his strong belief inChristian ity

,and his detestation Of fals goddis.

”

As for Pluto,he sall bym hun t of sty.

The Seventh Prologue is a description of win ter,

and is one Of the most picturesque of his poeticalpieces. He describes the coun try as melan choly anddreary the trees destitute Of foliage rivers in heavyflood

, and the little ril ls, SO sweet and quiet insummer

,turn ed in to torrents tearing down th eir

banks . The earth is now barren , hard, and un lovely,and the decay of n ature begin s to remind man Of

win try age and all subduing death .

”

The following passage, from a vers ion by Fawkes ,g ives a modern aspect to a favourable specimen of

the beauties in the original

Now reign’d the power of keen congeal ing frost,

When al l the beauty of the year is lost ;The brumal season

,bitter

,cold

,and pale

When short dull daysand sounding storms prevail .The wild north wind

,tremendous from afar

,

cl i i A CCOUNT OF THE WR ITI NGS or

O’

erwhelm’d imperial Neptune in his car

,

Their scatter’

d honours from the forests tore,A nd dash ’

d the mad waves headlong on the shore .Fierce

,foaming rivers , swel l

’

d w ith torren ts brown ,

Hurl’

dall their banksprecipitately downLoud roar’d the thunder of the rag ing floods,Loudasgaun t lions bellowing shake the woods .Th

’ unwieldy mon sters which the deeps con tain ,

Sought safety at the bottom of the main .

Strife-stirring Mars , regressive in his sphere ,Sustain ’

d the cold dom in ions Of the yearA nd black Orion dimm ’

d the face of day,

Leading the lucklessmariner astray.

Saturn,whose boding aspect , chill and wan ,

Frowns in dread vengean ce on the rac e Of man ,

Denouncing dearth , and desolating pest,Held high his course progressive in the eastA nd blooming Hebe, Juno

’s daughter gay ,Was ravish ’

d of her beautiful array.

In cessant rains had dren ch ’d the floated ground ,

A nd clouds o ’

ercastthe fi rmamentaround :White shone the hill s iuvolv’

d in silver snow,

Butbrown and barren were the vales belowOn fi rm fOImdationsof eternal ston eHigh rugged rocks in frosty Splendor shoneThe hoary fields no v ivid verdure wore

,

Frost warptthe world , and beauty wasno more .

W ide-wastiug winds that chil l’d the dreary day

A nd seemed to threaten nature with decay,Reminded man

,at every baleful breath

,

Of w in tryage, andal l-subduing death .

”

t ile such is the state of matters out Of doors,the

Poet hurries to warm himself at the fire ;its cheerful

Orig inal Poemsand Translations, p . 269.

cl iv ACCOUNT or THE WR IT I NGS OF

The N inth Prologue , after praising virtue andhon esty

,shews that heroic verse is the poetry most

suited to exalted subj ects , and the language to beemployed should be grave and senten tious . The

Poet illustrates this by the belongings of Kn ights andN obles “

of estait. He pays a well-merited complain t to the sustain ed elevation of Virgil

’s “ warkemperial l , and en treats his readers

’ pardon if histran slation has notdon e justice to the original .The Ten lh Prologue is a religious poem in thirty

four stan zas. In it are shown the perfection s Of theD eity

,in language Of con siderable elegan ce . The

author then enun ciates the mystery of the Trin ity,and con cludes by stating his firm belief in the Christian religion ,

and that he himself will

Woirship nother idol l,stok

,nor elf

although he is con strain ed to describe scen es of thi skind in Virgil .The Eleventh Prologue, of twen ty-four stan zas , treats

first Of kn ightly chivalry, which should be founded

on right and justice n otseeking occasion s Of contention

,but

,at the same time

,possessing fortitude and

courage . Spiritual chivalry i s then described , which ,it i s enj oin ed

,should n ot be a merely passive state ,

but christian kn ights ought to persevere in goodworks to the end Of their days

,and should strive to

reach the land of promise

Hecht till Abrahamand his seyd.

The Twelfth Prologue

Where Splendid Douglas paints the bloom ing May,

BISHOP GAV I N DOUGLAS . clv

is certain ly the fin est effort Of his muse , and his

description of coun try life and scen es , here given ,i s

notsurpassed by any other Scottish Poet. Its firsteditor

,in 155 3

,characterises it as ane singular

lernitProlong,” and from that time to the presen t

it has met with the highest encomiums . In 1752,ane legan t Engl ish version was published by Fran cisFawkes

,

*and in the same year one was printed inthe Scots Magazine by Jerome Ston e , Schoolmasterof Dunkeld y We quote on ce more a passage from

the version Of Fawkes,as a specimen Of the beauties

in the original

A ll gentle hearts confess the quicken ing spring ,For May invigorates every living thing .

Hark ! how the merry m in strels of the groveDevote the day to melodyand loveThe ouzle shrill

,that haun ts the thorny dale

,

The mellow thrush,the love-lorn nightingale,

Their little breasts with emulation swell,

A nd sweetly strive in sing ing to excell .In the thick forest feeds the cooing doveThe starling whistles various notes Of loveThe sparrow chirps, the clefted walls amongTO the sweetwildness of the linnet’s song,To the harsh cuckoo

,and the twittering quai l

Resounds the wood,the river

,and the vale

A nd tender twigs , al l trembling on the trees,

Dance to the murmuring music of the bees .Upspring the airy larks, shrill-voiced and loud ,A nd breathe their matins from a morn ing cloud

A description of May. From Gawin Douglas, Bishop of

Dunkeld . By Franc is Fawkes, A .M . It is also to be found in hisOriginal Poemsand translation s, 1761, p . 225.

1: Scots Magazine , 1755, p . 294.

clVi ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS OF

To greet glad Nature , and the God of day ,A nd flowery Venus

,bloom ing queen of May

The songs Of praise their tuneful breasts employ,Charm every car

,and wrap the soul in joy.

Thus sung the sweet musicians on the SprayW elcome

,thou Lord of light , and lamp Of day

Welcome to tender herbs,and myrtle bowers ,

Welcome to plan ts , and Odour-breathing flowersW elcome to every root upon the plain ,

Welcome to garden s, and the golden grainWelcome to birds that build upon the breere,Welcome

, great Lordand Ruler Of the yearW elcome

,thou source Of un iversal good ,

Of buds to boughs, and beauty to the woodWelcome

,bright Phoebus , whose prol ific power

In every meadow spreads out every flowerWhere-e’er thy beams in m ild effulgence play ,Kind Nature smiles

,andal l the world isgay.

”

The Thirteen lh Prologue i s descriptive of summerand the “ j oyous mon eth tyme Of Jun e. The poet

,

in a calm even ing , en ters a garden ,and seats himself

under a green laurel . Whilst engaged in studyingthe stars he falls asleep

,when an aged man appears

to him,crown ed with bay leaves

that wasals stern of SpecheA s he had been ane medysyner or lech .

He informs the Poet that he i sMaphaeusVegius, andrequests him to tran slate his supplemen t to Virgil .The Poet then represen ts that ,ashe had fin ished Virgil ,he thought he had given sufficien t time to unprofi

table studies,and reminds Maphaeus of St. Jerome

,

who was

Dung and beftin till hys sleipFor he to gen tilis bukis gaif sik keip .

clvii i ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS OF

Pen ce,payable in England to the Pope. He was after

wards n ominated to the Archdeaconry of Wells . In

15 09 he was so anxious to obtain in formation aboutScottish history

,that he wrote directly to King

James IV . ,stating that he knew no trustworthy work

on the subj ect,and desiring to be furn ished with an

authen tic list Of the Kings of Scotland, that he mightput them in their proper order in his history.

*

As alr eady related,Vergi l was on terms of famili

arity with the person s most emin en t for rank andlearn ing at the Court of H en ry V I I I . and whenD ouglas was living as an exile in England in 15 22,Vergil made his acquain tan ce. In the previous yearthe H istory Of Scotland was published by JohnMajor ;and as that author in his work treats thewell-kn own story of Gathelusand Scota as a fable

,

D ouglas agreed to furn ish Vergil with some n otesrelative to the subj ect

,which were duly inserted by

Vergil in his H istory Of England , which appeared in15 34, and was dedicated to King Henry V I I I . The

n otes Of D ouglas in troduced by Vergil were to thefollowing effect

Gathelus,the sonne Of Neolus, k ing of the Atheniens,

flienge from the harde servage Of his father, departed in toJEgipte to aid Pharao again stthe E thiop ian s, unto whomeMoses was sen te from Godde , w ith the which benefit therEgiptian kinge beinge stirred , gave his daughter namedScota in marriage to Gathelus, whoe forthewith serchinge

new dwel linge places arrived in Spaine, and inhabited thatcoste which after him was called Portugal lia, as who wouldesaye the porte of Gathelus, terminge his subjects Scotts ,according to the name Of the noble woman his wife, Scota .

Epist. Reg . Scot. i. p . 139.

B ISHOP GAV IN D OUGLAS . clix

Thus havinge issewand propagation of discent, three hundred yeare after, the Scotts beinge brought into Irelondbie their kinge Simon Brechus, weare the beginn ing of anewe kingdom ,

and final lie,before the comminge of Christe ,

camme in to Albion . It followed consequentlie that thePictes notlong after cammeal lso ewte of Scithiain to A lbion

,and that thesetwo externe nations had issewe of stemme

and encrease of kingdom in that coste of the Ilond which isn ow called Scotlonde, from which time they allways mantayned warrs w ith the Britton s, with the Romain s , andJulius Caesar especial lie, the Scottesremayninge still inviolate ,

as notdisturbed from their degree . Finall ie this wastherein written

,that owlie theire Kinge Rewtheres having

evel succes at home in his troubles with the Brittons , diddeonce avoyded his con trieand fledde in to Irelonde ;and thatw ithin a while

,after haveinge encreased his power w ith

Irisshe menne,retowrned to his former possession s ;and

that in this beehalfe Beda was nott of sufficient persever ~aunce , which calleth this retorne the firste comminge of

the Scottesin to Albion . A l l this was donne beefore thecomminge of Our Savior.A s soon as I badde redde these thinges, accordinge to

the olde proverbe , I seemed to see the beare bringe foortheher younglinges. A fterwarde

,when for recreation wee

mette together, as wee weare accustomed , this Gawine demaunded mie opin ion . I aunswered , that as towchingethere orig inal] I wowlde notgreatlie con tende

,seing that

for the moste parteall cen tries weare woonte to drawe theprinciples of there pedegree ether from the G oddesor fromheroical l nobles

,to the ende that they which afterwarde

beinge not casie of beeleefe minded to skauneand derivetheim

,when they showlde hardl ie find eh ie thinge of more

certeintee, they showld rather bee constreyned to beeleveit firmelie then emie farder to labour vain elie. Buttobeeshorte

,this in noe wise kann e agree that the Scottesand

Pictes, two mightie people, showlde soe longe reigne in the

ClX ACCOUNT OF THE \VRITINGS OF

Ilond , showlde performe so man ie battailes, showlde sooften foyle the Britons and Romain s

,moleste them

,and

vanquisshe them,and yet noe an tique or grave writer once

make rehersal l of theim ; especial lie seeing that Caesar,Tacitus

,Ptolome

,and Plinie (levinge to reherse the others)

doe eche wheare in there histories make mention of the

people named Trinoban tes,Cenigmani, Segontiaci, A n

calites,Bibroci

,Brigan tes , Silures , Icen i , Ordolucae, Vico

magi , Elgouae, with the other contries of Brittaine ;butof the Scottesand Pietes not a woorde, bie cause as yeatthey weare not in this reg ion , which forsothe is to beethoughte the verie cause whie late writers have soe slack lieused the memorial] of theim . Wherefore I tow lde him

,

even as frindlie as trewlie , that as concerninge the Scottesand Pietes beefore there comminge into Brittaine (whichBedas in his time hadd well assigned), i t showlde notbeelawful for me to intermeddel l , bie reason of the prescritwhich is inciden t to an historien

,which is that hee showld

n ether abhorre the discooveringe of falsehoode,n ether in

an ie case alowe the undermininge of veritee,nether to

gyve suspition of favor nor yeat of envy .

This Gawine , noe doubte a sincere manne, didd the lessedissent from this sentence

,in that it plainelie appeared to

him that reason and trewthe herin well agreaed, so easlieistrewtheal lwaise discolowred from feyned phansies.

”

Although D ouglas did not agree with the historical views of Maj or

,that author in 15 16 dedicated

to him and Robert Cockburn,B ishop of Ross

,his

Commen tary on the Fourth Book of Senten ces ofPeter Lombard . Prefixed to his previous work on

the First and Second Books of the same Commen

P. Vergil’s Eng l ish H istory (Camden vol . i . p . 106.

clxii ACCOUNT OF THE WRITINGS OF

such subjects than to the doctors of the Church 5 he

therefore wished much that Maj or would abandonsuch studies

,and return to his n ative country

,to

cultivate the vin eyard of the Lord,and by preaching

to scatter farandwide that evangelical seed fromwhichthe souls of the faithful would reap the best fruits .”

According to D empsterfrD ouglas also wrote somedramati c poems founded on in ciden ts in sacredhistory

,which he designates, Comoediae aliquot

saerae,but these are notkn own to exist;

L

One of the pecul iarities of the works of BishopD ouglas, i s their philological value. So far back asthe year 1638

,Li sle

,the Anglo-Saxon scholar, states ,

in the preface to his “ An cien t Monumen ts of theSaxon tongue,

” that he improved more in the kn owledge of Saxon by the perusal of G . D ouglas

’ Virgilthan by that of all the old Engl ish he could find , poetry ,or prose

,because it was n earer the Saxon and further

from the N orman .§ In 1710, Ruddiman published

Precursors of Knox, p . 229. THist. Ecol . Gent . Scot. p . 221.

I Th e Rev. Mr. Scott,one of the biographers of D ouglas, was

of opin ion that to him m ight be attributed the authorship of Th e

Flowers of the Forest,

”

one of the fin est of th e Scottish songs, asit describes the disasters of th e Scots at th e battle of Flodden , in

which D oug las lost several of his relation s. It is however admitted

,that although th e tun e and two detached verses are

an cient,the rest was composed by Miss Jan e El l iot, a lady be

long ing to the coun ty of Roxburgh .

At length ,”

h e says,I l ighted on Virgil , Scotished by the

Reuerend Gawin Dowg las, Bishop of Dunke l l ,and vncle to the Earleo f Angu s ;the best tran slation of that Poet that euer I read. A nd

though I found that dialect more hard than any of th e former (asne erer th e Saxon

,be cause farther from the Norman), yetwith

he lpe of th e Latin e,I made shift to vnderstand it, and read the

BISHOP GAVI N DOUGLAS . clxiii

his glossary of the words in the same work , whichwas an era in Scottish philology, and was the foundation of the elaborate D ictionary of the Scottish

Language , afterwards published by the Rev. D r .

Jamieson .

The origin of the literary language of Scotland haslong been a subject of in teresting inquiry amongScottish philologers , and various theories have beenpromulgated as to its independen t origin ,

,

which arenow no longer ten able . Itis unnecessary to en ter in tothese on the presen t occasion ,

but it may he remarkedthat there is every reason to believe that the broadSaxon dialect

,derived from the Teuton i c in vaders of

Britain,was at on e time general from London to the

Forth,and n orthwards on the Eastern coast as far as

Aberdeen .

The ven erable father of Engl ish typography,VVil liamCaxton

,writing at London in 1496, tells us in th e

preface to his Buke of Eneydos, SO much malign edby D ouglas , that, to make h imself intelligible tocomyn people

,

” he had to vse old and homelyterms

,

” and to provide h imself with a stock of thesehe took up a book written in olde Englysshe , whenhe found that certyn lye it was more lyke to Dutschethan Englishe . This statemen t of Caxton i s in teresting as showing the change that had ,

ere his time,

booke more than once from the beginn ing to th e end . W herby I

must confesse I gotmore knowledge of that I sought, than byanyOf the other. For as at th e Saxon inuasion

,many of the Britans

,

so at th e Norman many of the Saxons fled Into Scotland , preseruingin that Realme un con quered

,as th e l ine Royal l

, so also th e

language , better than the Inhabitants here , y uder con querors lawand custome

,were able .

” —Preface, p . 16.

clxiv ACCOUNT OF THE WRITINGS OF

come over the language in the South of England ,owing to Anglo-N orman and other influen ces . In thean cien t K ingdom of N orthumbria

,which stretched

from the Humber to the Firth of Forth,the language

remain ed more pure,and res isted that propen sity to

change wh i ch more or less affects all l iving languages.Itwas in the dialect common to this exten sive districtthat n early all the Engl ish m etrical roman ces ofmediaeval times are written

,and with itthe language

Of the earlier Scottish Poets,Barbour and Wyn ton

,

i s almost iden tical . Did we n ot kn ow the age of

G . D ouglas ,” says Sir Walter Scott

,we Should

certain ly esteem his language older than that of

Chaucer,when in fact it i s n early two centuries later.”

This observation,

” remarks George Chalmers,“ i s

equally true of D unbar and Lindsay,and this fact i s

amply sufficien t to preclude a late theory that theScotti sh poets took the lead in improvemen t

,leaving

Gower,Chaucer

,and Lydgate far behind .

”

In his accoun t of the dialect of the southern count ies of Scotland (p. Mr J . A . H .Murray observes

,

after the final establishmen t of Scotland as a distin ctnationality

,and much more after the declin e and

extin ction of the ‘langage of the Northin lede ’

in

England , the written language Of Scotland becamemore and more conformed to that type of the northern speech which was spoken on the shores of theForth

,in Edinburgh , Lin l ithgow ,

Stirling , Dunferm

l ine,and St Andrews

,the cen tre of pol itical and

ecclesiasti cal governmen t and Of the education as wellas the commerce of the kingdom ;and, as a couse

Int. to Works of Sir D . Lyndsay, vo l . i. , p . 146.

clxvi ACCOUNT OF THE WR ITINGS OF

in his works. His admiration for Chaucer , Whomhe sometimes closely imitates

,appears to have in

duced D ouglas to adopt some of the grammaticalforms used by that poet

,which are unusual with

Scottish authors , and the Rev. Mr. Skeat Observes,that the poetry of D ouglas i s not to be regardedas pure Scottish

,but as Scottish much affected by

Angl icisms . Th i s is the more surprising , as D ouglasin his first prologue professes to be

“ kepand naSodroun bot oure awin langage and Mr. J . A . H .

Murray remarks,that not on ly does he use the y

prefix to the past participle (which the N orthern dialect had dropped before the 12th cen tury)in y-heried

,

y-clepit, y

-conquest, y—fetterit

, y-forgit, y

-lowpit,

y-markit

, y-sowpit, y

—womplit, y

-wymplit, y-drad

,

y-plet

, y—bound

, y-boundin

, y-brokin , y

-

graven ,

y-slain but he has even the peculiarly Southernforms which retain the prefix and drop the termination s—y-baik

, y-be

, y-bore

, y-cloi s

, y-draw , y

-schroude,

y-set—for the N orthern bak-en ,

be—em,bor—en , clos-it,

draw-en,schroud-it

,sett—en or sutt-en . Some of these

forms were indeed more Sodroun than the literaryEngli sh of his own day but al l are Chaucerian , andShow how deeply D ouglas had drunk of him who was,more even than Virgil

In that art of eloquence the flude.

In con cluding this short n otice of the works of

Bi shop Gavin D ouglas, th e following tribute to hisl iterary merits

,by Sir D avid Lindsay of the Moun t ,

may notunaptly be added as showing the respect in

which he was held by his contemporariesP. 47 .

BISHOP GAV I N D OUGLAS. clxvi i

A llace forane, quhilk lamp wasin this land

Of eloquence the fiowand balmy strand,

A nd in our Inglis rhetoric the roseAs of rubies the Charbuncle bin chose !A nd

,as Phebus dois Cyn thia presell ,

SaGawin Douglas Bischop of Dunkel l ,

Had,quheh he was in to this land on live,

A bufe vulgar Poeitisprerogative,Baith in practick and speculatioun .

I say namair, gude reidarismay discriue,

Hiswourthy warkisin n omber mathan fiue

A nd specialy the trew translatiounOf Virgill , quhilk bin consolatiounTo cunn ing men

,to knaw his greit ingyne,

A lswe ill in natural science as

Complayntof th e Pap ingo, 11. 22 36. Here Lyndsay describesthe writings of Douglas as being in our I nglis.

”

NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS AND PRINTED

ED ITIONS OF THE WORKS OF

GAVIN DOUGLAS .

OF the Palice of Honour,the earl iest of the

“

works ofD ouglas, no manuscript i s kn own to exi st . The firstedition was prin ted in London

,by Will iam Copland:

I t appeared without a date,and bears the following

title

The Palis of Honoure,compyled by Gawyne

dowglasBys shope Of Dunkyl l .

1T Imprin ted at London in Ifietstret, at the sygneof the Rose garland by wyllyam Copland.

