Vernacular Literary Culture in Lowland Scotland, 1680-1750
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Vernacular Literary Culture in Lowland Scotland, 1680-1750. George M. Brunsden. Submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of Glasgow, For the Degree of Ph.D. October, 1998. Research conducted in conjunction with the Department of Scottish History, University of Glasgow. © George M. Brunsden, 1998. ProQuest Number: 13818609 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 13818609 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 GLASGOW UNIVERSITY jJPDLPV i'34ol |rofa ' Abstract Vernacular Literary Culture in Lowland Scotland, 1680-1750. This thesis examines literature that because of the frequency of its printing, and social relevance, might be called prevalent examples of a tradition. The strength of these traditions over time, and the way in which they reflect values of Lowland Scottish society are also examined. Vernacular literary tradition faced a period of crisis during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and its survival seemed uncertain. Its vitality, however, was reaffirmed mainly because it was able to evolve. The actions of several key individuals were instrumental in its maintenance, but ultimately, it was the strength of the traditions themselves which proved to be most influential. Examined are such innovative new works as Allan Ramsay’s elegies done in the vein of Francis Sempill’s “Habbie Simson,” as well as old standards like Blind Harry’s Wallace and The Prophecy o f Thomas the Rhymer. Also dealt with are popular almanacs, as one of the most prevalent examples of Scottish chap-book literature in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Works exemplifying the carnival experience, such as “Peblis to the Play” are investigated in conjunction with a look at Scottish popular culture. In all instances, the analysis of these works is undertaken with an agenda of understanding the ways in which they reflect contemporary society and politics. Works of a strictly devotional nature are not examined, largely because the Scots vernacular revival was not consumed with a desire to proselytise. However, the ways in which current religious practice and government affected common culture, as reflected in vernacular literature, is illustrated. Here, such pieces as Ramsay’s “Marrow Ballad” and “John Cowper, Kirk treasurer’s Man” find their relevance. Literary and cultural movements standing in opposition to the vernacular revival receive attention here, the chief being the so-called “improvement movement” which dictated that social elevation, and the reading and speaking of standard English went hand in hand. How early eighteenth century vemacularists like Ramsay, and others, came to terms with this philosophy are examined, as are some of the relevant literary forms themselves. But it is demonstrated that even some of these writings, rendered in standard poetic English, paid tribute to Scots tradition. The over-riding theme of this thesis is the progressive nature of the vernacular revival, which built upon the literary traditions of the past, but evolved to suit present conditions. Thus, as this thesis demonstrates, old and established works are given new words and themes. In some cases, the stories remain the same, such as in the case of the Wallace and the Bruce, but the language is updated to accommodate a new audience comprised of readers of English. This thesis charts the course of the shift from literary Scots towards a new “Anglo-Scots” in the works of Blind Harry and John Barbour, as well as the way in which the literary cult started by them provided the material necessary to help fan the flames of eighteenth century Scottish nationalism, one expression of such being Jacobitism. Finally, this thesis suggests some of the ways in which these early efforts at redefining native literary culture helped inspire later vemacularists such as Robert Fergusson and Robert Bums. A line thus was drawn between the literature of the medieval and renaissance eras, and that of the modem age. The mid point of this line was the period concentrated upon by this thesis, a critical stage in the development of Scots literary culture. i Table of Contents Acknowledgements. Page: ii. List of Abbreviations. Page: iv. Introduction, “Scotland, 1680-1750.” Page: 1. Chapter 1, “Prelude to a New Scots Literary Language.” Page: 9. Chapter 2, “Manufacturing a New Scots.” Page: 50. Chapter 3, “Festivity, Popular Culture, and Patterns Page: 111 of Control: Scots Poems of Conviviality.” Chapter 4, “The Images of Wallace and the Bruce: Page: 172 Popular and Literate perceptions of the Hero In Early Modem Scotland.” Chapter 5, “Almanacs and Prophetic Observations: Page: 260 the Politics and Sociability of Popular Predictions.” Conclusions, “The Continuity of Scots Vernacular Culture.” Page: 320 Appendices. Page: 327 Bibliography. Page: 