1 Mill, Anna Jean, Mediaeval Plays in Scotland, St. Andrews University Publications, XXIV (Edinburgh and London, 1927), 10–11.Google Scholar

2 The following citations from mediaeval sources are not meant to be exhaustive, but to acquaint the reader with the problems faced in extracting information about Scottish dramatic material of this early period.

John Sampsoun and James Cruik accusit for dansing and guising ondir nycht in divers houses culd not deny bot they dansit albeit not dammaskit nor disguysit. Appointit to stand on Sonday nixt in thair awin seattis and confess thair offences. George Kay accusit for dansing and guysing ondir nicht on Monunday last confessit he haid his sisters coat upon him and the rest that were with him haid claythis dammaskit about thame and thair faces blaikit, and they had a lad playand upon banis and bells with thame. Archie Hay had a faise about his loynes and ane kerche about his face. Kirk Session Records of Elgin, Dec. 30, 1598.

… And forder That ye actis maid anent drunkardis royatus bankates danseris nich walkers maskingis and gysingis perturbarir of ye kirk and kirk3eard intym of sermone … be put in executioun aganis all transgressouris yairof but respect to persoun. Head Court Laws, 1550–1622, Dundee, October 6, 1594, p. 74. See also pp. 78, 80, and 82.

… 'na man nor woman in this burght about the superstitous tyme of Yuill or New-yeris day, or ony vther superstitious tyme, sail presume to mask or disagyse thame selffis in ony sort, the men in wemennis claythis, nor the wemen in mennis claythis, nor vtherwayes, be dansing with bellis, ather on the streittis of this burt or in privat houss, in ony tyme cumming … Kirk Sessions Records of Aberdeen, Jan. 19, 1606.

Compeired Andrew Jhonestowne and Jonet Cuninghame his spous James Jakrone and Stobie his spous dauid Jaksone and helene hynd all warnit to yis day and being inquyrit quhy thay went all disgysed about ye towne on tuysday last wes at ten and ellewin houris at ewin with sourdis and stawis towbling and molesting thair nichtbouris on ye streitis quhom thay met anπerit that eftir ye towne of no ewill purpoπ or intentione bot of mirrines and denyit that thay molesitit any Thay being remowit it wes cirtenly found that thay wer disgysed namly andrew Jhonestownes wyf hawing hir hair hinging downe and ane blak hat wpon hir head hir husband androw Jhonestowne with ane suord into his hand dauid Jaksone hawing ane curch wpon his head and ane womanis gowne as Constantine Malice balzie and sindrie wthers declairit and that they hurt and molestit sindry personis The sessione findis thair deyd to be sklanderous prophane & dangerous and that becaus the pestilence zit continewis amangis vs and all thir persones laitly come in from ye feildis quhar the boch & boyll wes on thair persones. Kirk Sessions Records of Perth, Feb. 13, 1609.

3 Item, to the King of Bene, the saim day. xviij s.

Compota thesaurariorum regum Scotorum. Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, I, eds. Thomas Dickson and Sir James Balfour (Edinburgh, 1877–1916), 1489–90.

(All further citations from this source will be indicated by L.H.T.A.)

Item, the v of Decembris, in Edinburgh, to Sanct Nycholas bisschop, at the Kingis command, be Master James Olyfant, iij vnicornis, iij li. xij s. L.H.T.A. I, 1491.

Robertson, J., Statutes of the Scottish Church, 1225–1559. Scottish History 'Society (Edinburgh, 1907), p. 56.Google Scholar

Statuta Ecclesiae Scoticanae, II, “Quod Festum Stultorum penitus tollatur,” 52.

Dona-Episcopus Puerorum in Nocte Sahcti Michaelis. Johanni filio Johannis le baillyf de Dunfermelyn episcopo puerorum in capella regis apud Dunfermelyn in nocte Sancti Michaelis anno presenti de dono ipsius regis per manus proprias apud Dunfermelyn vj die Decembris, xl s.

Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, London, 1180–1509. II, ed. Joseph Bain (Edinburgh, 1881–88), 1303–04.

Michaelis should read Nicholai in both instances. See Brit. Mus. Addit. MSS., 8835 f. 42.

Eodem die Iohannes michelsone receptus fuit in liberum burgenrsem et frairem gilde de commine omnium burgemum consensu quia composuit cum dominis bonaconcordie de mandato prepositj balliuorum consilii et decani gildy per eosdem ipsis assignatos Necnon solutis preposito quinque solidis in alba et prestito per eum solito Iurimento Aberdeen Council Register, June 23, 1539.

4 Nicholaius benyng receptas fuit in liberos burgensem et confratrem gilde ratione paterne libertatis pro vs quos prepositus dedit waltero balcancole pro scriptura ludi iñ festo corporis XII Registrum episcopatus Aberdeenensis, I, 255, 258, 259.

5 Chambers, E. K., Mediaeval Stage, II (Oxford, 1903), 128, 333.Google Scholar

6 The playaris oñ corpus christie day and quhat money sail be payt till yame that is to say

Item in primis till adam vj ð The devill–viij ð his mañ–iiij ð The angell and ye clerk–vj ð Sanct erasimus–viij ð The cord drawer–viij ð The king–xij ð The thre tormentouris–iij s The best baner–xij ð The vy–vj ð The stule berer and ye harnes–v ð The devillis chepmañ–viij ð till robert hart for vestiment–iiij ð Item for (blank in manuscript)–ij ð Item to ye menstrell–ij s Subscryvit be consiantine arthoar dekyn

Andersoun, Iohne, MS. Hammermen Book (Perth, 1584), April 22, 1518.Google Scholar

The extract of ye hammermeñ buik exatractit fourth of yair auld buik of ye dait 1518 zeris constantine arthur being dekyn forje tyme of ye statutis and ordinances yairin contenit [and is] The lust copie of ye auld buik … wreting be Iohne Andersouñ at command of ye haill craft.