{I God saue Quene Marye .

From the circumstan ce that thi s edition i s of thesame size

,and has the same ornamen tation on the

title page as the edition of D ouglas’ Virgil , which

this prin ter published in 1553,we may con clude that

both issued from the press about the same time ;and copies of the two are sometimes bound in one

volume .I t i s n ot paged , but con sists of 39 folios . On

folio 3 , there is a spirited cut of the Royal Arms of

NOTICES OF THE MANUSCR IPTS, ETC . clxix

S cotland,which is given in facsimile at p . 6 of this

volume . On the margin s are a n umber of explan atory side n otes

,which arewan ting in the Edinburgh

edition , but are supplied in the presen t reprin t .A list of the variation s of this edition from the

Edinburgh edition of 15 79,was given in the reprin t

of the same edition,published by the Bannatyn e

Club in 18 27 5 and will be found in the n otes tothe presen t volume . This London edition i s veryrare

,and a copy at the Roxburghe sale brought the

sum of twen ty guin eas."The Edinburgh Edition of 1579

,has the following

title

1[ Heir beginnis ane treatise cal lit the Paliceof Honovr compylit be M . Gawin e D owglas lBischop of D unkeld .

W 8; Imprentitat Edin burgh be Iohne Ros

for Henrie Charteris . Ann o 15 79.

Cvm privi legi o regali .

In the address to “ the Reidar prefixed to thisedition

,it i s stated that it i s more correct than

the one prin ted in London ,and also than the copyis

set furth of auld amangisourselfis,”

Ofwhich latter allhave n ow disappeared . Curiously enough , Mr. Laingrecovered a few leaves of one of these edition s , whichhe supposes to have been printed in Edinburgh , by

Thomas D avidson ,about or before the year 1540 .

These fragmen ts , however, present n o variation s of

in terest .The Edinburgh Edition i s of greater rarity , as not

clxx NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS,ETC . ,

more than two or three copies are kn own to exist,one

of which is preserved in the Library of the Un iversityof Edinburgh, and another in that of the Faculty of

Advocates . The copy in the Un iversity was presented to his almamater

,by William D rummond of

Hawthornden in 1626. At the end there is a woodcut,

a copy of which i s given at page 8 2 of this volume .A reprin t of this Edition

,with the Prologues to

Virgil , formed the second volume of a series of

the works of the Scottish Poets,published in Perth

,

by R. Morrison Son,in 178 7 . This edition i s

understood to have been edited by the Rev. JamesScott

,one of the min i sters of Perth

,who prefix ed

a life of the author, and some illustrative n otes.

A more correct reprin t of the Edinburgh Editionwas published by John Pinkerton in 1792. It

appeared in the first volume of his Scotish Poemsreprin ted from scarce edition s . Pinkerton gives afew variation s of the text from the London edition .

These he puts at the foot Of each page . To each of

the D ivision s of the Poem he prefixesan “ Argument ,”

or short syn opsis of its conten ts in an imitation of

the old Scottish language . These will be found in

the n otes to the presen t volume. From their beingapparen tly in old Scottish

,they have misled

Lowndes and other bibliographers , who represen tthem as one of the peculiarities of the Edinburgh

edition of 15 79.

A facsimile reprin t was made of the Edinburghedition

,for the Bannatyn e Club , in 1827 . Itwas

presented to the C lub by Mr. John G . Kinnear.

Prefixed to this beautiful volume , as above stated ,

Fro ntisp i e c e

in Fragmen t o f an unknown Edition o f

The Pal ice of H onour.

S upposed to have been prin tedatEdinburghf irm I 540 .

{i

f{23 time

eamhyb Arid new nixtefter"

rise Paiyce o f H O N O V R.it53453 6

Tai p ie c e

end of the Pro logue of The Palice of Honour

in same Fragment.

clxxii NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS,ETC .

,

An cien t Scotish Poems,never before in prin t But

now publ ished from the MS . collection s of Sir

Richard Maitland,of Lethington ,

Kn ight , Lord PrivySeal of but he hasin several in stan cesmisread the manuscript . He has however suppl iedseveral of its defects with con siderable ingenuity .

In the MS. these poems occur without any titles;nor has King Hart

”

(which begin s on fol . anydivision in to Can tos . This division was made byPinkerton

,who

,in addition

,prefixed to each Cantoan

Argument,” or syn opsis Of its con ten ts

,in imitation

of the old Scottish language . These will be found inthe n otes to the presen t volume . As in the case ofThe Palice of Hon our

,

” they have proved somewhat misleading. Mr. P . F . Tytler, in his accoun tof the poem

,describes Pinkerton ’ s Argumen ts,

” asD ouglas

’

n ervous and condensed description of hisown

The verses on Conscience are written on folios192-193 of this MS.

MSS. OF VIRG IL’S j ENE ID .

Of the Translation of the E neid of Virgil , severalexcellen t copies exist in Manuscript. Those at presen tbest known

,are as follow '

I . The Cambridge MS ,preserved in the Library

of Trin ity College, Cambridge , (Gale’sMSS. O 3 .

This MS. i s a small fol io,written about th e year

1525 . I t is in the original binding, and has then ame

,

“ John Danyelston ,Rector of Dysart

,written

on the title .2 vo ls. sm . 8vo , Lond. 1786.

1’ Lives of Scottish Worthies, vol . iii. p . 142.

c lxxiv NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS,ETC .

i s equal,if notsuperior to the Cambridge MS . That

it i s an early MS. is shown by the circumstan ce thatat the bottom of the first page , the n ame , W. Hay,

occurs . There are bound along with it , in thesame volume

,several poems by Sir D . Lyndsay

,tran

scribed in 15 66.

Ithas the following in scription on a blank leafThis buik partenis to D avid A nderson e, burges of

Abirdene , be gift of Mr. Wm . Hay, Person of Turreff,

The volume was presen ted to the Library in1692, as appears from the following n ote “ LiberB ibliothecae Edinburgenze ex don o gen erosi JuvenisJoannis A ikman ,

filii Magistri G ulielmi [Aikman]a Cairn ie

,causarum patron i

,D . Gavin i D ouglasi i ,

Castri Caledonii Episcopi , versio Scotica A en eadumVirgil ii, ann o 15 13 facta, unaque Dauidis LindesiiEquitis Aurati opuscula quaedam compacta .

”

The

MS . has no title or heading at the beginn ing , n or acolophon at the end. The n ame Of the tran scriber

,

“M . Joann es E lphynstoun ,

” occurs on the last page .Elphinstoun seems to have found hi s task of tran

scription somewhat irksome . At the end of the 13th

Book (p . after writing , Exp licitLiber decimasicrlins Eneados, he adds , Quad Bocardo etBaroco

,—th e

names of . th e most difficult forms in Logic. Sir W .

Hamilton remarks of Bocardo , that so in tricate wasthis mood con sidered

,that it waslooked upon as a trap

,

in to which,if you on ce got, i t was no easy task to

find an exit . During the middle ages it was then ame given in Oxford to the Academic j ai l or career—which still remains as a relic of the ancien t logi cal

glory of that venerable seminary .

”

(Lectures, col . iii,

OF THE WORKS OF GAVI N D OUGLAS . clxxv

p . On the last leaf (p. Elphinstoun thuscon cl udes Opere finilo, sit laus el gloriaChristo,followed by his in itials and signature .

e

’

avmee @l

111. The MS. kn own as TheRuthven MS ,preserved

in the Library of the Un iversity of Edinburgh .

Iti s a folio volume, of 600 pages , n eatly and distinctly written ,

and may have been executed between15 30and 1540. At the top of the blank leaf fron tingthe title

,is the signature of W . Dns. Ruthven

,

who was afterwards raised to the peerage as Earl ofGowrie

,but was beheaded 3d May 15 84.

This MS .

,from the following in scription ,

was addedto the Library in the name of the graduates of 1643 .

Ego donatus sum A cademiae Edinburgenae a Magisterio candidatis, A .D .

clxxvi NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS,ETC .

,

Itcommences as followsHere begynnys the Buke of Vergile Contenand

in the self xiii . Bukis translatit out of Latyne beane reuerend Fader in God Gawan e D ouglas,Bischop vmquhile of Dunkeld .

It ends w ith the lines beginn ing Ofi Mantna,etc .

,as given at the last page of the text of vol . iv .

This MS. was used by Ruddiman for the edition of

17 10, who states in the Preface that there are few

of our am endmen ts which are n otowing to, or at leastconfirmed by an old and excellen t MS . belonging tothe Library of the College of Edinburgh , and on thisoccasion we acknowledge our obligation s and returnour most hearty thanks to that learn ed Society

,and

their Hon ourable Patron s the Lord Provostand otherMagistrates of the C ity

,who were pleased most

courteously to allow us the use of that valuable MS.

so long as it could be favourable to our design .

”

IV. The Lambeth MS , preserved in L ibrary of theArchbishop of Can terbury at Lambeth Palace. It

i s in excellent preservation ,

’

and is somewhat moremodern than the preceding, having the date of

transcription 1545-6. Itcommences as follows“ Heir begynnys the prolong of Virgile, Prince of

Latin poetry , in his tuelf huks of Eneados compilit

and translatitfurth of Latin in our Scottis language ,by ane right nobill and worshipful Clerk, MaisterGawyn D ouglass , Provost of San ct Gyles Kirk inEdinburgh , and persoun of Lyntoun in Lauthian

,

quhilk eftir was Byshop of Dunkeld,written Ann o

1545 . 20 Februarii. ”

On the last page the Colophon is as follows

clxxvi ii NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS,ETC .

,

PR INTED ED ITIONS.

The first Edition of the Tran slation of Virgi l waspublished in London in 1553 . I t bears the followingtitle

The xii i Bukes ofEneados of I the famose PoeteVirgil l , Translatet out of Latyn e Verses in toScottish Me tir

,bi the Reuerend Fa ther in God

,

May ster Gawin D ouglas B ishop of D unkelandvnkil to the Erle of Angus . Euery buke han inghys perticular Prologe .

flj Imprin ted at LondO 155 3 .

This edition,in 4to

,is prin ted in black letter

,and

con tain s 38 1 folios. It i s remarkable for the inaccuracy Of its text. There is no men tion Of theprin ter’s name

,nor of the source from which it i s

taken,but it was from the press ofWilliam Copland .

Having been prin ted thirty-three years after thedeath of the author, it varies much from the manuscript copies which exist. There are no mean s of

kn owing for certain who edited the book , but it i sprobable that it wasCopland himself who performedthis duty. William Copland

,the younger brother

probably of Robert Copland, was one of the originalmembers of the Station ers ’ Company of London , andpubl ished various books of a religious character, alongw ith poems and roman ces . The first issue from hispress in 1548

,was a work by Henry Forth , on the

Lord s Supper his n ext publ ication , the same year,was a “ tran slation from Zwinglius, en titled , A

detection of the blasphemies and errours of them

OF THE WORKS OF GAVIN DOUGLAS . clxxix

that say they offer vp the bodye of Christ in theirMasse . ”

The an ti-Roman Catholic feeling shewn by the publication of these works is also exhibited in the edition

ofVirgil . In the Prologues , wherever D ouglas alludesto the Virgin Mary , to Purgatory, and to some RomanCatholic ceremon ies

,the passages are either com

pletely altered, or en tirely omitted . The two fol

lowing examples , which occur in the first Prologue ,may be given

DOUGLAS.

Throw praier of thi Moder, quene of blis .

ED . 15 53 .

Throu Christ thy son e bring us to hewyn ly blys .

DOUGLAS .

In Christ is all my traist and hewynnisQueno.

Thou Virgyne modir and madyne be my muse .

ED . 155 3 .

In Christ I trest,born e of the virgin e queue .

Thou saluiour of mankind be mye muse .

The other in stan ces will be found in the N otes toVols . i i .

,i i i .

,and iv . of thi s edition .

A S shewing still further the liberties taken by Copland

,he

,from motives of delicacy

,omits the accoun t

of the adventure of D ido and ZEneaS in the fourthbook of Virgil ,—apassage extending to no less than66 l in es . At the end of the sixth book there i s anote in serted by Copland

,descriptive of the gen eral

characteristics of the preceding books Of the E neid,

and of the virtues of E neas,as he is subsequen tly

c xx NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS, ETC .,

depicted . The n ote,which is printed on a separate

leaf,seems to have been afterwards can celled

,as it i s

frequen tly found wan ting in the copies extan t of thisearly edition . The poetical address to Lord Sin clair

,

at the end of the work,is also wan ting in the B. L .

edition . A series of quain t side-n otes have beensupplied by Copland

,which are given in the presen t

text .In 1710, the well-kn own folio edit ion ,

by ThomasRuddiman

,of the tran slation of the fEneid appeared .

I t bears the fol lowing titleVirgil

’s H ueis,tran slated in to Scottish verse by

the famous Gawin D ouglas, Bishop of D unkeld . A new

edition . Wherein th e many errors of the former arecorrected

, and the defects supplied from an excellen tmanuscript . To which is added a large glossary,explain ing the difficult words, which may serve fora diction ary to the old Scottish language . A nd to ’

the whole is prefixedan exact accoun t of the Author ’ sLifeandWritings , from the best historiesand records .Edinburgh Prin ted by Mr Andrew Symson and Mr

Robert Freebairn,and sold at their shops . MD CCX.

”

Folio.

Some in teresting particulars may be glean ed of thehistory of this edition in Chalmers’ L ife Of Ruddi

man,in addition to what is to be found in the work

itself. Chalmers informs us that about the time OftheUn ionRobert Freebairn

,the Edinburgh bookseller,

undertook to publish an edition of Gavin D ouglas’

Virgil , which eventually appeared in 17 10 . The

publisher found several learn ed men,whom

,as they

were proud to lend their aid,he is studious to thank

clxxxii NOTICES OF THE MANUSCRIPTS, ETC.

standing al l his care, the edition con tain s many errors

and misprin ts . These were owing to his use of theblack letter edition of 155 3

,in prin ting the text , and

he informs us that he had proceeded to page 45 beforehe was aware that there existed any MS. of D ouglas

’

Virgil in Scotland . A s before Observed,he thanks

the Un iversity authorities for the use of one of the

MSS. con tain ed in the Library : this was the RuthvenMS . but he does n ot seem to have been aware ofthe existen ce of the other and O lder MS. which that

L ibrary con tain s, and which has been used in preparing the presen t edition . On the whole

,the edition

of Ruddiman was a great work for th e period atwhich it appeared

,and it is still commended by

authors who have occasion to con sult it.

The E n eid of Virgil , tran slated in to Scottishverse. By Gawin D ouglas, B i shop of Dunkeld.

Prin ted at Edinburgh , 2 vols. 4to.This sumptuous edition was presen ted to the

members of the Bannatyn e Club,as a j oin t contribu

tion,by Andrew Rutherfurd

,Esq .

,advocate

,after

wards Lord Rutherfurd,and George D undas , Esq ,

advocate,afterwards Lord Man or . These volumes

con tain on ly the text of D ouglas’

Tran slation of

the ZEneid,and the Cambridge MS. was taken as the

basis of the work . Mr D undas,the editor

,intended

in a third volume to have given a n ew and moreelaborate Glossary than that of Ruddiman ; thisinten tion

,however

,was not carried out

, and thework remain s as an excellent text

,but without intro

duction or notes ofany kind .

am Q uantarallitturPA L iCEof H O N O V R .€Iomppltt

b: M . G A W I N B

D O W G L A S

mation of®uuhtlm

lmprentitat din

High 10 no Ros,fo rHen rie C harteris. Anne . ” 7 9 .

C V M PR I V I LE G I O R E C A LI

T O THE RE I D AR .

VHEN we had sen e and considderit the

diuers Impression es befoir Imprentit of

thi s Notabill werk to haue ben e altogidder

faultie and corrupt : n ot on lie that quhilk hes ben e

Imprentit at London , bot also the Copyis set furth

of auld amangis our selfis : We haue thocht gude to

tak sum pan es and trawel lis to haue the samin mair

commodiously and correctly set furth : to the In

ten t,that the ben euolentReidar may haue the

mair delyte and plesure in reiding , and

the mair frute in perusing, this

plesand and delecta

bill werk .

THE PROLOG VE.

VHEN pail l Aurora with face lamen tabill

Her russat Inantill borderitall withsabil l ,

Lappitabouttheheuin ly circumstan ce ,The tender bed and arres honorabil l

Of Flora,queue till floures amiabil l ,

In May I rai s to do my obseruan ce ,A nd enteritin a gardyne of plesan ce ,With sol depain t as paradice amiabill ,A nd blisful l bewiswith blomed varyan ce .

Sacraftely dame Flora had ouirfret

Hir heuin ly bed , powderitwith mony a set

Of ruby,topas

,perle , and emeran t ,

With balmy dew bathitand kyndlie wet

Quhill vapours hote , richt fresch e, and weillD ulce of odour, of fieuour maist fragran t ,The siluer droppis on daseis distillan t,

t ilk verdour bran ches ouir the alars get,With smoky sen ce the mystis reflectant.

The fragran t fiouris blomand in th air seis ,Ouirspred the len is of n atures tapestreis

VOL . I . A

THE PROLOGVE .

Abon e the quhilk with heuin ly harmoneisThe birdis sat on twystisand on greis ,Melodiously makand thair kyndlie gleis ,Quhais schill noitis fordinnedall the skyis,Of repercustair the echo cryisAmang the bran ches of the blomed treis ,A nd on the laurerssiluer droppis lyis.

Quhill that I rowmed in that paradice,Replenischit, and full of all delice ,Outof the sey Eon s alifthis heid ,I men e the hors quhilk drawis at den iceThe assiltrie and goldin chair of priceOf Tytan , quhilk at morrow semis reidThe new col lour that all the n i cht lay deidIs restorit

,baith fon ll is

,fionris

,and rice

Recomfort was,throw Phebus gudlyheid .

The dasy and the maryguld v nlappit,Quhilksall the n icht lay with their lenis happit,Thame to reserue frarewmespungitiue

The vmbrate treis that Tytan about wappitWar portrait

,and on the eirth yschappit

Be goldin bemis vinificatiue,Quhais amen e heit is maist restoratineThe greshoppersamangis the vergers gnappit,A nd beis wrocht materiall for thair hyn e.

Richt hailsome was the sessoun of the geir,Phebus furth getdepured bemis cleir,Maist nutritiue till all thingis vegetan t .

4 THE PROLOGVE .

For til] ren ert and burgion e ar maid ahillThy mirth refreschis byrdis in thair nestis,

Quhilks th e to priseand nature n euer restis,

Confessand 3OW maist poten t and louabillAmang the brownis of the olin e twystis.

In the is rute and augmen t Of curage ,In the enforces Martis vassalage ,In the is amorous lufe and harmon ic,With incrementis fresche in lustie age.

Quba that constranitar in lnifis rage,A ddressand thame with obseruan ce airlie ,Weill auchtis the till gloir and magnifie.

A nd with that word I raisitmy visageSoir affrayit, half in ane fren esie .

O Nature Queue,and 0 3e lustie May,

(Quod I) tho, how lang sall I thus foruayQuhilk 3OW and Venus in this garth desernis

’

!

Recoun sel] me outof this greit affray ,That I may sing 3OW landis day be day,3e that all mundan e creatures preseruisComfort gour man that in this fan ton steruis

,

With spreitarraisitand euerie witaway,

Quaiking for fe ir, baith pulsis, van e , and n ern i s .

My fatal] weird , my febill witI wary,My desie heid quhome laik of brane gart vary,A nd notsustene so amiabil l a soun

,

“l ith ery courage , febill strenthis sary,Bovmand me hame and l ist nalanger tary

THE PROLOGVE .

Outof the air come ane impressioun ,

Throw quhais licht in extasie or swoun ,

Amyd the Virgultis all in till a fary,As femin in e so feblitfell I down .

A nd with that gleme sadesyitwas my micht ,Quhil] thair remanitnouther voice nor sicht,Breith

,motion

,nor heiring n atural]

Saw n euer man so faynta leuand wicht ,A nd naferly

,for ouir excelland l i cht

Corruptis the wit, and garris the bludeawail lVntil l the hart

,that it nadanger ail] .

Quhen it is smorit,memberiswirkis n otricht

,

The dreidful l terrour swa did me assail .

3itat the last, I nothow lang a space,A lytle heit appeiritin my face ,Whilk had tofoir ben e paill and voyde of bludeTho in my sweuen I meta ferly caceI thocht me setwithin a desert place

,

Amyd a forest by a hyddeous fludeWith grysly fische, and schortly til] con cludeI sall discryue (as God will gine me grace)My ne visioun in rural] termis rude .

FIN IS PROLOGI .

THE PA LIC E O I" HONOU R .

That it had been a riner natural lW

'

ith brayis bair, raif rochis l ike to fall ,Quhairon nagers n or herbiswer visibill ,Botswappis brin t with blastis boriall .

