Evidence of Royal Scots

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  • Intro

    This poetic version of the Lord's Prayer was written by the young James VI of Scotland who later also assumed the throne of England. He found it perfectly natural to write and speak in Scots dialect. This might have surprised the Royal Court when he arrived in London in 1603.

     

     

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    The King’s use in line seven of the word ilk (each) and in line 12 of aye (ever) is typical of Scots (and northern English) at this time. Distinctive spellings, such as in line one michtie (mighty) and in line 12 nou (now), suggest pronunciations still heard in Scotland.

     

    James VI of Scotland, 'The Lord’s Prayer', 1580s.

    Shelfmark: Royal.MS.18.B.xvi, ff.43v–44.

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