Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

204 Scotland, Social and Domestic.
upon Thursday, the sixth day of June, which was wont
to be called Corpus Christi day ; that this had been
done contrary to the command of the civil magistrate,
and also contrary to the minister's command, which he
had intimated from the pulpit ; that thereby the whole
town had been dishonoured, and great offence given to
the Church of God, for that the said play was idolatrous
and superstitious." The Kirk-session further issued a
declaration as to the doctrinal errors implied in the
celebration of the festival.
St. Obert's Play was celebrated at Perth, on the 10th
of December, with a procession of torches, accompanied
by a band of musicians. St. Obert was patron saint
of the baxters or bakers. The performers wore masque-
rade dresses. One of them personated the Devil. A
horse was walked in the procession, with its hoofs
inclosed in men's shoes. The Kirk-session imprisoned
the leader, and succeeded in suppressing the celebration.
James I. promoted theatrical entertainments. On
the occasion of the marriage of James IV., a company
of English comedians performed before the Scottish
Court. In 1538, when Mary of Guise arrived to
become Queen, dramatic performances took place at
Edinburgh and Dundee. The drama of " The Three
Estates," by Sir David Lindsay, was represented at
Linlithgow, in 1539, and afterwards at Edinburgh and
Cupar-Fife. Theatricals were, in the seventeenth century,
performed in the parish schools, and were countenanced
by the magistrates and educational authorities. In
1693, the Town Council of Dumfries record a payment
of" £7 5s. Scots for 10 pr. deals at 14s. 6d. each, for a
stage to the scholars when they acted Bellum Grama-
tical." The first licensed theatre in Scotland was formally