This laithlie fiude r umland as thonder routit,

In quhome the fisch gel land as elnis schoutit,Thair 3elpis wilde my heiring all fordeifit,Thay grym monsturesmy spreitsabhorritand doutit.

Notthrow the soy] bot muskane treis sproutit,Combust

,barran t

,vnblomitand vn leifit

,

Auld rottin runtisquhairin nasap was leifit,

Moch,all waist

,widderitwith gran is moutit

,

A ganand den , quhair mnrtherarsmen reifit.

Quhairfoir my seluin was richt sair agast,Th is wildern esabhominabill and waist

,

(In quhome nathing was nature comfortand)“7as dark as rock

,the quhilk the sey Vpeast.

The quhissil ling wind blew mony bitter blast ,Bun tis rattil litand vn eith micht I stand.

Ontthrow the wod I crap on fute and hand,

The riuer stank,the treis clatteritfast.

The soy] was nocht bot marres,slike

,and sand .

A nd notbut can s my spreitiswerabaisit,All solitair in that desertarraisit,A l lace

,I said , is n ane vther remeid ,

Cruel] fortoun quhy hes thow me‘

betraisit‘

l

t y hes thow thus my fatal] end compassit?A l lace , allane , sall I thus sone be deid

THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

In th is desert , and wait n an e vther reidBotbe deuoiritwith sum heist rauenous.

I weip,I wail]

,I plen e

,I cry

,I pleid,

In con stan t warld and quheil l con trarious .

Thy tran sitorie plesan ce qubat auail lis3!Now thair, n ow heir, now hie and now deuail lis

,

Now to , now fra, n ow law,n ow magnifyis,

Now hait , now cauld , now lauchis, now beuail lisNow seik

,n ow hail]

,now werie

,n ow n otaillis

,

Now gude, n ow enill,now weitis

,and now dryis,

Now thow promittis, and rich t now thow denyis,Now wo

,now weil]

,now firme

,now friuolous,

Now gam,n ow gram ,

now lowis , n ow defyis,In con stan t warld and quheill con trarious.

Ha,quka suld haue affyance in thy blis ?

Ha, quhasuld haue firme esperan ce in this

Quhilk is al lace safren ch and varian tCertes nan e sum hes n o wicht surelie 3is .Than has my self ben e gyltie

'

l 3e, I wis.

Thairfoiral lace sall danger thus me dan tQuhidder is become sason e this duillie han t lA nd ver translaitIn win ter furious ?Thus I beuail] my faitis repugnan t ,In con stan t warldand quheil l con trarious.

Bydand the deid thus in my extasie,A n e dyn I hard ap

’

proching fast me by,Quhilk mouit frathe plague Septentrional l ,As heird of beistis stamping with loud cry,

TI IE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Botthan,G od wait

,how affrayitwas I

Traistand to be stranglitwith bestial l .Amid a stock richt priuelie 1 stall ,Qubair lnikand out an on e I did espyA ne lustie rout of beistis rational ] .

of Of ladyis fair and gudlie men arrayitIn con stan t weid

,that weil] myspreitispayit ,

With degestmind, quharin all witaboundit.F111] soberlie thair haiknayis thay assayitEfter the faitis auld , and notforwayit. 1 0

Thair hie pruden ce schew furth and naithing roundit\Vith g ude effeir quhairatthe wod resonndit.

In steidfastordour,to vesie vnaffrayit

Thay ryding furth with stabilnes ygronndit.

Amiddisquhome born e in ane goldin chair,Ouirfretwith perle and stan is maist preclair,That drawin was by haiknayis all mil k quhite ,Was set a Queue

,as lyllie sweitof swair,

In purpour rob hemmitwith gold ilk gair,

Quhilk gemmitclaspis clositall perfite .

A diademe maist plesandlie politeSet on the tressis of her giltin hair,A nd in hir hand a scepter of delite .

Sin e nixthir raid in gran i t Violate

Twelf damisel lis, ilk ane in thair estait,t ilks semit of her coun sell maist secre ,A nd nixtthame was a lustie ron t

,God wait.

Lords,ladyis, and mony fair prelait,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Pithagoras, Porphyre, Permenydus,

Melysseswith his sawis but defen ce ,Sidrach

,Secundus

,and Solenyus.

Ptholomens,Ipocras

,Socrates

,

Empedocles,Neptenabus, Hermes ,

Galien,A uerroes

,and Plato

,

Enoch,Lameth

,Job and D iogen es ,

The eloquen t and pruden t Vlisses,

Wise Josephus,and facund Cicero

,

Melchisedech with vther mony mo .

Thair veyage lyis throw outthis wildernes,

TO the Palice of Hon our all thay go .

Issituatfrom hen ce liggisten‘

hunder,

Our horsis oft, or we be th air, will founder .Adew

,we may nalanger heir reman e .

Or that ge pas , (quod I) tell me this wonder ,w that ge wretchitcatiues thus at vnder

Ar sociatwith this court soueran e ?A chitOphell maid this an swer agane,Knawis thow not? Hail]

,eirdquaik , and thunder

Ar oftin May with mony schonr of ran e .

Richt sawe ben e in to this compan ieOur witabounditand vsitwas lewdlie

,

My wisdome ay fulfil litmy desireA s thou may in the Bybil l weil] espyIIow D avids prayer put my coun sell by

,

I gart his son e aganis him conspire ,The quhilk was slan e, quhairfoir vp be the

THE PAL-ICE OF HONOUR .

Myself I hangitffrnstratsafoulelie.

This Syn on was a G reik that raisitfire .

First in to Troy,as Virgill dois report ,

Satratourlike maid him be draw ouirthort

t ill in he brocht the hors with men of armi s,

Quhairthrow the toun destroyitwas at schort .

(Quod 1) I s this gour destanie and sort ?Cursitbe he that sorrowis for gour harmis,For ge haue ben e schrewis baith , be G oddis armis

3e will Obtene naen tres at.gon eport,

Butgif it be throw sorcerie or charmis.

Ingres to haue (quod thay) we notpresume ,Itsufiicis vs to se the Palice blume

,

A nd stand on rowme, quhair better folk ben e charrit,

For to reman e,adew

,we haue natume

,

This ilk way cummis the courtis,be our dume

,

Of D ian e and Venus,that feill hes marrit.

With that they raid away as thay war skarrit5A nd I agane maist like an e elriche grumeCrap In the muskan e aikin Stok misharrit.

Thus wretchitlie I maid my residen ce,

Imagin ing feil l syse for sum defen ceIn con trair sauage beistismaist cruel] ,For naremeid bot deid be Violen ceSum time asswagis febill in digen ce,Thus inapart I recomfortmysell

,

Botthat salitle was I dar nottell,

The stichling of a mouse out of presen ceHad ben e to me mair vgsum than the hell . 29 Fem

14 THE PALICE or HoNOUR.

Bitglaid I was that I with them had spokin ,

Had n otben e that,certes my hart had brokin

For megirnesand pusil lamitie.

Remanand thus within the tre all lokkinD esirand fast sum sign es or sum tokinOf Lady Venus

,or hir compan ie

A ne harttransformitran fast by the tree\Vith houndis ren t

,on quhom D iane was wrokin

,

Thairby I vnderstude that scho was nie .

Thay had befoir declairithir cummingMair perfitelie, forthy I k new the signeWas A cteon , quhilk D ian e nakitwaititBathing in a well, and eik hir madynnis ging .

The G oddeswas commonitat this thing ,A nd him in forme hes ofan e hart translatit.

I saw (allace)his houndis at him slatitBackwerthe blen t to give them knawledgeing,Thay raif thair lord

,miskn ew him at them batit.

Sin e ladyis come with lustie giltintressis,In habit wilde maist like till fostaressis.

Amiddisquhome heich on ane eliphant,In signe that scho in chaistitie incressis

,

Raid D ian e, that ladyis hartis dressisTill be stabil l , and naway in con stan t

,

G od wait that nan e of thame is varian t,

All chaistand trew Virginitie professis

I n ote,bot few I saw with D ian e han t .

Intill that court I saw anon e presen tJephteis douchter a lustie lady gent ,

owful

can not

TH E PALICE OF HONOUR .

Quhilk in compact water ofane riueir,

May n ocht en ter,bot rinnis thair and heir

,

Quhill it at last he caryiton the ground .

A nd thocht throw din be experien ce is found,

The fische ar causitwithin the rin er steir,

Inwith the water the noyis dois notabound .

Violen t din the air brekisand deiris,

Sin e greit motioun of air the water steiris,The water steirit

,fisches for feirdnes fieis

,

Botout of dout nafische in water heiris,

For as we se,richt few of thame hes eiris.

A nd eik forsnith,bot gif wise clerkis leis ,

Thair is naair inwith waters nor seisButquhilk nath ing may heir (as wise men

Like as but licht thair is nathing that seis .

An euch of this , I n otquhatit may men e ,I will returne till declair all bedene ,My dreidful l dreame with grisl ie fantasyisI schew befoir qubat I had hard or sene,Particularlie sum of my panefnll ten e .Botnow ,

God wait, quhatfeirdnes on me lyis,

Langer (I said)and now this time is twyis,A ne sound I hard ofangel lis as ithad ben e ,\Vith harmon ie fordinnand all the skyis.

Sadulce , sasweit, and samelodious,

That euerie wicht thairwith micht be j oyous ,BotI and catiuesdul litin dispair,For quhen a man i s wraith or furious ,Melancholik for wo ,

or tedious,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR . 1 7

Than is all plesance till him maist con trair,A nd semblablie than sadid with me fairThis melodie intonitheuin lie thus

,

For profound wo constranitme mak cair.

A nd murnand thus,as ane maist woful l wicht ,

Of the maist’

plesan t court I had a sicht,

In warld adoun sen Adam was creat .

Quhatsang?Quhatj oy?Quhatharmonie”.l t atl icht ?

Qubat mirthfull solace plesan ce all at richt ?Qubat fresche bewtie ’

l QuhatexCel land estait?Qubat sweitvoeis Quhatwordissnggurait?Qubat fair debaitis2 Quhatluifsnm ladyis bricht

’

l

Quhatlustie gal landis did on thair seruice wait ?

t atgudlie pastance’

l and qubat menstralie ’

!

Qubat game thay maid ? in faith nottell can I,

Thocht I had profound wit angelical l .The heuin lie soundis of thair harmon ie

,

Hes dynnitsamy drerie fan tasie ,Baith wit and ressoun half is loist of all .

3it(as I knaw) als lichtlie say I sall ,That angellike and godlie compan ieTill se

,me thocht a th ing celestial] .

Proceidand furth was draw ane chariote,

Be coursouristwel f, trappitin gren e veluote,Of fin e gold wer jun ctures and harnasingis,The lymnariswer of birneistgold , God wote,Baith aixtre and quheil lis of gold I hote .

Of goldin cord wer lyamis, and the stringis

V OL . I . B

TH E PALICE OF HONOUR .

Festinnitconiun ctin massie goldin ringis,

Euyr hamis conuenientfor si c n ote ,A nd raw silk brechamiS ouir thair halsis hingis .

The bodie of the cairtof euir bon e,

With crisolitisand mony precious ston el Vas all ouirfretin dew proportionn ,

Like sternisin the firmamentquhilks schon e .

Reparrel litwas that godlike plesand won eTylditabon e , and to the eirth adoun ,

In richest claith of gold of purpure brounButfas

,nor vther frengeis, had it n on e,

Saif claith of gold anamall itall fassionn .

Quhairfradependan t hang thir megir hell is,Sum round

,sum thraw

,in sound the quhilksexcel lis,

Al l wer of gold of Araby maist fine,

Quhilkswith the wind concordandlie saknel lisThat to be glaid thair sound all wicht compel lis,The harmon ie was samelodious fine

,

In mann is voice and in strumen t dinin e,

Quhair sathay wen t it semit nathing ellisBotierarchyes ofangel lis ordours n ine .

Amid the chair fulfil litof plesance,

Ane lady sat, at quhais obeysance\Vas all that rout, and wonder is to heirOf hir excel land lustie coun tenan ce ,Hir hie bewtie quhilk maist is to auancePrecel lis all , thair may be nacompeirFor like Phebus in hiestof his spheir,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

I vnderstude be sign es persauabil lThat was Cupyd the god maist dissauabil] ,The lady Venus his mother a goddes,I kn ew that was the court savariabil lOf eirdly lufe, quhilk sendil l standis stabil]Botgitthair mirth and solace n euerthelesIn musick ton e and menstralie expresSacraftelie with curage aggreabill ,Hard n euer wicht sic melodie I ges.

A ccompanyitlustie gonkeirswith all ,Fresche ladyis sang in voice Virgineal lConcordissweit

,diners entoned reportis,

Proportionis fine with sound celestial] ,Duplat, triplat, diatesserial l ,Sesqui altera

,and decupla resortis

,

D iapason of mony sindrie sortis ,“far soung and playitbe seir cunn ing menstral ]On lufe bal latiswith mony fair disportis.

In modulatioun hard I play and singFaburdonn

, pricksang , discan t, coun tering,Can t organ e , figuratioun ,

and gemmell,On croud, lute , harp , with mony gudlie spring ,Schalmes

,clariounis

, portatin es, hard I ring,Monycord, organ e, tympane , and cymbell .

Sythol l , psalttrie, and voices sweitas hel l ,Soft releschingisin dulce deliuering,Fractionis dinide , at rest, or clois compel] .

NotPan of A rchaid sapl esandlie playis,Nor king D avid quhais playing as men sayis,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Coniuritthe spreitthe quhilk Saul confoundit,Nor Amphion with mony subtel l layis,Quhilk Thebes wallitwith harping in his dayis,Nor he that first the subtel l craftis foundit,Was notin musick half saweill igroundit,Nor kn ew thair measure ten t daill be nawayis,At thair resort baith heuin and eird resonndit.

Namair I vnderstude thir numbers fine,

Be God,than dois a gekgo or a swin e,

Saif that me think sweitsoundisgude to heir.Namair heiron my laubour will - I tin e

,

Namair I will thir verbillis sweitdefin e,

How that thair musick ton es war mair cleirAnd dulcer than the mouing of the spheir,Or Orpheus harp of Thrace with soun d dinine

,

G laskeriane maid nanoyis compeir.

Thay condiscend saweill in ane accord,That by naj oin t thair soundisben e discord ,In euerie key thay werren saexpert ,Of thair array gif I suld mak record ,Lustie springaldisand mony gudlie lord ,Tender gounglingiswith pieteonsvirgin hart,Elder ladyis kn ew mair of lustisart,D iners vthersquhilksme notlist remord ,Ouhais lakk estweid was silkiS ouirbrouderit

In vestures quent of mony sindrie gyse , .I saw all claith of gold men micht den ise

,

Purpour colour, pun ik and skarlote hewis,

21

THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

Veluotrobbis maid with the grand assyse,D ames

,satyn e, begaryitmony wise,

Cramessie satin e, veluotenbroude in din ers rewis ,Satin e figures champitwith fiourisand bewis,Damesflure, tere pylek quhairon thair lyisPeirle

,orphany, quhilk euerie staitrenewis.

Thair riche en tire , maist peirles to behald,My wit can notdiscriue howbeit I wald

,

Mony entrappitsteid with silkis seir,Mony pattrel l neruitwith gold I tald,Full mony n ew gil t harnasing notald

,

On mony palfray luifsnm ladyis cleir,A nd mixt the chair I saw formestappeir,Vpon a barditcnrser stout and bald,Mars

, god of strife enarmitin birn eistgeir.

Enerie innasibil l wapon on him he bair,

His luik was grym,his bodie large and squair,

His lymmisweill entailgeitto be strang,His n ek was greit, a span len th weill or mair,His visage braid with crisp broun curland hair,Of stature notouir greit, n or gitouir lang.

Behaldand Venus , O ge my lufe (he sang).A nd scho agane with dalyance safairHir knichthim cleipis, quhair sahe ryde or gang .

Thair was Arcyte, and Palemon aswaA ccompanyitwith fair Aemilia,The Quene D ido with hir fals lufe Ence ,Trew Troilus

,vnfaithful ] Cressida,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Thus lang sall n otall fonndin be sastabil l ,This Venus court

, quhilk was in lufe maist‘abil

,

For til] discriue my cunn in g i s to waik ,Ane multitude thay war innumerabill .

Of gudlie folke in euerie kin de and age,With blenkissweit

,fresche lustie gren e curage ,

A nd dalian ce thay ryding furth in feir,Sum len is in hope

,and sum in greit thirlage ,

Sum in dispair,sum findis his pan is swage,

Garlandis of fiourisand rois chaipletis seirThay hair on heid

,and samin sang sacleir,

t il l that thair mirth commonitmy cnrage,Til] sing this lay quhilk fol lowand ge may heir.

Constranithartbelappitin distres,G rounditin W 0

,and full of heuin es

,

Complene thy panefnll cairis infin ite,Bewail l this warldis frail vnsteidfastnes

,

Hauand regrait, sen gan e is thy glaidnes,A nd all thy solace returnitin dispite .

O catine thrall inuolupitin syte,

Confes thy fatal] woful l wretchitnes,

D enide in twan e and furth diffound all tyteAggreuance greit in miserabil ] indyte .

My cruel] fait subiectitto pennancePredestinate

,savoid of all plesan ce

,

Hes cuorie greif amid min e hart ingrane,The Slide in con stan t destenie or chance

,

Vnequal lie dois hing in thair ballan ce .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

‘7 9

My demeritesand greit dolour I haue ,Th is purgatorie redoublis all the lan e .I lk wicht hes sum weilfair at obeysan ceSaif me bysning, that may nagrace ressaue ,D eid the addres

,and do me to my gran e .

W O worth Sic strang misfortoun anoyous,Quhilk hes opprestmy spreitismaist joyous ,W o

-worth this warldis fren ch felicitie,W O worth my feruentdiseis dolorous ,W o worth the wicht that is notpieteons

Quhair the trespassour pen iten t thay se.W o worth th is deid that daylie dois me die,W o worth Cupyd, and wo worth fals Venus,W o worth thame baith

,ay waryitmot thay

W O worth thair court and cursitdestenie.

Loude as I mochtin dolour all destrengeit,This lay I sang, and notan e letter fengeit,Tho saw I Venus on hir lip did bite ,A nd all the court in haist thair horsis rengeit,Proclamand loude

, quhair is gon e poid that pl engeit, 20Quhil k deith deseruis committand sic dispite,

Fra tre to tre thay seirching but respite.Quhi] ane me fand

, quhilk said, and greit disdengeit,Auantveil lane

,thow reclus imperfite.

All in ane fenir out of my muskane bowr,

On kn eis I crap,and law for feir did lowre

,

Than all the court on me thair heidis schuik, [28

Sum glowmand grim,sum girnand with Visage sowre,

TH E PALICE OF HONOUR .

Sum in the n ek gaue me feil dyntis dowre.

Pluk at the craw,thay cryit, deplome the rnik ,

Pul land my hair, with blek my face they brnik,Skrymmorie fery gaue

,

me mony a clowre,

For Chyppynntie ful oftmy chaftis qun ik.

With pan e,tormen t , thus in thair teneful play,

Til l Venus bound thay led me furth the way,

t ilk than was set amid a goldin chair ,A nd saconfounditin to that fell affray,A S that I micht considder thair array.

Me thocht the feild ouirspred with carpettis fair,(t ilk was tofoir brin t, barrane, vil e, and bair)Wox maist plesand, bot all (the snith to say)M icht n ocht ameis my grenon s pan e full sair.

Enthronitsat Mars, Cupyd, and Venus,Tho rais ane clerk was cleipitVarins,Me till aecusen of a deidlie crime

,

A nd he begouth and red ane dittay thus .Thou wickitcatine, wod and furious,Presumpteonslie now at this presen t time

My Lady heir blasphemitin thy rim e,Hir son e , hir self, and hir court amorous ,For till betraisawaititheir sen prime.

Now God thow wait, me thocht my fortun e fey,With quaikand voce and hart cald as a key,On kn eis I kneil litand mercie cnld imploir,Submittand me but ony langer pley,V enusmandate and plesure to obey .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

nr tnyns t at,wenis thow to degraid my hie estait,

Me to declin e as judge , curst creature ?Itbeis n otsa

,the gam e gais vther gait.

A s we the find,thow sall thoil l judgemen t ,

Notof a clerk we se the represen t,Saif on lie falset and dissaitfull taill is,First quhen thow come with hart and haill in ten t ,Thow the submittitto my commandemen t .Now now thairof methink to son e thow fail l is

,

I wen e nathing bot folie that the aillis,3itclerkis ben e in subtel l wordis quen t ,A nd in the deid als schairp as ony snail lis.

3e ben e the men bewrayismy commandis,3e ben e the men disturbismy seruandis

,

3e ben e the men with wickitwordis feil ]

t ilk blasphemis fresche lustie goung gal landis,That in my seruice and retin ew standis

,

3e ben e the men that cleipis gow saleill,

With fals behest quhil l ge gour purpoissteil l ,Sin e ge forsweir baith bodie, trenth , and handis,3e ben e safals ge can naword con ceil l .

