posed in English, there were few printing presses to multiply books; or, if printed, the great body of the people could not read them. But Lindsay, when he wrote a play in the language of the people, and procured permission to have it acted before them, at once acquired a moral influence over the times, and gave a strength and edge to his satire, which, probably, neither the king, the clergy, nor the author himself contemplated. Had it been otherwise, it is difficult to believe that the prince or prelates would have suffered, or. any author have dared, the trial of such an experiment. Another singular feature, in this dramatic curiosity, is its extravagant length and tediousness. These are, certainly, such as to impress us with a high admiration of the patience of a feudal audience. "We may learn," says Chalmers, " from the length of the perusal of this production, that its exhibition must have consumed the live-long day; and, we are informed by Charteris the bookseller, who was himself present, that its representation, in 1554, before the Queen Regent, lasted 'fra nine hours aforenoon, till six hours at even.' And yet this is nothing to the extended representation of the English mysteries, during the persevering curiosity of feudal times." "In 1391," honest Stow tells us, "that a play was acted by the parish clerks of London, which continued three days together, the king, queen, and the nobles of the realm being present; and another was performed in 1409, which lasted eight dayes, containing matter from the creation of the world, whereat was present most of the nobility and gentry of England." The satire of the "Three Estates" is divided into three parts. Of these great divisions, the "Prudent people, I pray you all, The plot of the first part, if it deserves such a name, is extremely simple. King Humanity, with a disposition naturally easy and amiable, is seduced into evil and wicked courses by Flattery and Sen 1 two. suality, from which he is at last reclaimed by Divine Correction and Good Counsel. He then declares himself ready to redress all grievances and correct all abuses; for which end Diligence is ordered to summon the Three Estates of the Realm. "Here," says the stage direction," shall the messenger Diligence return, and crying, oyez, oyez, oyez, say thus:" "At the command of King Humanitie, I warne and charge all members of Parliament, That till his Grace they be obedient, And speid them to the court incontinent Wha beis absent, or inobedient, The king's displeasure they shall underlye. Since ye have heard the first part of our play, The second part opens with an attack upon the extreme severity with which the churchmen exacted their tithes, a poor mendicant appearing on the stage, and asking charity, with a miserable story of the oppression under which he had sunk. During the dialogue which takes place between the Pauper, Diligence, and a Pardoner, or retailer of the papal indulgences, the Three Estates of the Realm issue from the 66 palzeoun," or tent, in procession; but, to the horror and astonishment of the audience, they approach the king's presence, not in the usual fashion, with their faces turned towards the sovereign, but going 1 order. Correction inquires the cause of this backwards. strange procedure. Correctioun. 1 "My tender friends, I pray you, with my hart, Spiritualitie. Soverane, we have gain so this mony3 a year, Sit down, my lords, into your proper places, Sit down, Sir Scribe, and Dempster sit down, too, The sovereign now announces his readiness to redress all abuses, but is reproved for his hasty resolution by Spirituality, upon which, Correction, declaring his astonishment that such abominable counsel should proceed from these grave sages, orders Diligence to make open proclamation that every man who feels himself aggrieved should give in his bill, or come forward and tell his story: 66 Haste, Diligence, proclaim it is our will That every man opprest give in his bill.” No sooner is this invitation made public, than John the Commonweill comes dancing in upon the stage in the highest possible spirits, although rather sorrily clad; upon which, this homely dialogue ensues between him and Rex Humanitas : Rex Humanitas. "Show me thy name, gudeman, I thee command. Johne. Marry, Johne Commonweill of fair Scotland. Rex. The Commonweill has been amang his faes.1 Johne. Yes, sir, that gars the Commonweill want claes.2 Rex. What is the cause the Commonweill is crukit?3 Johne. Because the Commonweill has been o'erlukit.4 Rex. What gars thee look so with ane dreary heart? Because the three estates gang all backwart." A long catalogue of abuses is now presented by John, which it is impossible to analyze particularly, although, in some instances, they present a singular picture of the times. The pauper's description of the law's delay, in the Consistory Court, is excellent. He had brought an action for the recovery of damages against a neighbour, to whom he had lent his good grey mare: 66 Marry, I lent my mear to fetch hame coals, And he hir drownit in the quarry holes; And I ran to the Consistore to pleinzie,7 And there I happt amang ane greedy meinzie;8 |