56 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
interfering with a high hand, even to the ‘t ordouring of everie mannis house,” and regulating
with a most rigid economy the number of dishes at each man’s table, according to
his degree. But the most interesting is, that against printing without licence, furnishing
an insight into the variety and character of the writings then issuing from the press, and
already strongly influencing the public mind. ‘‘ l%at na prenter presume to prent ony
buikes, ballattes, sanges, blasphemationes, rime, or tragedies, outher in Latine or English
toung,” without due examination and licence granted, under pain of confiscation of goods,
and banishment of the realm for ever.’ Sir David Lindsay had already published his
Tragedie of tAe Cardinal, and it seems to have been about this time that he put forth
The Historie and Testament of Spuyer Meldrum, one of his most pleasing poems, though
in parts exhibiting a licence, as to incident and language, common to the writers of that
age. This poem is the versification of a romantic incident which occurred under his own
observation during the unsettled period, in the earlier years of the minority of James V.
(August 1517.)’ The rank of Sir D a d Lindsay, and the influence he had enjoyed
during the previous reign, had continued to preserve him from all interference ; nor was
’ it till the accession of Elizabeth to the throne of England, and the steps in favour of the
Protestant party that followed thereon, that the Catholic clergy at length denounced his
writings as the fruitful source of movement in the popular mind.
The object of the Queen Dowager, in her recent visit to France, had been mainly to
secure the interest of that Court in procuring for herself the office of Regent. The Earl
of Arran, who still held that office, seems to have been altogether deficient in the requisite
talents for his responsible position ; swqyed alternately by whichever adviser chanced to
hold his confidence, his government was at once feeble and uncertain.
No sooner had the Queen Dowager secured the approbation and concurrence of the
French King, than her emissaries departed for the Scottish capital, empowered to break
the affair to the Regent, with such advantageous offer as should induce him to yield up
the office without difficulty. Threats were held out of a rigid reckoning being required as
to the dilapidation of the revenue and crown-lands, which had taken place during his
government.
Chatelherault, with ample provision for his eldest aon at the French Court, while like
liberal promises secured to the Queen’s party many of the nobility.
The kchbishop of St Andrews, who had latterly influenced all the motions of the
Regent, chanced at this time to be dangerously ill, so that Arran was left without counsel
or aid, and yielded at length a reluctant consent to the exchange.
On the return of Mary of Guise from France, she accompanied Arran in a progress
through the northern parts of the kingdom, in which she exhibited much of that prudence
and ability which she undoubtedly possessed, and which, in more fortunate times, might
have largely promoted the best interests of the country: while such was the popularity
she acquired, that the Regent became highly jealous of her influence, and when reminded
of his promise, indignantly refused to yield up the government into her hands.
The Queen Dowager, however, already possessed the real power ; and while the Regent,
with his few adherents, continued to reside at Edinburgh, and maintain there the forms of
government, she was holding a brilliant court at Stirling, and securing to her party the
.
On the other hand, he was offered the splendid bribe of the Dukedom of .
l Scots Acta, vol. i. p. 286. * Pitscottie, vol. ii. p, 305.