Haue don e (quod scho) Schir VariusalswyithD O write the sen ten ce

,lat this catin e kyith

G if our power may deming his misdeid.

Than,God thow wait

, gif that my spreitwas blyith ,The feweroushew in till my face did myithAll my male eis

,for swathe horribill dreid

Hail] me ouirset I micht n otsay my creid,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

For feir and wo within my skin I wryith ,I micht notpray

,forsnith thocht I had neid .

Sitof my deith I set nothalfane fie,For greit effeir me thocht napan e to die ,Botsair I dred me for sum vther j aip ,That Venus suld throw her subtillitie

,

In t ill sum bysning beisttransfiguratme ,As in a beir

,a bair

,ane oule

,ane aip

,

I traistitsafor t ill haue ben e mischaip,That oftI wald my hand behald to seG if it alterit

,and oftmy Visage graip .

Tho I reuoluitin my minde an on e,

HOW that D ian e transformitA cteon e

A nd Jun o eik as for a kow gartkeipThe fair YO

,that lang was wobegon e,

Argus her gimmitthat en e had mony one,

Quhome at the last M ercurius gart sleip,A nd hir deliueritof that danger deipI rememberitalso how in a ston e

,

The wife of Loth ichangitsair did weip .

I vmbethochthow Jone and auld Saturn e,

Intill an e wolf thay did Lycaon turn e,

A nd how the michtie N abuchodon osorIn beistlie forme did on the feild soinrn e

,

A nd for his gilt was maid to weip and mnrne .

Thir feirful l wonders gart me dreid full soir,For by exempilis oftI hard tofoir.

30 THE PALICE or HONOUR .

He suld bewar that seis his fellow Spurne,

M ischan ce ofane, suld be ane vtheris loir .

A nd rolland thus in diners fantaseisTerribill thochtis oftmy hart did gryis,For all remeid was alteritin dispair.Thair was nahope of mercie til] denyis,Thair was nawicht my freind be nakin wyis,All hail lelie the court was me contrair.Than was almaistwrittin the senten ce sair

,

My febil l minde seand this greit suppryis,Was than of wit and euerie blis full hair.

32 TH E PALICE or HONOUR .

Historyis greit in Latin e toung and Grew,

With fresche indite and soundis gude to heir.

A nd sum of thame ad lyram playitand sangSaplesand verse , quhill all the roches rang ,M etir saphik , and also elygie .

Thair instrumentis all maist war fidil lis lang ,Butw ith a string quhilk n euer a wreistgeid wrang,Sum hadan e harp

, and sum a fair psaltrie,[On lutis sum thair accentis subtell e]D euyditweill, and held the measure lang,In soundissweitof plesand melodie .

The ladyis sang in voices dul coraitFacund epistill isquhilks quhylum Cn id wrait

,

As Phillis queue send till duke D emophoon,

A nd of Pen elope the greit regrait,Send to hir lord scho douting his estaitThat he at Troy suld loisitbe or ton e .

How Acon tius til] Cydippe anon eVVraithis complain t , thair hard I weil] , God waitW ith vther lustie missiuesmony one .

I had greit wonder of thay ladyis seir,Quhil ksin that airt micht haue naway compeir,

Of castis quen t , rethorik colouris fineSapoeitl ike in subtel l fair man eir,A nd eloquen t firme caden ce regulair.

Th air veyage furth contenand richt as lin e,

sang and play (as said is) sadeuin e ,Thay fast approching to the place weil] n eir,Quhair I was tormen t into my greit pin e .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

A nd as that heuin lie sort n ew nominait,

Remonitfurth on gudlie wise thair gait ,Toward the court quhilk was tofoir expremit,

My cnrage grew ,for quhatcause I n ocht wait ,

Saif that I held me payit of thair estaitA nd thay war folk of knawledge as it sem it ,Als in to Venus court full fast thay demitSayand, gon e lastic court will stop or meit ,To justifie this bysning quhilk blasphemit.

Son e is (quod thay) the court rethorical lf‘

;

Of polit termis,sang poetical] ,

A nd constand ground of famous storeis sweit,30 n e is the facound well celestial] ,3on e is the fon tan e and original] ,Quhairfrathe well of H elicon dois fleit,30 ne are the folk that comfortis euerie spreit,

Be fine delite and dite angelical] ,Causand gros leid all of maist gudnes gl eit .

3on e is the court of plesand steidfastn es

3one is the court of con stan t merin es,

30n e is the court of j oyous disciplin e ,

Quhilk can sis folk thair purpois to expresIn ornate wise, prouokaud with glaidnesAl l gen til] hartis to thair lair in clin e ,Enerie famous poeitmen may diuin e

Is in gon e rout, lo gonder thair prin ces

Thespis,the mother of the mnsis n in e .

A nd nixthir Sin e,hir dochter first byget

Lady C leo, quhilk craftelie dois set

VOL. I . C

3 3

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Historyis auld , like as thay war presen t 5Euterpe eik

, quhilk daylie dois hir detIn dulce blastis of pypissweitbut let 5The third sister, Thalia, diligen tIn wantoun writ , and chronikil l dois imprent5The feird endytis oftwith cheikiswet

Sair tragedeis, Melpomen e the gen t .

Terpsichore the fyftwith humbil] soun ,

Makis on psalterismodulatioun 5The sext Erato

,lik e thir lon ers wilde

,

Wil l sing, daunce, and l eip baith vp and donn .

Polymn ia,the seuintmuse of ren oun

Dytis thir sweitrethorick colouris mil de,Quhilks are saplesand baith to man and childe 5Vran ia

,the aucht Sister with cronn

,

Writes the hen in and starnis all beden e.

The nyu t, quhome to name vther is compeir,

Calliope th e lustie lady cleir,

Of quhome the bewtie and the worthin-es

Hir vertewisgreit schynis baith farand n eir,

For scho of nobill fatis hes th e steir,

To write thair worschip, Victorie and prowesIn kinglie stile, quhil k dois thair fame in cresC leipitin Latin e heroicus, but weir,Chief ofal l write l ike as scho is maistres .

Thir musis n in e 10 gonder may g'

c se,\Vith fresche nymphes of waterand of sey,A nd fair ladyis of thir tempil lis auld ,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Pomponins, quhais fame Of late san s fail] ,I s blawin wide throw euerie realmeand place

,

Thair was the moral] wise poet H oraceIVith mony vther clerk of greit auail ] ,Thair was Brun ell

,C laudius

,and Rocchas .

Sagreit ane preis of pepill drew V S n eirThe hundreth part thair n ames ar n otheir

,

Sitsaw I thair Of Brutus Al byon ,

G effray Chauceir, as aper se san s peirI II his vulgare, and moral] John e G oweir.

Lydgaitthe monk raid musing him allon e ,Of th is nationn I kn ew also an on e

,

Greit Kenn edie,and D unbar gitvndeid,

A nd Quin tin e with an e huttok on his heid .

Howbeit I culd declair and weill indite,

The bonnteis Of that court dewlie to writeWar ouir prolixt, tran scending min e ingin e ,Tuiching the proces of my pan efnl l Site .Beliue I saw thir lustie musisquhite,

“l ith all thair routtowartV enus declin e,

Quhair Cupide sat with hir in thron e deuine ,I standand bundin in ane sorie plite,Bydand thair grace, or than my deidlie pin e .

Straicht to thair queu e thir samin musis raid,

Maist eloquentlie thair salutatiounismaid ,Venus again gald thame thair salnsingl icht reuerentlie

,and on hir feit vpbraid,

Beseikand thame to licht,nay, nay, thay said ,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

We may n otheir mak nalang tarying .

Calliope maist facoun d and ben ing,InquiritVenus quhatwicht had hir mismaid,Or quhatwas cause of hir thair soionrning .

Sister (said scho) behald gon e bysning schrew

A subtell smy, considder weill hishew ,

Standis thair bound, and bekinnithir to me,Bon e catin e had blasphemitme of n ew,

For to degraid, and do my fame adew ,

A laithlie ryme dispiteful l and Subtel le

Compylithes , reheirsand loud and hieSolander

,dispite, sorrow and velan ie ,

To me,my son e

,and eik our court for ay.

He hes deseruitdeith,he sall be deid

,

And we remain e forsnith in to this steid,

To justifie that rebald rennigait.

Quod Calliope,Sister away all feid

,

Quhy suld he die, quhy suld he lois his heid .

To Slay him for sasmall an e cryme,God wait

,

G reitar degrading war to gonr estait,

To sic as he to mak con ter pleid,How mayane fule gonr hie honour chekmait?

Quhatof his lak , sawide gour fame is blaw3our excellen ce maist peirles is saknaw,

Nawretchisword may depair gour hie name .Gin e me his life, and modifie the law

,

For on my heid he standis now sic aw,

That he sall efter deserue n euer mair blame,

TIIE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Noch t of his deith ge may report bot schame,

In recompen ce for his missettand saw,

He sall gour bestin euerie part proclame .

Than,Lord

,how glaid becam my febil goist,

My eurage grew the Whilk befoir was loist,Seand I had sagreit ane adnocait,That expertlie but prayer, price or coist,Obtenithad my friwol l actioun almoist

,

Quhilk wasbefoir perischitand desolait5This quhile Venus stude in ane studie straitBotfinallie scho schew til] all the oistScho wald do grace , and notbe obstinait .

I will (said scho) haue mercie and pietic ,Do Slaik my wraith , and let all ran cour be .

Quhair is mair vice than to be ouir cruel] ?A nd special lie in wemen sic as me

,

A lady,fy, that usis tyrann ie ,

A ne Vennome is rather and a serpen t fell .A vennemous dragonn or ane deuill of hellIs nacompair to the iniquitieOf bald women , as thir wise clerkis tell .

Greit God defend I suld be one of tho,

t ilk of thair feid and malice n euer ho,

Outon sic gramI will haue narepreif.

Calliope sister said to Venus tho,

A t gonr reqncistth i s wretche sall fre lie go 5H eir I remit his trespas, and all greifSal ] be forget , sahe will say sum brcif

40 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Prouide an’

e place to plan t thy tender age ,In lestand blis to reman e and repair.

t ais in welth ? Quhais weill fortunait?

Onha is in pietie disseueritfradebait?

Quhalen is in hOpe ? IVhal en is in esperan ce ?

Quhastandisin grace ? Onha standis in firme estait?Qaha is con ten t

,reioycitair or lait ?

Or quhai s he that fortoun dois anan ce ?Botthow that is repl enischitOf plesan ce.Thow hes comfort, all weilfair delicait,Thou hes glaidnes, thow hes the happie chan ce ,Thow hes thy will , thow be n ocht desolait.

In cres in mirthful l consolatioun ,

I II j oyous sweitimaginatioun ,

Abound in lufe of perfiteamouris,

\Vith diligen t trew deliberationn ,

Rander louingis for thy saluatiounT il l Venus

,and vnder her guerdoun all houri s

Rest at all eis , but sair or sitefull schouris,Abide in quiet, maist con stan t weilfair,

[Be glaid and lychtn ow in thy lusty fiouris]VnwemmitW itdeliueritOf dangeir.

This lay was red in Oppin audien ce

Of the musisand in Venus presen ce .I stand con ten t 5thou art obedien t ,Quod Calliope

,my companioun and defen ce .

Venus said eik it was sum recompen ceFor my trespas, I was sapeniten t,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

A nd with that word all suddanelie scho wen t,In ane in stan t scho and hir court was hen ce ,3itstill abaid thir musis on the ben t .

In clinand than,I said

,Calliope

,

My protectour, my help and my supplie,My souerane lady

,my redemptioun ,

My m ediatour, quhen I was dampnitto die ,

I sall beseik the godlie maiestie,Infin ite thankis

,laude

,and benisoun

30W till acquite, according gonr r cnoun 5I t langis nocht my possibilitie ,Till recompen ce ten part of this guerdoun .

G loir,honour

,laude

,and reuerence conding ,

Quhamay forgeild gow of sahie an e thingA nd In that partgour mercie I imploirSubmitting me my lifetime induring ,3our plesure and mandate til l Obeysing .

Sil en ce (said scho) I haue an euch heirfoir,1 will thow wend and vesie wonderismoir.

”

Than scho me hes betauchtin keipingOfan e sweitnimphe maist faithful] and decoir .

A n e hors I gatmaist richelie besene,Was harn eistall with wodbind len is gren e ,Of the same sute the trappours law donn hang ,Ouir him I straid atcommand Of the queue

,

Tho samin furth we ryding all beden e ,Als swift as thoch t with mony a merie sang ,My nimphe alwayis conuoyitme of thrang,

41

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Amid th e musis to se quhatthay wald mene ,Quhilkssang and playitbot n euer awreistgeid wrang .

Throw countreis seir, holtisand roches hie,

Ouir vail is, planis, woddis, wallie sey,

Ouir fiudis fair,and mony strait mon tan e

,

We war caryitin twinkling ofane eye .

Our horsis flaw, and raid nocht, as thocht me,Now outof Fran ce tursitin Tnskan e

,

N ow out of Flanders heich vp in Alman e ,Now in to Egypt, n ow into I talie,Now in the realme of Trace

,and now in Span e .

The hie mon tan es we passitof German ic ,Ouir A ppennynus deuydand I talie,Ouir Ryn e, the Pow,

and Tiber fiudes fair,

Ouir Al phen s,by Pyes the riche eietie

,

Vnder the eirth,that en teris in the see

,

Ouir Ron e,ouir San e

,ouir Fran ce

,and eik ouir

A nd ouir T agus the goldin sanditriuair,

In Thessalie we passitthe mon t Oethe,A nd Hercules in sepulture fand thair .

Thair wen t we ouir the riuer Peneyns,In Sicill eik we passitthe mon t Tmolns

,

Pleneistwith saiffron ,hon ie

,and with wyn e

,

The twat0ppitfamous Pernasns,In Trace we wen t out ouir the mon t Emus

,

t air Orph eus leirithis harmon ie maist fyne ,Ouir Carmelas quhair twaprophetis deuyne

44 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Beside that cristall well sweitand degest,Thame to repois, thair hors refresche and rest ,A lichtitdoun th ir musis cleir Of hew.

The compan ie all haillelie l eist and best,

Thrang to the well to drink quhilk ran southwest,

Throw out ane mcid quhair alkin fiourisgrew ,

Amang the laif ful fast I did persewTo drink

,bot sathe greit preis me opprest,

That Of the water I micht nottaste a drew.

Our horsispasturitin ane plesand plan e ,Law at the fute ofan e fair gren e mon tan e ,Amid an e mcid schaddowitwith ceder treis

,

Saif fraall heit,thair micht we weil l reman e .

A ll kinde of herbis, flouris, frute, and gran e,With euerie growand tre thair men micht cheis

,

The berial l stremis rinnand ouir stanerie greisMade sober noyis, the schaw dinnitagan eFor birdis sang, and sounding of the beis .

The ladyis fair on din ers instrumentis,“Ten t playand, Singand, dansand ouir the ben tis ,Full angellike and heuin lie was thair soun .

Quhatcreature amid his hart imprentis,The fresche bewtie, the gudelie representis,

The merie speiche,fair hauingis, hie renoun

Of thame,wald set a wise man half in swoun

,

Thair woman lineswryithitthe el ementis,Stoneistthe hen in , and all the eirth adoun .

The warld may notconsidder nor discriue

The heuin lie joy,the blis I saw beliue

,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Saineffabil l,abon e my wit sahie 5

I will namair thairon my foirheid riue,

Botbreiflie furth my febil l procesdrine .

Law in the meid ane palgeoun picht I se,Maist gudliest, and richest that micht be 5My gouernour ofter than times fine,Vuto that hald to pas . commanditme .

Swa final lie straicht to that royal] steid,

In fel lowschip with my leidar I geid 5We enteritson e

,the portar was n otthra

,

Thair was nastopping lang demand nor pleid,

I kneillitlaw,and vnheil ditmy heid ,

A nd tho I saw our ladyistwaand twa,Sittand on deissis

,familiars to and fra

Seruand thame fast with ypocras and mcid ,D elicaitmeitis

,dainteis seir alswa.

Greit was the preis,the feist royal] to sen e

,

At eis thay citwith interludis betweneGaue problewmis seir, and mony fair demandis,Inqnyrand quhabest in their times had ben e ,Quhatraist lon ers in lustie geirisgren e,Sum said this way

,and sum thairto ganestandis,

Than Calliope,On ide to appeir commandis

,

My clerk (quod scho) of register beden e ,D eclair quhawar maist worthie of thair handis .

With lawrere crow nitat hir commandemen t,

Vpstude this poeitdigest and eloquen t,And schew the fatis of Hercules the strang,

46 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

How h e th e grislie h ell is hounds out rentSlew lyonnis, monstnris, and mony fell serpen t ,A nd to the deith feil michtie gyantis dang.

Of Theseus eik,he schew the weiris lang

Agan e the quene Ypolitathe sweit,A nd how he slew the M in otaur in Creit.

Of Perseus he tauld the knichtlie deidis,t ilk vinquischit, as men in On ide reidis

,

Cruel] tyrantisand monsturesmony one,

Of Dianis bair,in Cal lidon the dreidis,

How throw ane ladyis schothis sydisbleidis,The bretheris deith

,and sin e the sisters mon e.

He schew how king Priamus son e Yssacone,Efter his deith

,bodie and all his weidis

In till ane skarth transformitwas an on e .

H e schew at Troy quhatwise the G reikis lands ,How feirs Achilles stranglitwith his handisThe vail geantCygnus , N eptnnus son e maist deir,t i lk at G reikisarrinal l on the strandis

,

A thousand slew that day vpon the sandis,Faucht with Achill and bluntitall his Speir

,

Nawapin was that micht him wound or deir,t il l Achilles brist of his helme the handis

,

A nd wirryithim be force for all his feir.

He schew full mony transmutationnis,

A nd wonderful] new fig urationnis,Be hundrethismo than I haue heir expremit,He tauld of lufismeditatiounis

,

48 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

l Ve se the final] end Of our trauaill,

Amid an e plan e a plesand roche to wail ]A nd euerie wicht frawe that sicht had sene

,

Thankand greit God, their heidis law deuail l .

\Vith Singing , lauching, merinesand play,

Vuto this roche we ryden furth the way,

Now mair to write for feir trimblismy pen ,

The hartmay notthink nor mann i s toung say,The eir n ocht heir, n or gitthe eye se may,Itmay n otbe imaginitwith m en

,

The heuin lie blis,the perfite j oy to ken ,

t ilk now I saw,the hundreth part all day

I mich t n otsehaw,thocht I had toungisten .

Thocht all my members toungiswar on raw,

I war notah ill the thousand fauld to sehaw,

Quhairfoir I feir ocht farther mair to wr ite ,For quhidder I this in saul l or bodie saw

,

That wait I nocht , bot he that all dois knaw,

The greit G od wait, in euerie th ing perfite,Eik gif I wald this anisioun indite ,Janglaris suld it bakbite, and stand nane awCry out on dremisquhilks are n otworth an e mite .

Senthis till me all veritie be kend ,I repute better thus to mak ane end

,

Than ocht to say that suld heiraris engreif 5On vther side thocht thay me vilipend

,

I considder pruden t folk will comm end

The veritie , and sic j angling repreif,

TH E PALICE OF HONOUR .

l Vith quhais correctioun,support and releif

Furth to proceid, this proces I preten d ,Traistand in God my purpois to escheif.

Howbeit I may noteuerie circumstan ceReduce perfitelie in remembran ce ,Myn e ign oran ce gitsum part sal l den ise ,Tuitchin g this sicht Of h euinlie sweitplesan ce .

Now emptie pen write furth thy lustie chan ce ,Sehaw wonderis feil l

,suppois thow be not

Be diligen t and ripelie the an ise ,’

Be quick and schairp voiditof varian ce ,Be sweit

,and cans notgentill hartis grise .

VOL . I .

49

THE THR ID PART .

E musisn in e be in my adiutorie,

That maid me se this blis and perfiteglorie,

Teiche me gonr facund castis eloquen t,Len me a recen t schairpfresche memorie,

mation And can s me dewlie till indite this storie,Sum gratious sweitnesin my breist imprent,Till mak the beirarsbowsnm and atten t

,

B eidaud my writ, i lluminate with gonr loir,Infin ite thankis randerand gow thairfoir .

Now breifiie to my purpois for till gon e,About the hill lay wayismony one,A nd to the hicht bot an e passage ingrano,Hewin in the roche of slid hard marbel] ston e

,

A gane the some l ike to the glas it schon e,The ascen ce was hie, and strait for till cousan e.3itthan th ir musis gudelie and suaue,A lichtitdoun and clam the roche in hie

,

With all the rout,outtane my nimpheand I .

