Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Satirical poems of the time of the reformation > Volume 2, 1893

NOTES TO ANE DECLARATIOUN, ETC. (36-91). 51
Lost’ (Act v. sc. i), Shakespeare makes Holofernes, the schoolmaster,
say: “ This is abhominable, which he would call abominable,” in his
ridicule of the “rackers of orthography” and sticklers for fine pro¬
nunciation.
36, 37. To se the King fyrst lychtlit schamefully, &c. See Poems
iii. 1. 35 and iv. 1. 29, and note thereto, and cf. Poem x. 1. 172—
“ Be him Jour King was lychtlyit with Jour Quene.”
“ She had continually in hir Company David Rizio quho sat at
Table near to hirself, sometymes more privatly then became a Man of
his Conditioun : for his overgrit Familiarity was already suspected.
. . . Sche caused to mak a Seall lyke the Kingis and gave \i\.o David
Rizio, quho maid Use of it by the Ouenes Commande, alledging that
the King, being at his Pastyme, could not always be present.”—‘ Knox,’
pp. 391, 392. The extent of the Rizzio scandal may be estimated from
such an expression as this : “ Woe is me for you when David’s sone
shalbe Kynge of England!”—MS. Letter, S.P.O., Randolphe to
Leicester, Berwick, 29th January 1566 ; or the sly query of Henry IV.
of France: ‘‘Whether the Scottish Solomon, as people called him,
was David the fiddler’s son?”
42. Lest=Y>e. pleased (?) (so explained in Dalyell’s Glossary), A.S.
lystanj or endure (?), A.S. Icestaii. See 11. 56 and 78; and Poem iv.
1. 98.
46. Ane gled ay gaipatid, &c. Cf. Poem xxviii. 1. 74—
“ And I was gaipand lyke ane gredie gled.”
50-55. See Mary’s account of her abduction in her “ Instructions to
the Bishop of Dumblane,” printed in ‘ Keith,’ pp. 388-392; and cf.
Anderson’s ‘Collections,’ vol. i. pp. 130, 131, 136, 139, 142 ; and Poem
ix. 11. 129, 130, and note thereto.
52. Traine=\.x\zY, blind, deception.
55. By hir wz7/= against her will.
57 et seq. To reif, to murther, and wyle licherie, &c. See Poems ii.
passim, and notes; iv. 1. 108, and note ; x. 11. 225, 226, and note.
71-74. Ourprettie Prince . . . befoir. Cf. Poem ix. 11. 125-132.
78. Quhat Nobill hart could langer this induire ?—
“ Allace ! quhat gentyll hart may this indure?”
—Lyndsay, ‘The Dreme,’ 1. 105.
82. Reprdf= reprove, condemn. M.E. repreuenj Fr. reprouver.
Craig nearly came to grief for his outspokenness with regard to
Bothwell and his marriage with the Queen. When he was summoned
before the Privy Council for his freedom of speech, he was put to
silence by Bothwell, and dismissed.—‘ Spottiswood,’ p. 203 ; ‘ Schiern,’
p. 252, note 2.
89. Laude. Dalyell has lande, probably a misprint.
91. Faceles = cowardly. Settin by— regarded, esteemed.