Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, 1490-1555 > Volume 4, 1936

212
THE WORKS OF SIR DAVID LINDSAY
In line 2484 the reading handis in the Bann. MS. is also better
than hand.
2483. I trow this pellour be spur-gaid : Bann. MS., spurgawd. I think
this thief be spur-galled, chafed with the spur. Chalmers, II. 39, " as
in Shakspeare: “ Spur-gall’d, and tir’d by jaunting Bolingbroke ”
[Richard II., V. v. 94]. Modern editions read, however, " Spurr’d,
gall’d, and tir’d by jauncing Bolingbroke.”
2485. Howbeit I se thy skap skyre skaid: Bann. MS., skalp skyr
skawd. Howbeit I see thy scalp, afiected with scirrhus, and scabby.
Skaid [skawd] : scald, affected with scall, scabby ; a scaly or scabby
disease of the skin, especially of the scalp. Dry scall, psoriasis ; Humid
or moist scall, eczema.
2486. Thou art ane stewat: thou art a stinkard.
2486 st. dir. The vycis. Falset, Dissait, and Flattrie only. Covetice
is not arrested until line 2493, Sensualitie in line 2494.
2495. My Grainier and my Chalmerlaine. Grainter : granater, repre¬
sented by Covetice. Cf. Mow., 4309, and note. Chalmerlaine : chamber-
lain, bed-chamber attendant, here a euphemism for a bishop’s mistress.
Cf. Mon., 4309. Sensualitie and Covetice are not placed in the stocks,
but 2514 st. dir. are chased away. They go to the seat [i.e., mansion]
of Sensualitie ; this represents their flight from the realm. Perhaps the
allegory is based on Psalm Ixxviii. 30, “ They were not estranged from
their lust.”
2541. And als wee knaw it is the Kings will. This line is prosodically
defective, and would read better, “ And als it is the Kingis will,” or
“ And als wee knaw the Kingis will.” I prefer the former. The reading
of 1602 is a defective five-foot line, repeated as line 2553.
2569. For sum ar hichtit sa into thair maill. Chalmers, II. 43, " some
are so raised, in their rents: This seems to imply, that prosperity had
made some beginning.” Not necessarily ; the poor were simply being
squeezed more than ever. In Mon., 5708, and Satyre, 4060, Lindsay
mentions the exaction of " dowbyll maill.” Maill: tax, tribute, rent.
O.E. mal; O.N. mal, speech, argument.
2570. Thair winning will nocht find them water kaill. Chalmers, II. 43,
“ Their gain will not find them water kaill ; which, in contradistinction
to beef kail, means kail stewed in water, without any flesh.” Kail:
kale, kail; cole, colewort, cabbage. Kale is the northern form of Cole.
O.E. cawel; M.E. col, cole ; L. caulis.
2574. The gentill men thair steadings taks in few : the lairds take the
land-holdings of the peasants in feu. Feu : fee, tribute to a superior,
also wages; a tract of land ; feudal tenure of land in which the vassal
makes a return of grain or money, and opposed to blanch, rent paid in