367 Acknowledgements In the many years I have undertaken Scottish historical and cultural studies at the university level, both in Scotland and in Canada, almost invariably I have found myself under the direct tutelage of Professor Edward J. Cowan. To no small degree, I think it was really because of Ted’s continued encouragement, that I was able to find the inspiration needed to spend nearly ten years studying Scottish culture, culminating with the writing of this thesis. His continued level of professional supervision, and substantial level of knowledge concerning a broad spectrum of topics, always proved invaluable when it came to undertaking the monumental task of writing a doctoral thesis on this subject. Yet to Ted’s credit, he was never opposed to allowing his student the freedom to experiment, in an effort to find his own niche within the truly huge topic of the culture of early modem Scotland. These few words only begin to express my truest gratitude for his help and guidance. I must also express a heartfelt thank-you to the entire lecturing staff in the departments of Scottish History and Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, as indeed, they all were receptive towards my inquiries, and lent their own unique expertise whenever asked for. Thus in particular I must acknowledge Dr David Brown, Dr Colin Kidd, Dr James Kirk, Dr Martin MacGregor, and Dr Christopher Whyte. I know that I have probably overlooked people, so to those, my apologies, and a general thank-you to them all. The importance of the continued support of my family back in Canada is something which could never be overlooked. Though I have said it to them innumerable times in the past, I still must express my thanks and deepest love to my father George William, my mother Elizabeth, and finally my brother Richard Todd. At those times when a person thinks himself alone in a task, a supportive family always is there to convince him otherwise. The intellectual and moral support needed to write a thesis is essential; so too is financial support. I thus must express my indebtedness to my funding bodies: both the University of Glasgow itself, for providing me with a postgraduate student scholarship, and the British Research Council, who absorbed the cost of my overseas Ill student fees. Without their generous financial support, the writing of this thesis would have been considerably more problematic, if not totally impossible. Finally, in a more general sense I must thank the entire University of Glasgow, and indeed the city of Glasgow itself. As a Canadian of partial Scottish heritage (Which I owe to my deceased paternal grandmother, Margaret McDowall), I was never made to think of myself as a foreigner, but rather, a person who has come back to create a second home, for himself. Over the course of approximately four years, I have made numerous friends both within the bounds of the University, the city of Glasgow itself, and indeed, even the surrounding area. These attachments are the sort I could never turn my back on, and will remain with me for the rest of my life. List of Abbreviations The following abbreviations were used consistently throughout the text, notes and citations, and bibliographical lists in this thesis. APS Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland. AUP Aberdeen University Press. EETS Early English Text Society. ESTC English Short Title Catalogue (CD-ROM) EUP Edinburgh University Press. GUL Spec. Coll. Glasgow University Library, Special Collections. HMSO Her (His) Majesty’s Stationary Office. Mitchell Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Scottish Literature Collection. NLS National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh. OUP Oxford University Press. RSCHS Records of the Scottish Church History Society SHR Scottish Historical Review. SHS Scottish History Society. STS Scottish Text Society. 1 Introduction “Scotland, 1680-1750” 2 The key concern of this thesis is the durability of Scottish tradition, how it faced transition, and how it interacted with its host society. The tradition under examination is Lowland vernacular literary culture, which does not appear to have been static during the period under investigation, and may have been sustainable largely because it was able to adapt in the face of certain political and social events. The thesis will suggest that the literary forms under discussion had predecessors in earlier times, while many survived beyond 1750. Perhaps there was never a total break from the past, yet the reality of the present also appears to have been a determining factor in shaping Lowland Scotland’s vernacular tradition. Examples representative of prevalent literary types, such as items known to have enjoyed wide circulation and/or to have reflected relevant contemporary themes, will be considered to give an account of the way in which they interacted with and impacted upon Lowland society.