Still at the hillis fute we twa abaid,

Than suddan elie my keipar to me said,Ascend galland 5 than for feir I quoik .

Be notaffrayit, scho said, be notdismaid .

A nd with that word vp the strait rod abraid,I fol lovvitfast, scho be the hand me tuik ,3itdurst I n euer for dreid behind me luik,

52 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

As we ben e on the hie hil l situait,

i

’H

Luik doun (quod scho) cousane in quhatestait,Thy wretchitwarld thow may considder n ow .

A t hir command with meikill dreid,God wait

,

Outouir the hill sahiddeous hie and strait,

I blen t adoun ,and felt my bodie grow,

This brukil l eird salitil l t il l allow,

Me thocht I saw birn e in an e fyrie rage ,Of stormie sey quhilk might naman er swage .

That terribill tempest,hiddeouswall is huge,

War maist grislie for to behald or judge,Quhair n outher rest n or quiet micht appeir,Thair was ane perrel lous place folk for to ludge,Thair was nahelp support nor gitrefuge,Innnmerabill folk I saw fiotterand in feir

,

Quhilk pereiston th e walterand wallis weir .An d secundlie I saw an e lustie barge,Ouirsetwith seyis, and mony stormie charge .

This gudelie carwell taiklittraist on raw,

With blanschite sail] milk quhite as ony snaw ,

Richt souer, ticht, and wonder stranglie beildit,Was on the bairdin wallis quite onirthraw

,

Contrariouslie th e busteonswind did blawIn bubbis th ik , that naschipis sail micht weild it .Now sank scho law,

now hie to hen in vpheildit.

At euerie part swasey and windis draif,

t il ] on ane sand the schip did brist and claif.

Itwasane pieteons thing, alaik , alaik,To heir the dulefull cry , quhen that scho straik, 29

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Maist lamentabill the pereistfolk to se ,Safameist

,drowkit

,mait

,forwrochtand waik

,

Sum on an plank of fir tre,and sum of aik

,

Sum hang Vpon a takil l , sum on ane tre,

Sum frathair grip son e weschin with the see ,Part drownit

,part to the roche fieit or swam

,

On raipis or burdis, sin e vp the hill thay clam .

Tho at my nimphe breifiie I did inquire ,QuhatSignifyitthat feirful l wonders seir .3on e multitude (said scho) of pepil l drownit,Ar faithles folk

, quhilksquhil l thay ar heir,MisknawisGod and fol lowis thair pleseir,Quhairfoir thay sall in endles fire be brin t .

Bon e lustie schip thow seis pereistand tin t,In quhome gon e pepil l maid ane perrel lous race ,Scho hecht the Carwell of the State of Grace .

3c ben e all born e the sonn is of ire, I ges,Sin e throw baptisme gettis grace and faithfuln es,Than in gon e carwell surelie ge reman e,Oftstormested with this warldisbrukilnes,Quhil l that ge fall in sin and wretchitnes,Than schip brokin sall ge drown in endles pan e

,

Except be faith ge find the plank agan eBe Christ, Wirking gude warkis I vnderstand ,Reman e thairwith

,th ir sall gow bring to land .

This may suffi ce, (said scho)tuitchand this part

Returne thy h eid behald this vther art ,Considder wonders and be vigilant,

5 4 THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

That thow may better endyten efterwart,

Things quhilkis I sall the sehaw or we depart,Thow sall haue fouth of sen ten ce and notscan t

,

Thair is nawelth nor weilfair thow sal l wan t,

The greit Palice of Hon our thow sall se,Lift Vp thy heid, behald that sicht (quod sche).

At hir command I raisithie on hicht,My visage til l behald that heuinlie sicht,Botto discriue this mater in effek

,

Impossibill war til l ony eirdlie wicht,

Ittranscendis far abon e my michtThat I with ink may do bot paper blek

,

I mon draw furth the gok lyis on my n ek,

A s of the place to say my leude an ise ,Pleneistwith plesan ce lik e to paradice.

I saw an e plan e of peirles pulchritud eQuliairmabounditalkin thingis gudeSpyce, win e , corn e, oyle , tre, frute, fiour, herbisgren e,All fonl lis

,beistis

,birdis

,and alkin fude .

All man er fisches baith of sey and fiudeWar keipitin pondis of poleistsilner schen e5With purifyitwater as of the cristall clene,To noy the small, the greit beistis had nawill ,Nor rauenous foulis the lytill volatil l .

Still in the sessoumal l things remanitthair,Perpetual lie but outher noy or sair,A y rypitwar baith herbis, frute and flouris.

Of euerie thing the names to declair

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Nor he that wrocht the teml of Salomon,

Nor he that beil ditthe royal] Ylion ,

N or he that forgitD arius sepulture,Cn ld notperforme sacraftelie ane cure .

Studiand heiron my nimphe vuto me spak ,Thus in a stair

, quhy standis thow stupifakG ouand all day, and nathing hes vesite .Thow art prolixt, in haist return e thy bak ,Ga efter me and gude attendan ce tak ,Qubat now thow seis, luik efterwartthow write

,

Thow sall behald all Venus blis perfite .

Thairwith scho till ane garth did me conuoy,Quhair that I saw an euch of perfite j oy.

Amid an e thron e with stan is riche ouirfretAn d claith Of gold Lady Venus was set,By hir, hir son e Cupide quhilk nathing seis,Qub air Mars enteritnaknawledge micht I get,Botstraicht befoir Venus Vi sage but let,Stude emeran t stages twel f, gren e precious greis ,Quhairon thair grew thre curious goldin treis,Vpstandand weill the goddes face beforne,An e fair mirrour be thame quentlie vpborn e .

Quhairof it makit was I haue nafeil ] ,Of berial l

,cristall

, glas or birneiststeil l ,Of diaman t

,or Of the carbunkill gem ,

Quhatthing it was, defin e may I notweil] ,Botall the bordour circulair euerie deil l

,

lVas plait of gold , cais, stok , and vtter hem,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

With verteous stan is picht that blude wald stem .

For quhathat wounditwas in the tornament,

\Vox baill frahe Vpon th e mirrour blen t .

This royal] relick sariche and radious,Sapoleist, plesand, purifyitand precious ,Quhais bonnteishalf to write I notpresume,Thairon to se was sadelitions

,

An d. saexcel land schaddowisgracious ,Surmoun ting far in brichtn es to my dome,The coistlie subtel l spectakil l of Rome,Or gitthe mirrour sen d to Can ace,Quhairin men micht mony wonders se .

In that mirrour I micht se at ane sicht,

The deidisand fatis of euerie eirdlie wi cht,

All thingisgon e like as thay war presen t,All the creationnis of the angellis bricht ,Of Lucifer the fall for all his micht

,

Adam first maid and in the eirth ysent,A nd Noyes fiude thair saw I subsequen t,Babylon beil d

,that towre of sic ren oun

,

Of Sodomesthe feil l subuersioun .

Abraham,I saac

,Jacob

,Joseph I saw

HornitMoyseswith his auld H ebrew law,

T,en plaigesin Egypt send for thair trespas,In the Reid sey with all his court on rawKing Pharao drownit, that God wald n euerI saw qubat wise the sey denyditwas,And all the Hebrewis dry fute ouir it pas

,

5 8 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Sin e in desert I saw thame fourtie geiris,Of Josue I saw the worthie weiris.

Of Judicum the battel lis strang anon e ,I saw of Jephte, and of Gedeon e,Of Amalech the cruel ] homicide,The wonderful] workis of douchtie duke Samson e,Quhilk slew a thousan d with ane asses bon e,Ren t tempillis down and gett is in his pride,Of quhais stren th merWel lis this warld sawide

,

I saw duke Sangor thair with mony a knok ,Sex hundreth men slew with ane pleuchis sok .

The prophet Samuel saw I in that glas,A noyntitking Saul ] , quhais son e Jonathas,I saw vin cusane greit oisthim all an e,3oung Danid sla the grislie Golyas ,Quhais speir heid Wecht thre hundreth vn ceswas,Jesbedonab the gyan t mekil ] of man e,Lay be the handis of michtie Danid slan e,With fingers sex on ather hand but weir

,

Danid I saw slay baith lyoun and beir.

This Danid eik at ane on set a stound,Aucht hundreth men I saw him bring to ground ,With him I saw Banayas the strang,Quhilk twa lyounis of Moab did confound,An d gaue the stalwart Ethiop deidiswound,With his awin speir that of his hand he thrang.

Vnabasitlie this campioun saw I gang,In a deip cister ne, and thair a lyoun sleuch

,

Quhilk in ane storme of snaw did harme an euch .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

t ilk in twelf geirswan n eir this warld on breid .

A nd of A nthiocus the greit vnrest,How tyran lie he Jowrie all opprest,Of Machabeus full mony an e knichtlie deid

,

That gart all Grece and Egypt stand in dreid,In quiet brocht his realme throw his prowes.

I saw his brether Symon and Jonathas,

t ilkswar maist worthie quhil thair dayisOf Thebes eik I saw the weiris lang,Quhair Tydeus allon e slew fiftie knichtis5

How final lie of Grece the campiounis strang ,A ll hail] the flour of knichtheid in that thrangD estroyitwas, quhill Theseus with his michtis,The toun and Creon wan for all his Slichtis.

Thair saw I how,as Statius dois tell

,

Amphiorax the bischop sank to hell .

The faithful ladyis of Grece I mich t considder,In claithis black all bairfute pas togidder,Till Thebes sege frathair lordiswar slain 5Behald ge men that callis ladyis l idder, 20

A nd l ich t of laitis, quhatkindn esbrocht them hidder,

Quhattrenth and lufe did in thair breists reman e,I traist ge sall reid in nawrit agan eIn an e realme samony of Sic con stan ce .

Persan e thairby wemen ar till auance .

Of duke Pirithous the spousage in that tide ,Quhair the Cen tauris reft away th e bride ,Thair saw I

,and thair battell hndge to se .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

A nd Hercules quhais renoun walkiswideFor Ixionalaw by Troyis side ,Faucht and ouircome a monstonr in the sey

,1 :

For quhilk , (quhen his rewaird denyitwas) heMaid the first seige and the destructiounOf michtie Troy

, quhylum that royal] toun .

To win the fieis of gold tho saw I sen tOf Grece the nobil liswith Jason con sequen t

,

Hail] thair conqneist, and all Medeas slichtis,How for Jason Ypsiphile was scheut,A nd how at Troy as thay to Colchoswen t

,

G reikistholitof king Laomedon greit vnrichtis,Quhairfoir Troy destroyitwas be thair michtis,Ixionareuistand Laomedon slan e

,

BotPriamus restoritthe toun agan e.

The j udgemen t of Paris saw I sine ,That gaue the apil l as poetis can defin eTi ll Venus

,as goddesmaist gudlie,

A nd how in Grece he reuischitqueue Helene,

Quhairfoir the G reikiswith thair greit n an i c ,Full mony thousand knichtis hastelie

,

Thame till ren enge saillit towartTroy in hy,I saw how be Vlixeswith greit j oy,Quhatwise Achill was found and brocht to Troy .

The cruel] battel lis,and the dintis strang ,

The greit debait, and eik the weiris langAt Troyis seige , the mirrour to me schew,

Sustenitten geiris G reikisTroianis amang,

6 ]

62 THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

A nd ather partie set full oftin thrang,

Quhair that H ector did douchtie deidis anew,

Quhill feirce Achil baith him and Troylus sl ew,

The greit hors maid I saw,and Troy sin e tin t

,

And fair Ylion all in fiambis brin t .

Sine out of Troy,I saw the fugitiues,

How that En eas as Virgil l weill discriues,In countreis seir was be the seyis rageBewanitoft

,and how that he arriues

With all his fiote but danger of thair l in es ,A nd how thay war ressetbaith man and pageBe quene D ido remanand in Carthage;A nd how En eas sin e, as that thay tell ,Wen t for to seik his father doun in hell .

Ouir Stix the fiude I saw En eas fair,

Quhair Charon was the busteons ferriar,The fiudesfour Of hell thair micht I se,The folk in pan e , the wayiscirculair,The welterand ston e wirk Sisipho mich cair,A nd all the plesan ce of the camp Elise

,

Qubair auld An chises did commoun with Enee,

An d schew be lin e all his successioun,

This ilk En eas maist famous of renoun .

I saw to goddesmak the sacrifice ,Quhairof the ordourand man er to den iseWar ouir prolixt, and how En eas syn e ,Went to the schip, and eik I saw qubat wise ,All his nauie greit honnger did supprise,

64 THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

A nd Hal/

Inibal l I saw be fatal] hap,

Win contrair Romanis mony fair Victorie ,

t ill Scipio eclipsitall his glorie .

This worthie Scipio cleipitAphrican e ,I saw vincns th is Hann ibal] in plan e

,

And Carthage bring vu to final] ruin e,A nd Sin e to Rome conqueritthe realme of

How king Iugurthahes his brether slan e ,Thair saw I eik

,and of his weir the fin e .

Rich t weill I saw the battel lis in testin eOf Catilin a and of Lentulus

,

A nd betwene Pompey and Cesar Julius .

A nd breiflie euerie famousdouchtie deid ,That men in storie may se

,or chronikill reid ,

I micht behald in that mirrour expres 5The miserie

,the crueltie

,the dreid

,

Pan e,sorrow

,wo

,baith wretchitnesand n eid

,

The greit inuy, couetous dowbilnes,Tuitchand warldlie vnfaithful] brukilnes.

I saw the feind fast folkis to Vi ces tyst,A nd all the cumming of the Antechrist.

Plesand debaitmentisquhasaricht reportis,Thair micht be sen e , and all man er disportis,The falconnis for the rin er at thair gait ,Newand the fon l lisin periculo mortis,Layand thame in be companeisand sortis ,A nd at the plunge part saw I handillithait .The werie hun ter besio air and lait,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

With questing houndisseirching to and fra,To hun t the hart

,the hair

,the da

,the ra.

I saw Raf Coilgear with his thrawin brow,

CraibitJohn e the Reif,and auld Cowkewyis sow 5

A nd how the wran came out of Ailssay 5And PeirsPlewman that maid his workmen few 5

Greit G owmakmorne and Fyn Makcoul , and howThay suld be goddisin Ireland as they say 5Thair saw I Maitland vpon auld Beird Gray 5Roben e Hude , and Gilbert with the quhite hand ,How Hay of Nauchtoun flew in Madin land .

The nigromansie thair saw I eik anon e,Of Benytas,

‘

Bongo, and Freir Bacon e,W ith mony subtill poin t of juglary 5Of Flanders peismaid mony precious ston e ,A ne greit laid sadil l of a Siching bon eOfane nntemng th ey maid a monk in hy,A ne paroche kirk ofane penny py 5And Benytas ofane mussil l maid ane aip

,

With mony vther subtil l mow and jaip .

A nd schortlie to declair the veritie ,All plesand pastan ce and gammis that micht be,In that mirrour war presen t to my sicht 5And as I wonderiton that greit farlie ,Venus at last, in turn ing of her eye

,

Kn ew weil] my face,and said

,be G oddismicht

,

3c ben e welcum my presonar to this hicht,How passitthow (quod scho) this hiddeousdeipMadame (quod I) I notmair than ane scheip .

VOL . I . E

65

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Naforce thairof (said scho) sen thow art heir,How plesis the our pastan ce and effeir ?G laidlie (quod I)madame, be God of heuin .

Rememberis thow (said scho)withouttin weir,On thy promit quhen of thy greit dangeirI the deliuerit? As now i s notto n euin .

Than answeritI agane with sober stenin ,

Madame gonr precept qubat sabe gour will,Heir I reman e all reddy to fulfill .

Weill,weill

, (said scho) thy will is sufficent,Of thy bowsnm an swer I stand con ten t .Then suddanelie in hand ane buik scho hin t

,

The quhilk to me betauchtscho or I wen t,Commandand me to be obedien t

,

An d put in ryme that proces than quite tin t,I promisithir forsnith or scho wald stin t,The buik ressauand

,thairon my cure to preif

,

Inclynand sin e, lawlie I tuik my leif.

hys boke Tuitchand this buik perauenture ge sall heir,iii.

“

Sum time efter, quhen I haue mair laseir.

My nimphe in haist scho hin t me be the handA nd as we samyn walkitfurth in feir

,

I the declair (quod scho)gon e mirrour cleir,Auctors The quhilk thow saw befoir D ame Venus stand ,l

’

l

’

ét’on °f

Signifyis nathing ellis to vnderstand,Botthe greit bewtie of thir ladyis facis,Quhairin lon ers thinks thay behald all graces .

Scho me conuoyitfinallie to tell ,With greit plesan ce straicht to the riche castell ,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

For Cheritie of gudlines the flour,I s maister houshald in gon e cristall towr,Firme Con stan ce is the kingis secretair,A nd Liberalitie hecht histhesaurair,Innocen ce and D euotioun as effeiris,Ben e cl erkis of closet and cubiculairis.

His comptrol lar is cleipitDiscretioun ,

Humanitie and trew RelationnBen e ischaris of his chalmer morn e and ew in ,

Pcice,quiet Rest

,oftwalkis Vp and doun ,

In till his hall as marschellis of renoun ,

Temperan ce is on ik his meit to taistand preif,Humilitie carwer

,that nawicht list to greif

Hismaister sewar hecht V erteous disciplin e,

Mercie is copper and mixisweill his win e .

His chancelair is cleipitCon scien ce,Quhilk for nameid will pron oun ce fals sen ten ce .With him ar assessouris four ofan e assen t

,

Scien ce,Pruden ce

,Justice

,Sapien ce

,

t il ks to nawicht list in commit Offen ce 5The chekker rollis and the kingis ren tA S auditouris thay ouirse qubat is spen t .Lauborous diligen ce , Gude warkis, Olen e len ingBen e outstewartisand catouris to gon e king.

Gude hope remain s euer amang gon e sort,A ne fine menstrail l with mony mow and Sport

,

Hope. Picty , A nd Pietie is the kingis almoseir,Fortitud ,Worm ,

Sine Fortitude,the richt quhalist report ,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

I s Lieutenand all wretchis to comfort .The kingis mingeoun roundand in his eir ,H echt Veritie

,did n euer leill man deir

,

A nd schortlie euerie vertew and plesan ce,

Is subiectto gon e kingis obeysan ce .

Cum on (said scho) this ordinan ce to vesite .

Than past we to that cristall palice quhite ,Qubair I abaid the entrie to behold

,

I bad‘

n‘amair of plesan ce n or delite

,

Of lustie sicht,of j oy and blis perfite ,

Nor mair weilfair to haue abon e the mold,

Than for to se that getof birneistgold ,Quhairon thair was maist curiouslie ingrane ,A ll n atural] thingismen may in eird cousane .

Thair was the eirth enuironitwith the sey ,

Quhairon the schippissail land micht I se ,The air

,the fire

,all the four elementis

,

The spheiris sen in ,and primum mobile,

The sign es twelf perfitelie euerie gre,The Zodiak baill as buikis representis,

The Pole A ntartick that euer himself absentis,The Pole A rtick and eik the Vrsis twan e,The sen in starnis, Phaton and the Charlewan e .

Thair was ingraue how that Ganamedes

Was refttil ] heuin , as men in Ouide reidis,

A nd vuto Juppiter maid his cheif butlair .

The douchteris fair in to thair lustie weidis

Of D riada, amid the sey but dreid ls

69

70 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Swymmand, and part war figuritthair,Vpon an e craig dryand thair gallow hair,With facis n otvn like

,for quhathame seing

Micht weill considder that thay all sisters being.

Of planeitis all the coniunctiounis,Thair episciclisand oppositiounis

War portrait thair,and how thair coursis swagis.

Thair n atural] and daylie motionnis,

Eclipsis,aspectisand digressiounis

Thair saw I,and mony gudlie personages,

Quhilks semit all lustie quick images ,The warkmanschip exceding mony foldThe precious mater

,thocht it was fynestgold .

Wonderand beirou agane my will , but let,My nimphe in greif schot me in at the get.

Qubat deuill (said scho) hes thow nocht ellis ado,

Botall thy witand fan tasie to setOn sic doting ?and tho for feir I swetOf hir langage 5 bot than anon e (said scho),List thow se farleis

,behald thame gonder lo ,

Bitstudie n ocht ouir mekil l a dreid thow varie,

For I persan e the halflingisin ane farie .

Within that Palice son e I gatane sichtQubair walkand wen t full mony worthie W IChtAmid the clois

,with all mirthis to wail] .

For like Phebus with fyrie bemis bricht,The wallis schane castand sagreit ane l icht,Itsemit like the heuin imperial] 5

7 2 THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Me thocht the flure was all ofamatist,Botquhairof war the wallis I notwist .

The multitude of precious stainis seirThairon saschan e, my febil l sicht but weirM icht notbehald thair verteousgudlines.

For all the ruif as did to me appeir,Hang full of plesand IOWpitsapheiris cleir,Of dyamontisand rubeis as I ges.

