The Dregy Of Dunbar also known as Dumbaris Dirige to the King is a humorous poem in Scots and Latin composed by William Dunbar. at an unknown date. The Dregy is apparently an appeal toJames IV of Scotland asking him to return to Edinburgh from an extended period of residence in Stirling in order to make life more pleasant for his courtiers. It takes the form of a parody of the Office of the Dead. This ritual was a prayer for the benefit of souls in Purgatory intended to help them into Heaven. Thus, Stirling is comically compared to purgatory and Edinburgh to Heaven. The unflattering comparison is continued by the poet throughout the work. Stirling is repeatedly depicted as being dull, austere and uncomfortable when compared to the sophisticated pleasures of the capital. The text is preserved in the Maitland Folio Manuscript and the Bannatyne Manuscript. In the latter it is subtitled Dumbaris dirige to the king bydand ouir lang in Stirling.
Synopsis
The Introduction
Out of pity, the courtiers of Edinburgh, 'here in heaven's glory' are writing to their fellows in Stirling 'where neither pleasure nor delight is'. The Stirling courtiers are addressed as if they were 'hermits and anchorites that combine penance with dining'. In addition to their meagre diet, they have no good company nor any entertainment. The people of Edinburgh declare that, in order to bring the Stirling folk out of their 'painfull purgatory', they will begin a Dirge to 'deliver them from their annoyance' and 'bring them soon to Edinburgh's joy to be merry among us'.
The Dregy
The dregy consists of three lessons and responses The pretence of being addressed to the whole court is abandoned. Subsequently, the language is ambiguous as to whether it is addressing the entire court or the king alone.
The first lesson prays that 'all the heavenly court divine' will deliver the court from the 'pain and woe' of Stirling unto the many virtues of the capital. The first response reinforces the message.
The Second Lesson and Response
The second lesson makes another appeal for deliverance for the courtiers of Stirling. Various senior heavenly figures are invoked. The fine foods and wines available in Edinburgh are then dwelt upon at length. The second response appeals to God and Saint Giles, a favourite saint of Edinburgh, to convey the Stirling court to 'solace and joy'.
The Third Lesson and Response
The third lesson appeals to all the saints. It is the longest and most elaborate of the three. The remaining pretence of being addressed to the whole court seems to end. Dunbar appears to be speaking directly to his king. Dunbar writes that he intends to visit Stirling, like Gabriel, to inform the inhabitants of 'purgatory' that their 'tribulation' was over, allowing them to pass to 'heaven'.. Sixteenth century. A final appeal is made to abandon 'penance and abstinence' and to return before the start of Christmas celebrations. The third response makes yet another dig at the 'hideous hell' of Stirling and its allegedly poor foods. The king is twice urged to 'cum hame'.
The Conclusion
The poem concludes with a mock Latin prayer. In a style reminiscent of the Goliards, its language echoes that of the Office of the Dead as well as that of the Lord's Prayer and the Requiem. Stirling continues to be vilified for its gloom when compared to Edinburgh. The translations given are those of the twentieth-century scholar of Dunbar, William Mackay Mackenzie.
Historical Context
After Edinburgh, Stirling was the residence most favoured by James IV. Stirling Castle underwent major building work during his reign. His mistress Margaret Drummond had resided at the castle in 1496 and, after Drummond's death in 1502 until 1508, their illegitimate daughter was raised there. The king spent regular Easter retreats at the burgh's Franciscan friary, which he had founded. Given that the Franciscans were famous for their frugal Mendicant conduct, it seems possible that the poem's many references to penance and abstinence are not entirely comical.
