Note 542 — Chapter XXIV · PLAYERS OF INTERLUDES

Leland, Collectanea (ed. Hearne), iv. 265. The computi of James IV (L. H. T. Accts. ii. 131, 387; iii. 361) contain entries for plays before him by ‘gysaris’ including one at this wedding; but there is no evidence of a regular royal company at the Scottish court. In 1488 occurs a payment to ‘Patrik Johnson and the playaris of Lythgow that playt to the King,’ and in 1489 one to ‘Patrick Johnson and his fallowis that playt a play to the kyng in Lythqow.’ This Johnson or Johnstone, celebrated in Dunbar’s Lament for the Makaris, seems to have held some post, possibly as a minstrel, at court (L. H. T. Accts. i. c, cxcviii, ccxliv, 91, 118; ii. 131; Dunbar, Poems (ed. S. T. S.), i. ccxxxvii).