War all the buirdismaid of maist riches,

Of sardanis,of j asp , and smaragdane,

Traistis,formis

,and benkiswar poleistplan e .

Baith to and fro amid the hall thay wen t,

Royal l prin ces in plait and armouris quen t,

Of birneistgold couchitwith precious stan is.

Enthronitsat an e God omn ipoten t,

On quhaisglorious visage as I blen tIn extasie

,be his brichtnesatanis

He smote me doun , and brissitall my ban is 5Thair lay I stil l in swonn with colour blancht,Quhil l at the last my nymphe Vp hes me caucht.

Sin e with greit pan e, with womenting and cair,In hir armis scho bair me doun the stair

,

A nd in the clois full softlie laid me doun,

Vpheld my heid to tak the hailsum air,For of my life scho stude in greit despair.Me till awalk ay was that lady boun ,Quhil l final lie out of that deidlie swoun ,I Swyith ouircome

,and Vp min e ene did cast .

Be merie man:(qnod scho) the worst is past .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR . 7 3

Get vp (scho said)for schame be nacowart,My heid in wed thow hes an e wyifes hart,That for a plesand sicht was samismaid.

Than all in anger vpon my feit I start 5A nd for hir wordiswar saapirsmart,Vuto the nimphe I maid a busteons braid .

Carling (quod I) quhatwas gon e that thow said ?Soft gow (said scho) thay are notwyse that stryifis,For k irkmen war ay gentil l to thair wyifis.

I am richt glaid thow art worthin sawicht,

10

Langeir me thocht gow had n outher force nor micht,

Curage nor will for to haue greuitane fia.

Quhat'

ail litthe to fall ? (quod I) the sichtOf gon e goddesgrim fyrie visage brichtOuirsetmy wit

,and all my spreitis swa,

I micht notstand 5 bot was that sn ith , ga, ga.

Than said the nimphe richt merilie and lench ,Now I considder thy mad hart weill an euch .

I will namair (quod scho) the thus assayWith sic plesan ce

, quhilk may thy spreitaffray,3itsall thow se surelie, sen thow art heir,My ladyis court in thair gudlie array 5For to behald thair mirth cum on thy way.

Than hand in hand swyith wen t we furth in feir,At a posterne towartthe fair herbeir.

In that passage full fast at her I franit,Quhatfolk thay war within that hall remanit.

3on e war (said scho) quhasathe ri cht discriuesMaist vailgeand folk and verteousin thair lines ,

THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

Now in the court of H on our thay reman eVerteouslie, and in all pleasan ce thrines.

For thay with speir,with swordis

,and with kniues

In just battell war fun din maist of man e,

In thair promittis thay stude euer firme andIn thame abounditworschip and lawtie,I llumin at with liberalitie.

H onour (quod scho) to this heuin lie ringDifferris richt far frawarldlie gouerning,Quhil k is hotpompe of eirdlie dignitie,Gen in for estaitof blude

,micht

,or sic thing;

A nd in this coun trie prin ce,prelate

,or king,

A l lanerlie sall for vertew honouritbe.For eirdlie gloir is nocht bot vanitie ,That as we se sasuddanelie will wend ,Botverteous hon our n euer mair sall end.

Behald (said scho)and se this warldisglorie ,Maist in con stan t

,maist slid and tran sitorie.

Prosperitie in eird i s bot a dreme,

Or l ike as man war steppand ouir ane seoirN ow is he law that was sahie befoir

,

A nd he quhylum was born e pure of his deme ,Now his estaitschynis l ike the son e beme.Baith vp and doun ,

baith to and fra, we seThis warld walteris

,as dois the wal lie sey .

To papis,bischoppis, prelatisand primaitis,

Empreouris, k ingis, prin ces, potestatisD eith settis the terme and end of all thair hicht 5 28

THE PALICE OF HONOUR .

Vther mony quhais namis befoir ar tald,With thousandisma than I may heir defyn e,A nd lustie ladyis amid thay lordis syn e,Semiramis

,Thamar, Hippolita,

Penthessilea, Medea, Zen obia .

Of thy regioun gonder ben e hon ouritpart,The kingis G regonr, Kenn eth ,and king RobartWith vther ma that beis n otheir reheirsit.Waryit(quod scho)ay be thy megir hart ,Thow suld have sen e had thow biddin in gon e art , 10

Quhatwise gon e heuin lie compan ie connersit.

Waworth thy febil l bran e sason e was persit,

Thow micht haue sen e remanand qubair thowAne hndge pepil l puneistfor thair trespas,

Quhilks be wil ful] man ifest arrogan ce ,Inuyons pride , pretenditignoran ce ,Foul l dowbiln esand dissait vnamendit

,

Enforcis thame thairselfis to auanceBe sle falsheid, but lawtie or con stan ce ,With subtelnesand slichtis now commendit

,

Betraisand folk that n euer to thame offendit,

And vpheisthameself throw fraudeful lipps,Thocht God can s oftthair eirdlie gloir eclipps.

ait, And nobillis cummin of honorabil l an cestry,

fries m

Thair verteous nobilitie settis n ocht by,

;Tainow For dishonest vn lefull warldlie wayis,

eandcc ,8

A nd throw corruptitcouetousmuy,t Bothe that can be dowbil] , n an e is set by .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

D issait is wisdome 5 lawtie , honour away is,Richt few or n an e takis ten t thairto thir dayis,A nd thair greit wrangis to reforme , but letIn judgemen t gon e God was gonder set.

Remanand gonder thow micht haue hard beliue ,Pronoun citthe greit sen ten ce diffinitiue ,Tuitchand this actioun

,and the dreidful l pan e

Execute on trespassonris giton l in e ,Swathat thair malice sall namair prescriue .

Madame (quod I)for G oddis sake turn e agane,My spreitdesyris to se thair tormen t fan e.

(Quod scho) richt n ow thair sall thow be reioisit

Quhen thow hes tan e the air and better appoisit.

Botfirst thow sall considder commoditeis

Of our garding, SO full of lustie treis ,All hie cypres offlewer maist fragran t .

Our ladyis gonder bissie as the beis ,The sweitflureistflouris of rethoreis

Gadderis full fast, mony gren e tender plan t,A nd with all plesan ce pleneistis gon e han t,Qubair precious stan is on treis dois abound ,In steid of frute chargeitwith peirlis round .

Vuto that gudlie garth thus we proceid,

Quhilk with a large fowsie far on breid

Inneronitwas, qubair fischeswar an ew,

All water fonl liswar swemand thair gude speid 5Als out of growand treis thair saw I breidFon llis that hingand be thair nebbisgrew .

THE PAL ICE OF HONOUR .

Outouir the stank of mony din ers hewWas laid an e tre

,ouir quhilk behouitvs pas,

BotI can n otdeclair quhairof it was .

My nimphe wen t ouir, chargeand me follow fast,Hir til l Obey my spreitiswox agast ,Saperrel louswas the passage til] espyAway scho wen t and fratime scho was past

,

Vpon the brig I enteritat the last,Botsamy harnistrimblitbesily,Quhill I fell ouir, and baith my feit slaid .by,Outouir the heid in to the stank adoun

,

Qubair as me thocht I was in poin t to droun .

Quhatthrow the birdis sang, and this affray,ucthour Outof my swoun I walknitquhair I lay,"

iii, In the garding qubair I first donn fell .About I blen t

,for richt cleir was the day

,

3 ° Botall this lustie plesan ce was away.

Me thocht that fair herbrie maist like to hell,

In til l compair of this ge hard me tell .Al lace, al lace , I thocht me than in pan e ,A nd langit sair for to haue swemitagan e .

The birdis sang, nor gitthe merie flouris,Micht n otameis my grenons greit dolouris,All eirdlie thing me thocht barran e and vile .

Thus I remanitin to the garth twahouris,Cursand the feildiswith all the fair colouris ,That I awolk oftwariand the quhile,A lwayismy minde was on the lustie ile ,

8 0 THE PALI CE OF HONOUR .

A ll wicht but sicht of thy greit micht ay crynis,

O schen e I men e, name may sustene thy feid .

Hail ] rois maist chois till clois thy fois greit micht ,Hail] ston e quhilk schon e vpon the thron e of l ichtV ertew, quhais trew sweitdew ouirthrew a] vice

,

Was ay ilk day gar say the way of licht 5Amend

,Offend

,and send our end ay richt.

Thow stan t,ordantas san ct, of gran t maist wise ,

Till be supplie,and the hie gre of price.

D él ite the tite me quite Of site to dicht,

For I apply schortlie to thy den ise.

The Aathor directis hisBuilc to the RichtN obill

and I l laster Prince IAMBS the Feird,King of

Scottis.

Trivmphovs land with palme of Victorie,The lawrer crown e of infin ite glorie,Maist gracious Prin ce, our soueran e James the Feird ,

Thy Maiestie mot haue eternal lieSupreme hon our

,renoun of chenalrie

,

Felicitie perdurand in th is eird,With etern e blis in hen in by fatal] weird 5Ressaue this roustie rural l rebaldrie,Laikand cunn ing, frathy pure leige vn leird,

Quhilk , in the sicht of thy magn ificen ce,Confidand in sagreit ben euolen ce ,Proponis thus my vulgair ign oran ceMaist humbill ie with dew obedien ceBeseikand oftthy michtie excellence ,Be grace to pardoun all sic varian ceWith sum ben ing respect of firme con stan ce 5Remittand my pretenditn egligen ce,Thow

, quhaismicht may humbill thing auance .

Breif burial] quair of eloquen ce all quite,

With russet weid and sen ten ce imperfite,Til ] cum in plan e se that thow notpretend the .Thy barran t termis, and thy vile inditeSal] notbe min e, I will n othaue the wite,For as for me I quit clame that I kend the

Thow are bot stouth , thiftlouis, licht.bntl ite,

Notworth an e mite , pray ilk man til amend theFair on with site , and on this wise I end the .

7

F INIS .

VOL. I .

K I G H A R T

[CANTO THE

ING HART,into his cnmlie castell

strangC lositabout with craftand meikil l vre,

So semlie wes he set his folk amang ,That he no dout had ofmisaventure

So prondlie wes he polist , plan e and pureW ith gouthheid and his lustie levis gren e 5SO fair

,so fresche, so liklie to endure ,

A nd als so blyth as bird in symmer schene .

For wes he n ever gitwith schouris schot,Nor gitourrun with rouk , or ony rayn e 5In all his lusty lecam n ocht ane spot,Nan ever had experience in to payn e,Botalway in to lyking, n ocht to layn e 5On lie to love and verrie gentilnes,H e wes inclynitcl ein lie to reman e ,And wonn vnder the wyng of wantownnes.

K ING HART .

3

3itwas this wourthy wicht King vnder warde 5For wes he n ocht at fredom vtterlie .

Nature had lymmitfolk, for thair rewarde,This gudlie king to govern e and to gy 5For so thai kest thair tyme to occupy.

In welthis for to wyn e for thay him teichit,

All lustis for to lane, and vnderly 5So prevelie thai preis him and him preichit.

First [war thair] Stren th , [andRage,]andWantownn es,Grein Lust

,D isport

,Jelosy, and Invy 5 10

Freschn es,N ew Gate

,VVaist-gude, and Wilfulnes,

D ely uern es, Fn lehardenesthairbyGen trice

,Fredome

,Petie-previe I espy

,

VVant-wyt, Van egloir, Prodigal itie,V nrest

,N icht-walk

,and felon G lutony,

V nricht,Dyme sicht

,with Slicht

,and Subtiltie.

Thir war the inwarde ythand seruitouris,

t ilk gouernouriswar to this nobil K ingA nd kepit him inclynitto thair cnris5So wes thair n ocht in erde that ever micht bringA n e of thir folk away frahis duelling .

Thus to thair terme thai serve for thair rewardeDansing , disport, singing , revelling,\Vith Bissines all blyth to pleis the lairde.

irleria Thir folk,with all the femel] thai micht fang,

IIs

entntc t ilk numeritan e milgon and we l l] mo ,aThat wer vpbred as seruitonrlsof lang ,A nd with this K ing wald wonn ,

in weill and wo ,

”fa

K ING HART .

So strang this K ing him thocht his castel l stude ,W ith mony towre and tnratcrownithieAbout the wall thair ran ane water void ,Blak

,stinkand

,sowr

,and salt as i s the sey,

That on the walli s wiskit, gre by gre,Boldning to ryis the castell to confound 5Botthai within maid sagrit melody,That for thair reird thay micht n ocht heir the sound .

With feistis fell,and full of jolitee,

This cnmlie court thair King thai kast to keip ,That n oy hes n on e bot newlie novaltee

,

A nd ar n ocht wonntfor wo to woun and weipFull sendill sad

,or soundlie set to sleip,

No wandreth wait,ay weniswelth endure 5

Behaldis n ocht, n or luikis n ocht, the deip ,A S thame to keip fraall misaventure.

Ri cht as the rose vpspringis fro the rute,In ruby colour reid most ryck of hew 5Nor waindis n ocht the levis to outschnte

,

For schyning of the son e that dois ren ewThir vther flouris greyn e , quhyte , and blew,

t ilk hes nacraft to knaw the wyn ter weit,

Snppois that sommer schan c dois thame reskew ,

That dois thame quhile ourhaill withi

snawand sleit.

'D ame Plesan ce had ane pretty place besyd,With fresche effeir

,and mony folk in feir 5

The quhilk wes parald all about with pryde,SO precious that it prysitwes but peir

K ING HART .

With bulwerkis braid,and mony bitter beir.

Syn wesan e brig , that hegeitwas , and strang 5A nd all that couth atten e the castell n eir

,

Itmade thame for to mer amiss,and mang.

H

With touris grit, and strang for to behold,So craftlie with kirnel liskervin hie 5The fitchand chaynisfloreistall Of gold .

Theg rundin dairtis scharp , and bricht to se,Wald mak ane hart of fl in t to fald and fleFor terrour

, gif thai wald the castell sail ] 5So kervin cleir that micht nacruelteI t for to wyn in all this warld avale .

Servit this Queue D ame Plesan ce,all at richt

,

First Hie Apporte,Bewtie

,and Humilnes5

With mony vtherismadinis,fair and bricht

,

Reuth,and Gud Fame

,Fredome

,and G entilnes5

Con stan ce,Patien ce

,Raddour

,and Meikn es

,

Conn ing, Kyndnes, Heyndn es, and Honestie,

Mirth,Lustheid

,Lyking , and Nobilnes,

Bl iss and Blythnes, [G ndenes] and pure Pietie .

This war the staitisworthyestand ding ,With mony mo

,that servit to this Queue .

A ne legioun liel l war [ay] at hir leding ,Quhen [that] hir court leist semble fair and clein .

In thair effeir Favr Seruice mich t be sen e 5For wes thair n ocht that semit be avyse,That no man micht the poyn ting ofan e preneRepreve 5 n or pece, but payntitat devyse.

8 9

0 K I NG HART .

V7

Hapnitthi s wourthy Ouen e , vpon ane day ,With hir fresche court arrayitweill at rich t ,Hun ting to ryd , hir to disport and play ,IVith mony an e lustie ladie fair and bricht .Hir ban er schen e displayit, and on hicht“l es sen e abon e thair heidis quhair thai rayd 5The gren e ground wes illuminytof the lycht5Fresche Bewtie had the vangarde and wes gyde .

A n e legioun of thir lustie ladeis schen eFolowitthis Quene, (trewlie this is no nayH arde by this castel l of this K ing so ken eThis wourthy folk hes wal itthame a way 5t i lk did the dayiswatcheis to effray ,For seildin had thai sen e sic folkisbefoirSo mirrelie thai muster , and thai play ,l Vithoutin outher brag , or bost , or schore .

The watcheis of the sicht wes saeffrayit,Thai ran and tauld the King of their in ten tLatnocht this mater, Sehir, be lang delayit5Itwar speidful ] sum folk ge ontwarde sent

,

That culd reherss quhatthing gone pepl e men t 5Syn e gow agane thairof to certifie .

For battel l hyd thai bau ldlie on gon ben t 5Itwar bot schame to feinge cowartlie .

3onthheid vpstart, and cleikiton his cloik,

lVas browdin all with lustie levis gren e 5Ryse

,fresch D elytc , lat n ocht this mater soke 5

\Ve w ill go se quhatmay thi s muster menc 5

92 K ING HART.

On grund no greif quhil l thai the grit ost se ,Wald thai n ocht rest

,the rinkis so thay ryde .

Botfrathay saw thair sute,and thair semblie

,

Itculd thame bre,and biggitthame to byde .

D reid of Disdane on fute ran thame besyde,Said thame

,bewar

,sen Wisdome is away 5

For and ge prik amang thir folk of pryde,

A pan e ge sal be restitbe the way.

Full-hardyn es full freschlie furth he flang ,A fure leynth fer befoir his feiris fyve 5A nd Wantones, suppois he had the wrang,Him fol lowiton als fast as he micht dryve .

So thai wer lyke amang thameself to stryveThe fouresnm baid, and hnvit on the grene ,Fresche Bewtie with ane wysk come [vp] belyve ,A nd thame all reistitwar thai n ever so ken e .

With that the fouresnm fayu thay wald haue fledA gan e vnto thair castell , and thair King.

Thai gavean e schent, and son e thai haue thame sched,A nd besselie thay kan thame bundin bring 20

Agane vuto thair Queue 5 and handis thringAbout thair handis and [thair] feit so fast ,Quhil l that thai maid thame with thair tormen tingHaly of thair lyvis half agast .

The watchis on the kingis walli s hes sen eThe chassing of the folk, and thair suppryse.

VpstartKing Hart in propir yre and tein ,A nd baldlie bad h i s folk all with him ryse .

K ING HART . 93

I sall n ocht sit,h e said

,and se thame thryse

Discomfitclein my men,and put at vnder 5

Na,we sall wrik ws on ane vther wyse,

Set we be few to thame be fifty hounder.

Than out thai raid all to a randoun richt,

This courtlie King, and all his cnmlie ostHisbuirtlie bain er brathitvp on hicht 5A nd outthay blew with brag and mekle bost

,

That lady and hir lynnage suld be lost.Thai cryiton hicht thair seinge wounder lowde 10

Thus come they keyn lie carpand on e the 06st5Thai preik , thai pran ce, as princis that war wonde .

D ame Ple san ce hes hir folk arrayitweil],Fra that scho saw thai wald battel l abyde,So Bewte with hir wangarde gan e to reill ,The greitestOf

-thair ost scho can ourryd.

Syn e fresche Apport come on th e tother syd 5S o bisselie scho wes to battel l boun e ,That all that ever scho micht ourtak that tyde,Horsisand men with brountscho straik all donn e .

Richt thair King Hart scho hes in handis tan e ,A nd puirlie wes he presen t to the Queue 5A nd scho had fairl ie with

'ane fedderitflayn eW ounditthe King richt wonderful to wen e.

D elyuerithim D ame Bewtie vnto sen e

Hiswound to wesche, in sobering of his sair 5Botalwayis as scho castis it to clen e,Hismalady

'

in cressismair and mair.

04 K ING HART .

3 3

VVonndithe wes,and quhair githe nawait 5

A nd mony of his folk hes tame the flicht.He said

,I yeild me now to gour estait,

Fair Quene sen to resist I haue n o micht .

Quhatwill ge saye me now for quhat[en ] plycht?For that I wait I did gon n ever offen ce .A nd gif I haue done ocht that is vnrycht,I offer me to gour beneuolen ce .

Be this battel l wes n eir vincustall 5The kingis men ar tane , and mony slan e .D ame Plesan ce [than] can on fresche Bewtie call

,

Bad hir command the folk to presoun plain e .

Kin g Hart sair wounditwas, bot he wes fayn e ,For weil l he traistitthat he suld recure.The Lady and her ost wen t hame agane,A nd mony presoner takin vnder hir cure.

K ing Hart his castell levit hes full waist,A nd Hevenesmaid capitan e it to keip .

Radour ran hame full fleyitand forchaist,Him for to hyde crap in the dungeoun deip.

Langour he lay vpon the wallis but sleip,Butmeit

,or drink 5 the watché hom e he blew 5

Ire wes the portour, that full sayr can weip,

A nd Jelonsy ran out5 he wes n ever trew.

H e said he suld be spy,and bodwartbring ,

Bayth n i cht and day,how that his maister fure .

He folowitfast on fute eftir the KingVnto the castel l of D ame Plesance pure .

96 K I NG HART.

Li0

This lustie Queue , within hir dungeoun strang ,Coud dysyde ay hir ladeis hir about .A nd as scho list scho leiritthame to mang ,That wald be in all folk that wer without .For Hie Apport scho is hir capitan e stout 5Bewtie hir ban er beri s hir beforne 5D ame Chaistetie hir chalmarere but dout 5A nd Strangeneshir portare can weil l scorne .

