The 3 Estaites

by David Lyndsay, Alan Spence (Editor), Angus Calder

The 3 Estaites is - by common consent - Scotland's greatest play. First performed in Cupar, Fife in June 1552, it is the earliest Scottish play to have survived. Full of broad humour and pantomime-like farce, it also deals with dangerous topical issues, hitting out at corruption and hypocrisy in the ruling establishment, denouncing the oppression of the poor and calling for social 'reformation'. A young king is rescued from idle sexual dalliance and false counsels by Divine Correction and they preside over a Parliament summoned to enact just laws, where basic Christian tenets and values are affirmed - but Folly has the last word.

In 2000 The 3 Estaites gained a fresh resonance when it celebrated both the Millennium and the rebirth of Scotland's Parliament by returning to Cupar for the first time in nearly four and a half centuries. This contemporary Scots version by the leading poet and playwright Alan Spence retains the structure and spirit of Lindsay's script while giving his language a new lease of life.

Genres: Drama, History, Plays

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1552

About the author

Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount, (also spelled Lindsay) (c.1490 – c.1555) was a Scottish officer of arms, poet (Makar) and dramatist, whose works reflect the spirit of the Renaissance.

He attended the University of St. Andrews and was subsequently engaged as a courtier in the Royal Household; first as an equerry, then as an usher (assistant to a head-tutor) to the future King James V of Scotland. His first heraldic appointment was as Snowdon Herald and in 1529 he was appointed Lord Lyon King of Arms, and knighted. After the death of James V, in 1542, he continued to sit in Parliament of Scotland as commissioner for Cupar, Fife; and in 1548 he was member of a mission to Denmark which obtained privileges for Scottish merchants.

Lyndsay's Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis is of great historical interest, being the only extant example of a complete Scottish morality play.

Reviews

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

not 100 percent in english (heavy early modern scots) and i think that probably colored my appreciation of it -- both making it zanier/cooler and also sandblasting away the boring parts that i skipped because i wasn't sure what was happening. this is a satire, like it says, about king/church/nobles and what just government under the eyes of god might look like. but it's also filthy and frank and legitimately hilarious, in the vein of aristophanes. clearly has one ear to erasmus, another to the blank archetypes of morality plays, but has its very own plumb line of kidding-but-not really. it's basically a (very long) (very good) "mr show" skit from mid 16th century scotland. probably not for everyone to read but it's worth dipping into just to realize that the past contains hilarious weirdos and broken-glass satirical Truth.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot more from the introduction to this volume than I would have understood by reading the play directly. I’ll be honest, I struggled with this one. I can appreciate that it is a classic…as such it should be read. Read the introduction first though.

See my other reviews here!

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

The play is a fine late medieval/early Renaissance allegory, doing (I'm sure) a number of fascinating things (as the intro assures me). However, it is written in 16th century Scots, which is very difficult for me as a reader of contemporary English to fully come to grips with. There is depth and complexity, but the language makes it hard to really appreciate it.

[annika]

GIVE ME BACK MY GROAT OR I WILL THRASH YOU