We’ve all heard of Shakespeare, but how many of can tell the story of Sir David Lyndsay? Born in 1486 and brought up in and around Cupar, he is recognised as the author of Scotland’s very first play, first performed at Cupar’s Castlehill in June 1552.

In the first of our series on Sons of Cupar, we delve deeper to discover more …

Who was he …

Sir David Lyndsay was a famed Scottish knight, poet and herald.

He was born just outside Cupar – his home being at ‘The Mount’, the farm on the eastern slopes of Mount Hill recogniseable today by the Hopetoun Monument, the column erected in memory of John Hope, the 4^thEarl of Hopetoun.

Lyndsay is believed to have attended the University of St Andrews in 1508 before his extraordinary career took off. He was a courtier in the Royal Household – initially as an equerry and then assisting in the education of the future King James V of Scotland.

In 1522, he married Janet Douglas, a seamstress in the King’s court and seven years later was appointed Lord Lyon King of Arms.

Where did he go …

His appointment, knighthood and rise through the ranks soon saw him traveling – mainly on diplomatic business.

His travels took him to the Netherlands and to Brussels – where he spent seven weeks in the court of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor – as well as to France, helping in the wedding plans that would welcome James V’s French brides, Madelaine in 1537 and Mary in 1539. He also spent time in England – in London, Windsor and with King Henry VIII in Gloucestershire.

James V died in 1542: by then, Lyndsay was commissioner for Cupar and sat in the Scottish Parliament. During his time as a member, he traveled to Denmark on a trade mission. It is most likely that he set sail from Guardbridge, Cupar’s medieval sea-port just a few miles east of the town.

What made him famous …

In 1542, he produced the Lindsay of the Mount Roll containing hundreds of Scottish coats of arms. It forms the basis of the official Scots heraldic registry that is used to this day.

His extraordinary life gave him unique access to what were known as ‘the three estates’ – royalty, the clergy and merchants. He started writing about them all – and didn’t hold back in his criticism of each!

His most famous work – Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis – is a direct attack on ecclesiastical abuse and, as the only extant example of a complete Scottish morality, is of great historical interest.

Coat of arms of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, as illustrated in the Lindsay of the Mount Roll.

When …

First performed across more than six hours in his hometown of Cupar in 1552, ‘Thrie Estatis’  is packed with farce and content that is probably considered too coarse for today’s tastes! You can read more on the play by clicking on the image below to read our feature on the Blog.

Why is Lyndsay important …

As a ‘Son of Cupar’, Lyndsay is the first Cuparian for whom we have detailed knowledge of his life, work and travels. So much of his time was documented because of the circles in which he lived.

As a 16^th century Makar, he is a foundation stone of Scotland’s literary world and, because of the topics on which we chose to write, he shone a light on poverty, corruption and abuse in society. Increasingly, he is recognised as one of the foremost humanitarians – not only in Scotland but within the whole of Europe.

How can we discover more …

The guardian’s of Sir David’s legacy and memory is the local charity, Three Estates Cupar.

As shared on their web page: “Three Estates Cupar is a charity (SC048967) set up in 2019 with its founding trustees being the chairs of some longer-standing local organisations, to deliver the Old Scots Language elements of Cupar’s 2017 Interpretive Plan. Three Estates Cupar will celebrate the fact that Scotland’s first playwright, Sir David Lindsay, was a Cupar man, whose play, Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis, was first performed in Cupar in 1552. In addition, the charity will celebrate that Sir David’s cousin, Robert Lindsay, also a Cupar man, wrote the first history of Scotland in Old Scots – his Historie and Chronicles of Scotland 1436 to 1565.”

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