Fayr Call ing i s grit garitour on hicht ,That watchisay the wallis hie abon e ,A nd SweitSemblan ce i s marschale in hir sicht 5A s scho commandis so swyth all i s done.Sai s thair [lakt] nocht mvsik nor of tvne 5

The ladeissweitthai mak sic melodic,

Quhatwicht, that michti t heir, suld juge [it] soneTo angel] song , and hewin lie armony.

King Hart in ti ll ane previe closet crappe,Was n eir the dungeoun wall , neirby the ground 5Swas he micht heir and se

,sic wes his happe

,

The meikle mirth , the melodic, and sound ,Quhilk frathe wallis sweitl ie can redoundIn at his eir, and S ink vuto his hart 5A nd thairin wirkismony previe woun d

,

That dois oftsys him strang with stoundis smart.

Ay seik he i s, and ever he hes his heil lIn battale strang, and hes both pece and rest 5The scharpe, and als the soft, can with him deill 5The sweit

,the sour

,both rewle

,and als vnrest5

K I NG HART . 97

D ame D anger hes of dolour to him drestA ne pal lionn that naproudnes hes withoutWith teirisweit ar rottin

,may n ocht lest

,

Fast brikand by the bordouris all about .

BotSonthheid had him maidane courtlie cote,

Als gren e as gerss, with goldin stremis brichtBroudin about

,fast bnkkil litto his throte

A wourthy weid , weill closand , and full lich t .

A ne wysar, that wespayntitfor the sichtA S ruby reid

,and pairt of quhyt

’ amang 5Off coulours m icht thair nan e be freschar dicht

,

BotHevineshad fassonitit all wrang .

This wourthy King in presonn thus culd ly,

With all his folk,and culd thair nan e out brek .

Full oftthai kan vpone dame Pietie cryFair thing cum doun a quhyle, and with ws speik .

Cum farar way ge micht gour harmeswreik,

Than thus to murdour ws that goldin ar .

Wald ge ws rew , quhair euir we m i cht our reikWe suld men he to gow for euirmare.

Than answertD anger,and said , That wer greteA madin sweitamang samony men

To cum alan e , but folk war hir about 5That is an e craft myself culd n ever ken .

With that scho ran vnto th e Lady ken e 5Kneland

,Madame

,scho said

,keip Pieti c fast.

Sythen scho ask ,'

no l icen ce to her len 5May scho wyn out

,scho will play gow a cast .

VOL. I . G

98 K ING HART .

L]‘

7

Than D anger to the dure tuik gude keip ,Both n icht and day

,that Pieti c suld n ocht pass 5

Quhill all fordwart, in [the] defaltof sleip,Scho bisselie as for-travalitscho was

,

Fair Calling gaif hir drink in to ane glasSon e efter that to sleip scho wen t anon e.Pietic was War that ilk [wes] prettie cass,A nd privelie out at the dure is gone.

The dure on chare it st-ude 5 all wes on sleip 5

A nd Pietic donn the stair full son e i s past .This Bissines hes sen e

,and gave gud keip

D ame Pietie hes he hin t in armeis fast.He cal liton Lust, and he come at the last,His handis

i

gart he birst in peces smale

D ame Pietie wes gritlie feiritand agast.Be that wes Confort croppin in our the wall.

Son e come D elyte , and he begouth to dan ce 5Gren e Love Vpstart, and can hisspreitis ta.Full weil l i s me

,said D i sport

,of this chan ce

,

For n ow I traist gret melody to ma.A ll in ane rout vuto the dure thay ga5A nd Pietic put thairin first thame befoir.

Quhatwas thair mair , Out! Harro Taik, andThe hon s i s won e withoutin brag or schoir.

The courtinis all of gold about the bedWeill stentitwas qubair fair D ame Plesan ce lay

Than new D esyr, als gredie as ane glede ,Come rinnand in , and maid ane grit deray.

100 K ING HART .

Till that [quhilk] Lone, D esyre, and Lust devysit,Thus fair D ame Plesan ce sweitlie can assen t .Than suddandlie Schir Hart him now disgysit,

On gathis amonris clok or euer he sten t .Freschlie to feist thir amonris folk ar wen t .Blythneswes first brocht bodwarde to the hall 5D ame Chastite

,that sel ie innocen t

,

For wo geid wode , and flaw outour the wal l .

The lustie Queue scho sat in middes the deiss 5Befoir hir stude the n obil l wourthy King .

Servit thai war of mony dyuerssmeis ,Full sawrissweitand swyth thai culd thame bring .

Thus thai maid ane [richt] mirrie marschallingBewtie and Lon e ane hait burde hes begun 5In wirschip of that lustie feist so ding ,D ame Plesance has gart perce D ame Venus tun .

[END OF CANTO THE FIRST ]

[CANTO THE SECOND ]

UHA i s at eis, quhen hayth ar now

in blis,

Botfresche K ing Hart that cleirliei s abone 5

A nd wantis n ocht in warld,that

he wald wis,

A nd traistis n ocht th at cuir hesal l remoue .

Sewin geir , and moir, Sehir Lyking , and Schir Loue,Off him thai haue the cure and gouernan ce,Quhil l at the last befell, and sua behuif,A n e changeing n ew that grevitD ame Plesan ce.

A [t] morrowing tyde , quhen at the son e so schen eOutraschithad his bem i s frome the sky,A ne auld gude man befoir the getwas sene,Apon e an e steid that raid full easalie .

He rappit at the get, but courtaslie,3itat the straik the grit dungeoun can din 5Syn e at the last he schowted fel lon lieA nd bad thame rys , and said he wald cum in .

Son e Wantownnes come to the wal l abon e,

A nd cryitour, Qubat folk ar ge thair out

My name is A ge , said he agane full son e 5May thow n ocht heir ? Langar how I culd schoutWhat war gour will ? I will cum in

,but dout .

Now God forbid In fayth ge cum n ocht heir ;Rin on thy way

, [or] thow sall beir ane routeA nd say

,the portar he is wonder sweir .

K ING HART .

Sone Wantownnes he wen t vnto the King,A nd tald him all the caissquhow that it stude .That tai l]

, [quoth he ,] I traist be naleising 5He wes to cum. That wist I

,be the rude .

I t doi s me n oy, be God , in ban e and blude,That he suld cum sason e Qubat haist had he ?

The Queue said [than], To hald him outwar gude.That wald I fayn e war don e

,and it micht be.

3outhheid Vpstartand kn elitbefoir the KingLord , with your leif, I may nalangar byde .

My warisoun , (I wald that with me bring)Lord

,pay to me

,and gif me leif to ryde.

For micht I langer resyde gow besyde,Full fayne I wald

,n o war my fel loun fa.

For don t of Age, Sehir King , ge latt me slyde 5For and I hyde in fayth he will me sla.

Sen thow man pas, fair 3outhheid, wai s meThow wesmy freynd, and maid me gude seruice .

Fra thow be wen t n ever so blyth to be,

I mak ane vow, [al l]thochtthat it be nyce.

Off all blythnes thy bodie beiris the pryce.

To warisoun I gif the , or thow’

ga,This fresche visar , wes payntitat devyce .

My lust alway with the se that thow ta.

For saik of the I will no colour reid,

Nor lusty quhyte, vpone my bodie beir,Botblak and gray 5 alway quhill I be deid,I will none vther wantonn wedisweir.

104 K ING HART .

3itwald h e n ocht away al luterlie,Botof retinew feit he him as than 5A nd

,or he w ist

,he spenditspedel lie

The flour of all the substance that he wanSo wourde he pure and powritto the pan .

3itAppetyt, his son e , he bad duel ] still .

Bot,witge weill , he wes ane sory man 5

For falt of gude he wantitall his will .

Be that wesAge enterit,and gitfirst

Hisbranchis braid out bayr he mony boreV nwylcum was the noy, quhen that thai w1st,For fol lowand him thair come fyve hunder scoreOff hairis that King Hart had n euer befoir.

A nd quhen that fayr D ame Plesance had thame sen e,Scho grevit, and scho angeritweill moir 5H er face scho wryitabout for propir teyne.

Scantlie had Age restithim thairan e quhyle,Quhen Con scien ce come cryand our the wallHow lang think ge to hald me in exile ?

Now,on my saule

, ge ar bot lurdanis allA nd sum of gow,

be God,shall haue ane fall

May I him meit frapresen ce Of the king.

All fals tratonrs I may gow full weill call,

That seruit weill be draw both heidand hing.

Fra A ge [had] harde that Con scien ce was comeing,Full son e he rai s belyve, and leit him in .

Sadncs he had, an e eloik frameture mvming

He had Vpon ,and wesof A gei s kin

K I NG HART .

Itwar richt harde thay tua in sunder twin ,Thairfoir aftir his bak he ran an on e .In mid the clois thair Con scien ce met with Syn ,A ne fel loun rout he layde on his rig-bon e .

Con scien ce to Syn gave sicane [angrie] dun t ,t i ll to the erde he flaw and lay at vnder 53itCon scien ce his breist hurt with the dyn tBotSadneshes to put this tua in sunder.Folieand Vyce in to thair wit thay wounderQuhow si c ane maister-man so son e suld rys,In mid the clois

,on luikand n eir fyve hunder,

The kingis folk to ding and to suppryse.

Thai war adred,and son e hes tan e the flicht5

Syn e in an hirn e to hyde son e can thame hy.

Than Con scien ce cum to the kingis sicht 5Outat ane dore ran Falset

,and Invy ,

G redie D esyr, and gam’

some G lutony,

Van t,and Vanegloir, with n ew gren e A ppetyte 5

For Con scien ce luikitsafel lonn lie,

They ran away out of his presens quyte.

God blis the lord 5 thus Con scien ce can say,This quhyle bygan e thow hes ben e all to glaid.

3a, Con scien ce 5 and gitfayn e wald I play 5Botnow my hart [it] waxiswounder sad.

Thai haue ben e wickitcounsalouris thow had,

Wist thow the suth,as thow sall eftir h eir 5

For,witthow weill

,thair bnrding [ay] wes bad 5

The rute is bitter, scharp as ony breir.

10 5

106 K I NG HART.

Thy tresour haue thay falsle frathe tan e ,Thir wickitfolk thow wenithad ben e trew 5A nd stowin away frathe an e and ane .

For think,thay n ever cum the for to glew.

Quhair i s thy garmen t gren e and gudlie hewA nd thy fresche face

,that gouthheid to the maid

Thow bird think schame,and of thy riot rew

,

Saw thow thyself in to thy colour sad .

Now mervale nocht,suppois I with the chyde 5

For,wit thow weill

,my hairtis wounder wa.

A n e vther day, qnhan thow may nathing hyde,

I man accuse the as thy propir fa.Off thy van e werk first witnes thow me ta,Quhen all thy jolitie beis justifeit5Itgrevisme that thow suld graceles gaTo waist thy weilfair, and thy welth so wyde.

A s Con scien ce wes chydand thus on hicht ,Reassoun ,

and Wit,richt at the getthai rang,

With rappis lowd, for i t drew n eir the n icht 5Bad lat thame in , for thai had standing lang.

Said Con scien ce,In gude fayth this i s wrang !

G if me the key, I sall be portar nowSo come thai in

,i lkan e throw vther, thrang ,

Syn with ane wysk ahn ostI wait n ocht how.

Ressoun ran on quhair at Discretioun lay,Into ane nuke

, quhar naman culd him find 5A nd with his kniyf he schure the fiesche awayThat bred vpone his ene, and maid him blind .

108 K I NG HART .

Off [all] my harmeand drerie indigence,Giff thair be och t amys

,me think

,perde

,

That ge ar can s verray of my Offen ce,

A nd suld susten e the bettir part for me .Mak an swer now . Quhatcan ye say ? Lat

Sonrsel f excuse and mak gow foule or elen e .

Ressoun,cum heir

, ge sall our juge [now] be,A nd in this cans gif sen ten ce W S betwene.

Sehir,be gour leif, in to my propir cans

Snppois I speik , ge suld n ocht be displesit.

Said Con scien ce,This is ane Vil laneis cans

,

G if I suld be the cans ge ar disesit.

Na, goung counsale in gow salang was seisit,

That hes gour tressour and gour gude distroyit.

Richt fayn e wald I with mesour it war meisit,

For of gonr harme God wait gif 1 be noyit.

Se put grit wytthat I so lang abaid,Gif that I culd with counsale gow avale ;Schir

,trai st [ge] weil] an c verrie can s I had

Or elli s war n o ressonn in my taile .

My terme wes set by ordour n aturale,

To quhatwork alway I most obey 5NO dar I n ocht be no way mak travale

,

Botquhair 1 se my maister getaswey.

For stand he on his feit,and stakkir n ocht

,

Thir hundreth geir sall cum in to his hald .

Botn evirtheles,schir

,all thing ge haue wrocht

IVith help of Wisdome,and hiswi ll is wald

,

K I NG HART . 109

I sall reforme it blythlie . Be ge bald,A nd 3onthheid sall haue wytof gour misdeid .

Thairfoir requyr ge Ressoun mony fald,That he his rollis raithlie to gow reid .

Ressoun rais vp, and in his rollis he brocht .G if I sall say

,the sen ten ce sall be plan e 5

D o n ever the th ing that ever may scayth the ocht 5Keip mesour and trouth

,for thairin lyes natrayn e .

Discretioun suld ay with King Hart reman e 5Thir vthir goung folk-seruandis ar bot fulis .Experien ce mais Knawlege n ow agane,A nd barn i s goung suld lern e at auld mennis sen l i s .

Quhagustis sweit, and feld n evir of the sowre,

Qubat can [he] say How may he seasoun jugeQuhaSittis hate , and feld n evir cauld an e hour,Quhatwedder is thairontvnder the lugeHow suld he wit ? That war ane mervale hugeTo by richt blew ,

that n evir ane hew had seneA n e servand be, that nevir had sen e an e fugeSnppois it ryme it accordis n ocht all clene .

To wiss the richt, and to disvse the wrang,That is my scn le to all that list to leyr.BotWisdome, gif ge suld duel] vs amang,Me think ge duel] our lang 5 put doun gonr speir 53c micht weil] mak an e end of all th is weir

,

Wald ge furth sehaw gour wourthy documen t.For is thair n on e that [ever] can forbeyrThe work of Vice

,withoutin gonr assen te .

1 10 K ING HART.

\Vit said,Schir King be war, or ge be wa,

For Foirsichthes now full lang bein flemit

Vuto knaw thy freynd forbe thy fa,G iff thow wil l haue thy cnntre all weill gemit.

A nd be thow weil],to hald the so it semit

[N eir weinand aucht to do that war amisEftir thy deith thy deidisman be demit,Be thy desert outher to bail] or blis .

Honour he raid the castell round aboutVpon an e steid that wes als qubyte as milk .

IsEis thairin ? cryithe [ay] with ane schon t .D ame Plesan ce spak , hir face hid with ane SilkH e i s an e g

‘

ouernonr of ouris that ilk .

Wit said,Cum in Full wel cum to thir wan is

I compt notall your werkiswirth ane wilk 53c sall n ocht herbere me and E is at an is .

Wirschip ofWeir come on the tother syde ,V pon an e steid rampand wes reid as blude.H e cryiton Stren th, Cum out man 1 Be my gyde 5I can n ocht ryde out-our this water woude .D ame Plesan ce harde

,and on hir wayis scho geid

Richt to the King, and had him Stren th arreist5 - 20

I wald not,sehir

,for mekle warldlie gude

Wan t Stren th ane hour quhen euir we go to feist.

In al l disport he may wsgritlie vaill 5G if him naleif

,bot hald him quhill ge may.

The King full weil] had harde D ame Plesan ce tail],A nd Stren th he hes arreistitbe the way.

1 12 K ING HART .

5LThocht Con scien ce and isdome me to keip

Be cunn ing both , I sall thame weill begyle 5For trewlie , quhan [that] thai ar gan e to sleipI sal be heir w ithin ane bonny quhyle 5My solace sall I sleylie thus oursyle.

Richt sall n ocht rest me alway with his rewle 5T hocht I be quhylum bowsnm as an e waileI sal be cruikitquhil] I mak [him fule .]

Dame Plesan ce [said] , My freyndis now ar flede 5The lusty folk that ge furth with gow brocht .Methink th ir carl is ar n ocht courtlie clede

Quhatj oy haue I of thame ? I compt thame n ocht.3onthheid, and fresche D elyte , micht thai be brochtFor with thair seruice I am richt weil l kend .

Fayn e wald I that ge send men and thame socht,

Al lthochti t war vuto the warldis end.

The Queue wourde wrayth ;the King wes soreaddrede,For hir disdane he culd n ocht gudlie beir .Thai SOW pitsone , and sync thai bownitto bede 5Sadnes com e in and rownitin his eir !

D ame Plesan ce hes persanith ir n ew feyr 5A nd airlie

,affore the sone

,scho gan to ryse

Outof the bed , and turstvp all h ir geir.The King wes sound on sleip,and still he lyis.

Horsisand harnes hin t scho hes in haist 5With all [hir] folk scho can hir wayis fayr .

Be this it wes ful l n eir myd—day almaist,Th an come D i seis in rydand with ane rair ;

K ING HART.

The Quene is wen t, al lace, I wait nocht quhairThe King began to walk, and harde the heirThan Jelosie come strekand vp the stair,To serve the K ing, and drew him wounder n eir.

Ressoun come [in] Sehir King, I reid ge ryse,

Thair i s ane grit pairt of this fayr day run .

The son e was at the hicht,and dounwarde hyis.

Qubair is the thesaure now that ge have wounThis drink wes sweitge fand in V enus tunSon e eftir this it sal be stail l and soure 5Thairfoir of it I reid no moir ge cun

Latit ly still and pleis gonr paramour.

Than Wisdome sayis, Schape for sum governan ceSen fayr D ame Plesan ce on hir wayis i s went .In gonr last dayis ge may gourself avan ce,G if that ge wourde of the same indigen t.Go to gour place, and gow thairin presen t 5The castel l geti s strang an euche to hald.

Than Sadnes said, Schir King , ge man assent 5Qubat haue ge now ado in this waist fald ?

9

The King hes harde thair connsale at the lastAnd halelie assentitto thair saw.

Mak reddie son e , he sayis, and speid gow fast .Full suddan lie thai can the clarionn blaw 5On hors thai lap, and raid then all on rawTo his awin castell , thairin he wes brede.Langour the watche attour the kirnale flaw 5

A nd Hevines to the grit dungeoun flede.

VOL . I . H

1 13

1 14 K ING HART .

He cryit, Seh ir K ing, welcome to thy awin placeI haue it keipittrewlie sen thow past .BotI haue meikill mervale of thy face

,

That changeitis lyk [with] ane win ter blast .3c, Havines, the K ing said at the last ,N ow haue I this with fer mo harmes hin t

,

Quhilk grevisme , quhen I my comptis kastHow I fresche 3outhheidand his fal lowistynt.

Stren th wes as than fast fadit of his flouris,

Botstill gitwith the King he can abyde 5t i ll at the last in the hochis he cowris

,

Than prevelie outat the getcan slyde.

He stall away,and wen t on wayiswyde,

A nd socht quhair Southheid and his feiriswonndFull suddan lie

,suppois he had nagyde,

Behinde ane hill he hes his feiris funde .

Swa,on ane day

,the dayiswatchis tua

Come [in 5] and said thai saw an e fel loun mist .3a, said Wisdome

,I wist it wald be wa'

That is ane sing befoir ane hevie tristThat is perel l to cum , quha[that] itwist ,For

,on sum syde

,thair sall ws folk assaill .

The King sat still ; to travail] he n ocht list;A nd herknitsy nane quhyle to Wit his tail] .

D esyre wes dal ie at the chalmer dnre 5A nd Jelousie wes never of his presen ce 5Ire kepit ay the get, with meikle cure 5A nd W retchitneswes hyde in to the Spence .

1 16 K I NG HART.

For,do ge n ocht

, ge may n ocht wei ll eftheif.What is gour n ame ? Wisdome for suyth I hecht .All wrang, God wait ofttym es

,schir

,be gour leif,

Myn aven ture will‘

schape out of gour si cht :Botnevirthelesmay fal l that ge haue richt .Reuth have I none, outtak fortun e and chan ce ,That man I ay persew both day and n icht 5E is I defy so hingi s in his ballan ce.

Rich t as thir two ware talkand [fast] in feir,A ne hiddous ost thai saw come our the mvre 5D ecrepitus, his ban er schane n ocht cleir,Was at the hand

,with mony chiftanis sture.

A crudge bak that cairful l cative bure,A nd cruikitwar his laythlie lymmishayth .

Butsmirk,or smyle, bot rather for to smvre ,

Butscoup,or skift

,his craftis all to scayth .

Within an e quhyle the castell all aboutHe seigitfast with mony sow and gyn eA nd thai within gaif mony hiddowus schout ,For thai

'

war wonder waKing Hart to tyn eThe grundin gangeis, and grit gunn i s sy ne ,Thai schntwithout within thai stan is cast .K ing Hart sayis, Had the hous, for i t i s myneG if i t n ocht our als lang as we may lest .

