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Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount, (also spelled Lindsay) (c. 1490 – c. 1555) was a Scottish Lord Lyon and poet of the 16th century, whose works reflect the spirit of the Renaissance.

Contents [hide] 1 Biography 2 Literary works 3 Critical literature 4 Diplomatic duties 4.1 Mission of June 1531 4.2 Mission of March 1532 4.3 England 1535 4.4 Edinburgh 1540 4.5 England 1543 5 Longer poems 6 Other literature 7 See also 8 References 9 External links and editions 9.1 Early English Text Society edition

[edit]Biography

He was the son of David Lyndsay, second of the Mount (Fife), and of Garmylton, (Haddingtonshire) (d.circa. 1503). His place of birth and education are unknown, but it is thought that he attended the University of St Andrews, on the books of which appears an entry "Da Lindesay" for the session 1508-1509. He was engaged at court, first as an equerry, then as an "usher" to the future King James V of Scotland. In 1522 he married Janet Douglas, a court seamstress. His first heraldic appointment was as Snowdon Herald and in 1529 he was appointed Lord Lyon King of Arms, and knighted. He was engaged in diplomatic business (twice on embassies abroad—to the Netherlands and France), and was, in virtue of his heraldic office, a general master of ceremonies. He signed the only surviving letter from this time, "Dauid Lyndsay." His handwriting shows no trace of the italic forms used by those Scots who had finished their education abroad.^[1]

After the death of James V, in 1542, Lyndsay continued to sit in Parliament of Scotland as commissioner for Cupar, Fife; and in 1548 he was member of a mission to Denmark which obtained certain privileges for Scottish merchants. There is reason to believe that he died in or about 1555.

[edit]Literary works

Most of Lyndsay's literary work, by which he secured great reputation in his own day and by which he still lives, was writt