Remonstrance to the King

Remonstrance to the King is a Scots poem of William Dunbar (born 1459 or 1460) composed in the early sixteenth century.

The Remonstrance is one of Dunbar's many appeals to his patron James IV of Scotland asking for personal advancement.

[1] In this particular case, the unseemly personal pleading is combined with more dignified subject matter; lavish praise and pointed criticism of the King's court is delivered in an open manner.

Due to its vivid description of the court of James IV, the work serves as a useful historical document.

He compares them to characters in the contemporary poem Colkelbie Sow and in a bitterly angry outburst declares that his heart almost bursts due to these abuses.

He insists that he is enduring penance and, If I was rewarded like the rest, he would be somewhat satisfied; his unhappiness would be lessened and he would overlook many of the faults that he observes.

In these final lines Dunbar seems to threaten to satirise his opponents in his poetry unless his complaints are addressed.

The Remonstrance appears to be a largely authentic description of the Kingdom of Scotland during the reign of James IV.

Several of Dunbar's observations agree with other sources: "Carvouris; carpentaris; Masounis lyand upon the land; Glasing wrichtis."

Under King James IV, regular payments were made to Irish clerics for reasons which are unclear.

A contemporary reader would be likely to see a parallel in Dunbar's own list of undesirable characters who "feasted" at the King's court.