Thus thai within had maid full grit defen ce ,Ay quhill thai micht the wallis [hie] haue gemit,Quhill , at the last , thai wantitthame dispen ce,Ewil l purvayitfolk , and saweill stemit

K ING HART. 1 17

Thair tnnnis,and thair tubbis, war all temit,

A nd failgetwasthe flesche that wes thair fude 5And at the last Wisdome the best hes demit

[Comforte to hyd thame kepe, that he nc goude . ]

A nd he be tynt, in perel put we all ;Thairfoir had wait and lat him nocht away.

Bethis thai harde the meikle fore-tour fall ,

Quhilk maid thame in the dungeoun to effray.

Than rais thair meikle dirdum and derayThe barmekin birst

,thai enterit

'

in at large

Heidwerk,Hoist

,and Parlasy, maid grit pay,

A nd Mnrmourismo with mony speir and targe.

Quhen that thai saw nabnte wes to defend,

Than in thai leit D ecrepitus ful ] tyte .He socht King Hart, for he full weil] him kend,A nd with ane swerde he can him smertlie smyte

His bak In twa,richt pertlie for dispyte ;

A nd with the brand [sync] brak he both his schinnisHe gaif ane cry, than Comfort fled out quyte ;A nd thus this bailful ] bargane he begynnis.

Ressoun forfochtin [wes] and swill drest ;A nd Wisdome wes ay wanderand to the dureCon scien ce lay [him] doun ane quhyle to restBecaus he saw the King wourd waik and pure 5For so in dnle he micht no langar dure.Go send for D eid , thus said he veramen t 53itfor I wil l dispone of my thesaure ,Vpon this wyse mak I my testament.

1 18 K I NG HART.

To fayr dame Plesan ce ay quhen scho list rydeMy prowde palfry , vnsteidfastnes, I leif,With fikkilnes

,hir sadill set on syde 5

Th i s aucht thair n on e of reassoun hir to reve .

To fresche Bewtie,becaus I culd hir heve

,

Grein Appetyte hir servand for to be 5To crak and cry alway quhill he hir deve ,That I command him straitlie quhil ] he dc.

Grein Lust,1 leif to the at my last ende

,

Of fantisie ane fostell fil litfow.

Southheid, becaus that thow my barn e-hcid kend ,To VVantounnesay will I that thow how .

To Gluttony, that oftmaid me our fow,

This meikle wambe,thi s rottin leviral s

,

Se that ge beir, and that command I gow 5A nd smertlie hing [thame] both abon e his hals .

To Rerc-Supper,be he amang that route ,

3c me commend 5 he is ane fallow fyneTh is rottin stomak that I beir aboute

,

3c rug it out , and reik it to him sync

For he hes hinderitme of mony dyn e,

A nd mony tyme the mess hes gart me sleip 5Myn wittis hes he waistitoftwith wyn e,A nd maid my stomak w ith hait lustis leip .

D eliucrn es hes ofttymes done me gude,Quhen I wes goung , and stede in tendir age 5He gart me ryn full rakles, be the rude ,At bal l and boul ] 5 thairfoir greit weil] that page

120 K ING HART.

Fn lehardines, beir him this brokin brow,

A nd bid him bawldlie bind it with ane clout 5For he hes gottin morsel lis on the mow,

A nd brocht his maister oftin meikle dout.Syn sall ye eftir faire D ame D angere schout ,A nd say

, becaus scho had me ay at feid,Th i s brokin speir

,sum-tyme wes stiffand stout ,

To hir I leif,bot se it wan t the heid .

QUOD MAISTER G AVV IN DOUG LA SB ISHOP OF DUNKELD .

C O N S C I E N C E .

UHEN halie Kirk first flurist in

3outhheid,Prelatiswer chosin of all perfectioun 5For Con scien ce than the brydil l had toleid

,

A nd Con scien ce maid the hale electionn,

Syn c eftir that come schrewitcorrectioun ,

And thocht that Con scien ce had our large ane weid ,A nd of his habitc out cuttitthay ane skreid.

A nd fraConscien ce the Con thay clip away,A nd maid of Conscien ce Scien ce and namair 5Botgitthe Kirk stude weill , full mony dayFor it wes rewlitbe men e of witand layre 5Syn eftir that Scien s began to payr,A nd thocht at Scien s was our lang ane jaip,The Sci away fastcan thay rub and scraip 5

A nd fraSci of Scien ce wes adew,

Than left thai nocht hotthis sillab Ens,Quhilk in our language singnifies that schrew

Ri chesand geir, that gart all grace go hens5

124 CONSCIENCE .

For Scien s baith and faythfnll ConsciensSacorruptitar w ith this warldis gude ,That falset joukis in everie clerkis hude .

O hnngrie Ens cursitwith cairis calde,

All kynd of folk constrenis thow to wirkFor the that thief Judas hisMaister sald 5For the Symon infectitHalie Kirk 5To poysoun Jastice thow dois n evir irk 5Thow fals Ens

, go hen s , thou monsture peralons,God send D efen s with Con scien ce in till ws

FIN IS QUOD BISCHOP DOUGLAS

OF DUNKELDE,&C .

NOTES AND VARIOUS READ INGS .

THE PALICE OF HONOUR.

[In the fol lowing notes, L . Ed . refers to th e London Edition of

1553 5 Edin . Ed. to that of Edinburgh, 1579. Referen ces arefrequently made to Dr . Jam ieson ’s D ictionary of the ScottishLanguage , to D r Irving

’s “ H istory of Scotish Poetry, to

Pink erton ’s edition of the Pal ice of Honour,in his “ Scotish

Poems, reprinted from scarce Editions,”

publ ished in 1792, andedition of K ing Hart, in his “ Anc ient Scotish Poems

,

”

pub

lished in

Page c]xx. ,line 15 .

—The argument or syn 0 psis of thePalice of Honour, in imitation of the old Scottish language ,prefixed by Pinkerton to his edition of 1792, is as follows :Part I . The poet gangs in to a gardyne—Falls in a

swoun—Is transportitto a desert—Complaint agan Fortoun—Court of Minerva apperis—W ise men hir attendantsGangand till the Palace of Honour—Court of D ianaCourt of Venns—Hir attendan ts—The poet complain sagan her, and is boun d and brohtbefoir hir court—Hisdefensand hir reply—He is condemnit.

Part I I . The Courtof the Musesapperis—Famous poetsthair attendan ts—Call iope inquiris Venus qubat the poethad done—He is reprevit, and singisin praise of VenusCalliope gives him til l a nymph with quham he travel lisour mon ie coun tries,and restis on Parnassus—A festival , atquhilk Ovid and uther poets appeir- Proceiding with thenymph , the poet cum is to a plesand rock in a plane.Part I I I . The poetascendis the rock—Hell of idlenesShipwreck of the carve] of the State of Grace—First sightof the Palace of Honour—Descriptioun of it—Venus thar ,

126 NOTES AND VAR IOUS READ INGS.

and her mirrour quhilk reflectis a] the gr et acts of auldtymes—Accoun t of sacred and profane historic—Plesanddebaitments, mock heroes as Fin ga] , &c and enchanntersalsuasene—A l legoricall descriptioun of King Honour andhis court—The personns thar—The poet wishing to pasin til the gardyne of flouris of rethoric, supposis he droppisfrom a brig , and wakis—Address to K ing James IV .

P. 1,l . 3 , the heuin ly; L . Ed. be heuin lye. L . 17 .

alars yet This may sign ify,”saysJamieson

,the yetor

gate overspread with the branches of the alder , or the gatemade of this tree : A . S. air; Su . G . al; A lem. elira

,id . ;

Sn . G . alar , of or belonging to the alder-tree. I suspect ,however

,that it is notthealder , but the elder that is mean t.

For as the elder or bore-tree is still by the superstitioussupposed to defend from witchcraft, it was formerly acommon custom to plan t it in gardens. In many it ispreserved to this day. It is probable , therefore, that the allusiOn is to this tree;and that for greater security , the trunkof it m ight be used for supportin g the garden -

gate, if thisitself was not also made Of the wood. Belg . hol ler

,id. I

dare not assert,however

,that alars may not here sign ify

common or general , q.,the gate which Opened in to the

whole garden . In this case,it would be the same with

al laris. That the word alars mean s alder-trees is thussimply a guess . The Rev. Mr Skeat thinks it is al lures

,

alleys,a well -known Engl ish word , from Lat. alura

,or

rather from Fr. al ler. I t has been suggested thatalarsmay have been origin ally written altars, in which case themean ing of the l ine would be—which [dewdrops] thebranches of verdure poured over the altars , reflecting them ists with smoky incense.P. 2

,l . 5

,echo; L . Ed. cecon . L . 10, E ons, the morn ing

star, Lucifer . L . 19, reserue; L. Ed. p reserue.

3,l . 9

,stone ;L . Ed. slane.

P. 4,l . 23

, p ulsis,’ L . Ed . pansys. L . 25

,desic; L. Ed.

dusut.

128 NOTES AND VAR IOUS READ I NGS .

were two Egyptian kings of the n ame of Nectanebis orNectanabis. In the old roman ces;Nectanebis was madethe progen itor of Alexander the Great .P. 13 , l . 2. Synon . See the story of Sinon told in Douglas

’

Virgil , vol . ii . p. 7 1 . Dan te pun ishes Sinon w ith an eternalsweating sickness—I nf erno xxx. L . 15 , haue natame.

The Edinr . Ed. reads haur natame,which seems a mist

of haue. L . 22. Imagining; L . Ed . imaginand.

P. 14, l . 10, bef oir; L . Ed. tofore. L . 12. A cteon; L .

Ed . A ction . L . 18 , atthem batit; L . Ed . atthaym batitPink. athim batit.P. 15 , l. 2. Polixena, daughter of Priam

,beloved by

Achill es, and sacrificed by the Greeks to his shade. L . 3 .

Peanthesile—Pen thesil ea , Queen of the Amazons. In theTrojan war she assisted the Trojans, but at last was killedby Ach illes. L . 4. Efi

‘

ygin .

r

The Ed. ed. reads Efi yoin .

Iphigen ia, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra,

the story of whose sacrifice by her father, in propitiation of

Artemis,is well known . L . 4. Virgenius douchter

—Virg in ia , daughter of L . Virginius, a brave centur ion , theattempt made upon whose chastity by Appius Claudius wasthe immediate cause of the downfal l of the Roman Decemvirs

,B .C. 449. L . 21 , north eist; L . Ed. northest. L . 23

,

sounding; L . Ed. soundis.

P. 16, l . 6, inwith; L . Ed . inoth.

P. 18 , l . 1 1 . B ut;L . Ed. Bot. L . 12, claith;L. Ed. p late.

P. 20 , l . 6, botyit; L. Ed. botyf L . 17 , war soung and

p layit; L . Ed . war songin and p lait. L . 20, countering;

L. Ed. contniing.

P. 21 , l . 1 . Saul; L. Ed. kyng Saul . L . 2. Amphion, son

of Zeus and An tiope, to whom A pollo gave a lyre. He

henceforth practised song and music so successfully, thatwhen he played , the stones moved of their own accordandformed the wall Of Thebes. L . 5 , igroundit; L . Ed. groundit.

L . 9. Be G od than cloisagekgo or asaline. The Edin . Ed .

reads,than doisaG reik or aswine. The word gekgo, a

NOTES AND VAR IOUS READ INGS . 12

cuckoo,is supplied from the L . Ed. Dr Irving remarks that

“ Bishop Douglas, who certain ly did not fal l below the

common standard of clerical decorum,has n otscrupled to

bedeck his composition s with abundance of oaths, which are

generally in troduced with as much sign ificance as the frequen t ejaculations Of the ancien t classics.” He quotes LordHailes. who ‘ states as folloWs : “ I have never been able tod iscover from what cause our ancestors became so mon

strously addicted to profane swearing . I remember TomBrown somewhere uses ‘swear like a Scotsman ’ as a

'

proverb

‘

ial expression .

”Hist. of Scot. Poetry, p. 249 The Rev.

Mr Scott,in his notes to the Perth ‘

Ed. ,thought that by a

Slight alteration better sen se would be made of this lin e ;and in h is Ed . he reads , than dois of G reik aswine

,and in

th is he has been followed by Pinkerton . Mr Scott alsoadds

,the good Bi shop

’s word m ight have been taken forhis ignoran ce in music , without the solemn ity of his oath;There is little doubt, however, of the reading , and thatDouglas has taken the idea, oath and al l , from ChaucerKn ight

’s Tale,952

She wotno more ofal l this hotfaireBy G od, than wota cuckow or a bare .

L . 16. G laskeriane. According to the Old English bal lad

G lasgerion wasa kinges own e sonn e ,A nd a harper h e was goode .

"

—Percy’

sR el iqites, iii. p . 43 ;also Percy’

sfoi. M S .

,vol . i. p .

’

246.

L . 25,ouirbrouderit; L . Ed . or brounvert.

P. 22,l . 3

,veluot; L . Ed . velaos. L . 25. A rciteand Pale

mon . For the story of these heroes‘

see Chaucer’s Kn ight’s

Tale. For aswa read alswa. L . 26. A emelia,a vest-a]

virgin , who , when the sacred fire was on one occasion ex

tinguished , prayed for assistan ce,andmiraculously rekindledit by throwing a piece of her garmen t upon the extinctembers. L . 28 . Troilns and C resm

'

do—Troilus,

‘ youngest

V OL . I .

130 NOTES AND VAR IOUS READ INGS .

son of Priam,King of Troy, and Cressida or Cryseyde,

daughter of Calchas , priest of Apollo. The tale of theirlovesand tragic fate during the siege of Troy forms the sub

jectof the Troylusand Crysyde of Chaucer, and the wellknown Troilusand Cressida of Shakespeare.P. 23 , l . 1 . Parisand p lesand H elena—Paris , the second

son of Priam,famous for his abduction of Helena , wife of

Menelaus,K ing of Sparta. L . 2. Lucrece.

-Lucretia,w ife

of L . Tarquinius Col latinus, whose rape by Sex . Tarquinius l ed to the dethronemen t of Tarquinius Superbusand the establishmen t of the Roman Republ ic. L . 2.

Penelop e, wife of Ulysses , King of I thaca, who , during

the absence of her husband during the Troj an war, was soimportuned by n umerous suitors , that she deceived themby declaring that she must fin ish the weaving of a largerobe for her aged father-in -law

,Laertes

,before she could

make up her m ind . L . 3 . Piramus and wobegone Thisbe.

—Thisbe,a beautiful Babylon ian maiden

,beloved by

Pyramus,but whose parents woul d not sanction their

marriage . They agreed to meet at the tomb of Minus.

Thisbe arriving first , perceived a lioness tearing in piecesan ox

,and took to fl ight. Pyramus following , found her

garment covered with blood,and thinking she had been

murdered,kill ed himself under a mulberry tree

,the fruit

of which hen ceforth was red as blood. Thisbe afterwardsfinding the body of her lover

,likewise killed herself.

L . 4. Progne. Procn e,a nymph changed in to a

swallow. L . 4. Philomena.—Probably Philomela is here

referred to,a daughter of King Pandion in Attica , who ,

being dishonoured by her brother-ih -law, Toreus, wasmetamorphosed into a n ightingale. L . 6. Ceix with the

kind A lcyon .—Ceyx , son of Lucifer ;Alcyone, daughter of

JE Olus. Their story is told in Ovid , Metam . xi . , 410.

L . 9. Phillis,and her lafe D emophoon .

—l ’hyl lis, daughterof the Thracian king , Sithon , put an end to her l ife

,

thinking hersel f forgotten by Demophoon , son of Theseusand Phaedra

,who accompan ied the Greeks again st Troy .

132 NOTES AND VAR IOUS READ INGS .

for having devoted herself to death to save the l ife of herhusband , Admetus, K ing of Pherae

,in Thessaly. A n

extant drama of Euripides ,“ The Alcestis , is foun ded on

this inciden t . Ixion,K ing of the Lapithae , invited by

Jup iter to his table , but afterwards chained by Hermes toa fiery wheel

,which roll ed perpetually in the air or in the

lower world. L . 22. G ressilida.—Griselda

,heroin e of the

l 0th n ovel of the 10th day of Boccacc io. She was thedaughter of a poor man , and wasmarried to the Marquessof Saluzzo . After a long period Of il l -treatment, which shebore with patience, she was at length restored to herhusband’s favour . See Chaucer’s G lerkesTale.” L . 23 .

Narcisas—Pinkerton reads Hyacin thus , who was slain byastone or quoit thrown by Apollo. L . 26

,with hartim

mutabili; L . Ed. ,with fyrm hart.

P. 24,l . 14. The ballad that here begin s has ten l ines in

the stanza , as has also the ballad beg inn ing on p . 39, l . 21 .

L . 20,involupitin sgte L . Ed .

,inuoluitin diSpyte.

P. 25,l . 28

, girnand; L . Ed .

, grinand.

P. 26, l . 4, skrymmorie fery.

—The fairy cal led Skrymmorie . According to Jamieson ,

Skrymmorie is a designation of Gothic origin . Sibbald renders i t “ frightful ,fill ing with terror

,

” Viewing it as an adj ective . But itseems rather

,he th inks

,an appellative, allied to Su . G .

,

skraem-a,to frighten , and a variety of other terms .

S krymma is a verb, used to denote the appearance of

spectres . Hen ce skrgme l sign ifies both a spectre and anidol . I t is probably from O . N . Skumari, a vapourer.L . 5 . Chyppynntie, another mischievous Spirit ;probablyone of those who fatally wounded the cattle that were believed to be elf-shot—Meso-Goth ic , lcaupat-jan , to strike,and not

,naut

,an OK . (Jam .) L . 16. Varius—Q . Varius

Hydrida, a tribune of the p eople, B .C . 90, who Obtainedconsiderable power by his eloquen ce. In his tribuneshiphe brought forward a law to pun ish al l those who hadassisted or advised the Socii to take up arms again st theRoman people. He was condemned under his own law,

NOTES AND VAR IOUS READ INGS . 133

and putto death . L . 25,co ld as akey.

—Key -cold occursin Shakespeare , Rich . I I I . , i . 2.

P. 27,l . 10 , for be, read me. L . 15

, p leis it; L . Ed .

,

p lesyt.

P. 28,l . 11

, yit; L . Ed . , ye . L . 14,disturbis; L"

. Ed . ,

distrublis.

P. 29,l . 4

,to die; L . Ed .

,to be. L . 13

,A cteon

,son of

A ristaeus and Autono 'e',a daughter of Cadmus . After

being trained to hun ting by the cen taur Chiron,he was

torn in pieces by his own 50 hounds on Moun t C ithaeron .

L . 15 . Yo .

—Io , daughter of Inachus , loved by Jupiter, bywhom she wasmetamorphosed in to a white cow . L . 22;

Lycaon , son of Pelasgus , and King Of A rcadia. who , whensacrificing a child on the altar Of Jupiter, was changedinto a wolf.

’

L . 24,soiurne; L . Ed. ,

sudiourn.

P;30,l . 2

,is an Old proverb ;

“ Be warned in time byOthers’ harm

, and you shall do ful l well , ” is the form in

which it appears in'

the “ Ingoldsby Legends ,”Al isadven

turesatMargate.

P. 3 1,l . 8 , intercessioun; L . Ed.

,interczon .

P . 32, l . 9, omitted in Ed . Ed.,supplied from L . Ed .

L . 10 , held the measure; L . Ed .

,held measure. L . 14.

Phillis—(See note to p . 23 , l . L . 18 . A contius,a

beautiful youth of the isle of Ceos. He fell in love w ithCydippe, daughter Of a noble Athen ian

,and at last mar

ried her through the in terposition Of D iana—Ovid,

Heroid. 20 , 21 . L . 21,thay ladyis; L . Ed .

,thair lagis.

L . 22, nawag compeir; L . Ed .,nacompeir. L . 29,into

my greitpine; L. Ed . ,in my gastly pyne.

P. 33 , l . 2, thair gait; L . Ed .

,the gate. L . 6

,knaw

ledge; L . Ed .

,knawledgis. L 8

,court;L . Ed. ,

rout

or meit; L. Ed .,our mate. L . 12

,storeis L . Ed .

,historyis.

L . 27 , Thespis,

—Dr Irving thinks Douglas wrote Thespia.the mother of the masis nine; L . Ed.

,the morthyr of musis

nyne.

P. 34,l . 4

,for third

,read thrid . L . 15

,the auchtsister

134 NOTES AND VAR IOUS READ ING S .

with croan; L. Ed.

,theauchtand sistir schene . L . 20 , hir

vertewis; L . Ed.,the certuys. L . 28 . A nd fair ladyis;

L . Ed. and Phanee.

P. 35 , l. 1 , Saturee—Satyrs . L . 2,A ones—Nymphsof the

shore. Napee, vawaiat, nymphs Of forests , grovesand glens.