A complete version of the play was printed by Robert Charteris as, Ane (Pleasant) Satyre of the Thrie Estaits, in Commendation of Vertew and Vituperation of Vyce, Edinburgh (1602).

The key characters are: King Humanity, Divine Correction, Sensuality, Spirituality, Temporality, Gude Counsel and Chastity.

For instance Lady Chastitie, who is homeless since the church in Scotland is not as it was meant to be, begs for shelter from Spiritualitie, Temporalitie and finally the People but is rejected in each case.

After the execution of the vices and a rousing speech by Folie, Diligence closes the play and advises the audience to go their ways and enjoy their time.

[3] The critic John MacQueen proposed the play might have been composed by Lindsay as early as 1532 for the court of the young James V of Scotland.

[4] An early form of the play is recorded in the royal treasurer's accounts and an English agent's report to Thomas Cromwell.

[7] Eure, a Border Warden and Privy Councillor, had spoken to Sir Thomas Bellenden at Coldstream, who described the performance at Linlithgow Palace before James, his wife Mary of Guise and his bishops and council on the feast of the Epiphany.

Bellenden said after the play the King spoke to the churchmen in the audience asking them to reform their factions and manner of living, otherwise he would send six of them into England to his uncle, Henry VIII.

[12] This has three sections of comic drama as a foretaste of the Satire; the Cotter and his wife, Bessy and the Auld Man, and Fynlaw of the Foot Band, introduced by the 'Nuncius' and linked by the Fool.

William MacDowall with six carpenters built a stage of boards, a seat for Mary of Guise and the French ambassador Henri Cleutin, and a 'Convoy House', at the Greenside playfield, with the gallows, 'jebbettis,' used in the final scene.

The printer Henry Charteris mentioned the Edinburgh performance in his introduction to Lindsay's Warkis (1568), saying how the clergy were surprised by the play and considered taking revenge.

"[17] The play's first complete modern production occurred on August 24, 1948, at the Edinburgh International Festival, with a modernised text by Robert Kemp, directed by Tyrone Guthrie, costumes designed by Molly MacEwen, and featuring Stanley Baxter.

[20] In 1982 the play was staged again at the Assembly Hall as a Festival production with the collaboration of the Scottish Theatre Company under the direction of Tom Fleming.

[21][22] Mary McCluskey directed a performance by young people in July 1996 as part of Scottish Youth Theatre's Summer Festival.

The script was translated into modern Scots by Fiona McGarry, and the play was performed in the round in The Cottier Theatre, Glasgow, with an original score.

A new performance at Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle based on the story of the 1540 interlude took place in 2013 using a cast drawn from stage and screen.

In this extract Diligence meets the Pauper, who begins his complaint, including the practice of the parish priest claiming livestock at funerals which was mentioned in the 1540 interlude, (Lines 1954–2028);[25] DILIGENCE:Swyith begger bogill, haist the away, Thow art over pert to spill our play.PAUPER:I wil not gif for al ȝour play worth an sowis fart, For thair is richt lytill play at my hungrie hart.DILIGENCE: Quhat Devill ails this cruckit carle?PAUPER:Marie Meikill sorrow : I can not get, thocht I gasp, to beg, nor to borrowDILIGENCE: Quhair deuill is this thou dwels or quhats thy intent?PAUPER: I dwell into Lawthiane ane myle fra Tranent.DILIGENCE: Quhair wald thou be, carle, the suth to me shaw?PAUPER: Sir, evin to Sanct-Androes for to seik law.DILIGENCE: For to seik law in Edinburgh was the neirest way.PAUPER:Sir I socht law thair this monie deir day; Bot I culd get nane at sessioun nor Seinȝe : Thairfoir the mekill dum Deuill droun all the meinȝe.DILIGENCE:Shaw me thy mater, man, with al the circumstances, How that thou hes happinit on thir vnhappie chances.PAUPER:Gude-man will ȝe gif me ȝour Charitie, And I sall declair how the black veritie.

Then meg my wife did murne both evin & morrow Till at the last scho deit for verrie sorow : And quhen the Vickar hard tell my wyfe was dead, The third cow he cleikit be the head.

Quhen all was gaine, I micht mak na debeat, Bot with my bairns past for till beg my meat.

Now haue I tald ȝow the black veritie, How I am brocht into this miserie.DILIGENCE: How did the person, was he not thy gude friend?PAUPER:The devil stick him, he curst me for my teind, And halds me ȝit vnder that same proces, That gart me want the Sacrament at Pasche.

Behauld sum Prelats of this Regioun: Manifestlie during thair lustie lyvfis, Thay swyfe Ladies, Madinis and vther mens wyfis.