Ideal Kingship and Political Advice in the Late Fifteenth-Century Lancelot of the Laik

Abstract: In one of the most commented-upon passages from the late fifteenth-century Scottish poem Lancelot of the Laik , King Arthur is given political advice by one of his closest friends, Amytans. His reflections do not appear to be limited to a theoretical sketch of ideal kingship, but rather extend to practical issues involving the ruling of the country and the pursuit of the common weal. This Scottish version of the Lancelot story appears to be a fairly close translation of a section of the French Vulgate Lancelot ; nevertheless, several adjustments and expansions can be detected. These numerous additions appear to have drawn not only on the speculum principis tradition, but also on a shared network of allusions to the political struggles that plagued Scotland throughout the late fifteenth century. This paper analyses King Arthur’s portrait in the light of Amytan’s advice, as well as of the troubled political context characterising late fifteenth-century Scotland in order to uncover possible allusions to the realms of James III and James IV.