Chapter XX

_The Literature of the Nation in the
First Half of the Sixteenth Century._

⭘ Relation of Education and Literature――Introduction of Printing
into Scotland; first Printing Press; Chepman and Myllar
――Specimens of their Work――Other Scottish Printers

⭘ William Dunbar, the Court Poet――Editions of his Poems――Causes for
his Writings being neglected

⭘ Dunbar’s Writings chiefly consist of short pieces――The range of
his subjects pretty wide――Allegorical Poems; The Goldyn Targe
――Ballad sung at the Marriage of James IV.――The Thistle and the
Rose――Merit of his short Poems――The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedy
――Some of Dunbar’s poems supposed to be lost

⭘ Gavin Douglas――The Palace of Honour; his Imagery; Peculiarities
of his language――King Hart, an Allegory――His Translation of
Virgil; Original Prologues――Descriptions of Winter and May

⭘ John Mair――His Career as a Professor――His Writings, Opinions, and
Views

⭘ Boece’s Writings――John Bellenden――His Translations; a Specimen of
the Vernacular Prose of the Period

⭘ Complaynt of Scotland――Its Authorship uncertain――Character and
nature of the Work――The Writer’s Opinions

⭘ State of Scotland――Discussion of the English Claims; Intention of
the Protector, Somerset――Characteristics of the English and the
Scots――The Complaints of the People against the Nobles and the
Clergy――Shortcomings of the People themselves――Corruption and
Vanity of the Nobles――Abuses of the Clergy; Heretics should not
be Burned――Internal Strife――Characteristics of the Style――Value
of the incidental Information in the Work