J. F. Campbell Collection > Poems of William Dunbar > Volume 1

c
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 21
herald, which has been preserved, presents a striking
picture of society at that time.^-* Dunbar's poem, the
' Thrissil and the Rois,' was written on the 9th of
May, three months previous to the Queen's arrival ;
in which, by a most beautiful and appropriate alle-
gory, comparing her to the Rose, the queen of flowers,
and James to the national emblem, the Thistle, he
celebrates the prospect of that alliance which, although
not productive at the time of all its expected advan-
tages, yet eventually led to the permanent union of
the two kingdoms. The Queen made her public en-
trance into Edinburgh on the 7th of August, with
every demonstration of public rejoicing; and on the
day after, the marriage ceremony took place in the
Abbey of Holyrood, with a degree of solemnity and
splendour which perhaps was never equalled in this
part qf the kingdom.
The historian of English Poetry asserts, that in
consequence of this alliance, a new communication
and intercourse were opened between the two courts
and kingdoms, which " must have greatly contributed
to polish the rude manners, and to improve the lan-
guage, literature, and arts, of Scotland.""" Such an
hypothesis is not borne out by facts ; as previous to
'" Printed in tlie Appendix to Leland's Collectanea, 3d edit. 1770,
vol. iv. p. 258. In addition to the official account by Young, ' who at-
tended the Slid Princess on her journey,' the Treasurer's Accounts throw
considerable light on the magnificent preparations for the nuptials on the
part of the Scotish JMonarch.
="> Warton's Hist. ?dit. l&2i, vol. iii. p. 96.