7 Item to Sanct Innocentis bischops xlij s L.H.T.A., IV, Jan. 26–29?, 1511.

8 Buchanan, George, Rerum Scoticarum Historia, III (Edinburgh, 1762), 130.Google Scholar

9 The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, II, eds. Thomas Thomson and Cosmo Innes (Edinburgh, 1844), 1555, c. 40, 500.

10 Edinburgh Burgh Records, III, Scottish Burgh Records Society Publications (Edinburgh, 1868–1908), 107.

(All further citations from this source will be indicated by E.B.R.)

11 Ibid., III, 112.

12 Pitcairn, Robert, Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland compiled from the Original Records and MSS., etc., I, Bannatyne Club Publications, no. 42 (Edinburgh, 1833), Pt. II, 409.Google Scholar

13 E.B.R., III, 134; IV, 106, 229.

14 A Diurnal of Remarkable Occurents that have passed within the country of Scotland since the death of King James the Fourth till the year MDLXXV., ed. Thomas Thomson, Bannatyne Club Publications no. 45 (Edinburgh, 1833), pp. 65, 283. (All further citations from this source will be indicated by D.R.O.) Cf. also The Works of John Knox, II (Edinburgh, 1846–64), 157 ff.

15 Fordun, Johannis de, Scotichronicon, II, ed. Hearn, Thomas (Oxford, 1722), 128.Google Scholar

16 Withington, Robert, English Pageantry, I (New York: 1963), 103.Google Scholar Cf. also Brown, Peter Hume, History of Scotland, I (Cambridge, 1899), 129.Google Scholar

17 D.R.O., p. 87.

18 L.H.T.A., X, Dec, 1566.

19 Memoirs of his own Life by Sir James Melville of Halhill, MDXLIX-MDXCIIL, ed. Thomas Thomson, Bannatyne Club Publications no. 17 (Edinburgh, 1827), p. 171.

20 Calderwood, David, History of the Kirk of Scotland, III, ed. Thomson, Thomas, Wodrow Society Publications no. 5 (Edinburgh, 1842–1849), 345.Google Scholar

See also A True Reportarie of the Most Triumphant and Royal Accomplishment of the Baptisme of the most Excellent, right High and Mightie Prince, Frederick Henry; By the Grace of God, Prince of Scotland. Solemnized the 30 day of August, 1594. (Edinburgh, c. 1594).

Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office, II, ed. Markham John Thorpe (1858), 659, Bo. 23.

21 Works of John Knox, II, 294. See also 368.

22 Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1547–1603 preserved in the Public Record Office, the British Museum, and elsewhere in England, II, eds. J. Bain and W. K. Boyd (1898), 88.

23 Leland, John, Collectanea, IV, ed. Hearn, Thomas (London, 1770), 288.Google Scholar Cf. also, Hone, William, Ancient Mysteries Described (London, 1823), pp. 237 ff.Google Scholar

24 D.R.O., Dec. 19, 1556, p. 105.

25 Leland, , Collectanea, IV, 289–91.Google Scholar

26 Withington, , English Pageantry, I, 169, 184.Google Scholar

27 D.R.O., pp. 67–69.

See also Documents relative to the reception at Edinburgh of the Kings and Queens of Scotland A.D. MDLXI-A.D. MDCL, Bannatyne Club Publications (Edinburgh, 1822). E.B.R., III, 119 ff.

28 The Works of John Knox, II, 288.

29 Mill, , Medieval Plays in Scotland, pp. 86–87.Google Scholar

30 Works of John Knox, I, 62.

31 This James [Wedderburne] had a good gift of poesie, and made diverse comedeis and tragedeis in the Scotish tongue, wherein he nipped the abusses and superstitioun of the time. He composed in forme of tragedle the beheading of Johne the Baptist, which was acted at the West Port of Dundie, wherein he carped roughlie the abusses and corruptiouns of the Papists. He compiled the Historie of Dyonisius the Tyranne, in forme of a comedie, which was acted in the playfeild of the said burgh, wherein he likewise nipped the Papists. He counterfooted also the conjuring of a ghaist, which was, indeed, practised by Frier Laing, beside Kingorne, which Frier Laing had beene confessor to the king. But after this conjuring the king was constrained, for shame, to remove him.

Calderwood, , History of the Kirk of Scotland, I, 142.Google Scholar

32 The Sacred Dramas of George Buchanan, trans. Archibald Brown (Edinburgh and London, 1906), pp. 93–94.

33 Mill, , Mediaeval Plays of Scotland, p. 102.Google Scholar

34 Lindesay, Robert of Pitscottie, , The Historie and Cronicles of Scotland, I, ed. MacKay, A. E. J. G., Scottish Text Society (Edinburgh, 1889–1911), 315.Google Scholar

35 Diary of Mr. James Melvill, Wodrow Society Publications (Edinburgh, 1842), p. 27.

36 The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland. Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies of the Kirk of Scotland from the year MDLX, I, Maitland Club Publications nos. 45 and 49 (Glasgow, 1839–45), 332. See also I, 339.

37 The Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, III, eds. Thomas Thomson and Cosmo Innes (1844), 1581, c. 6. 212.

38 Mill, , Mediaeval Plays in Scotland, p. 101.Google Scholar

39 Sir Anthony Weldon, Description of Scotland (1659), June 20, 1617;^* cited in Nichols, John, The Progresses of James the First, III (London, 1828), 340.Google Scholar