Andrew Melville (1545-1622): Writings, Reception, and Reputation

In another case, Reid, in his article on the law of kingship as understood by Melville, examines the Stephaniskion, which was produced upon the occasion of the coronation of Anne as queen in Scotland in 1590. The 315-line poem is based upon a biblical verse in Proverbs dealing with the duty of a king which Reid argues is the underpinning of Melville's idea "that the king should work for the good of the church and that he degenerated into tyranny whenever he deviated from this" (50). In this same article, Williamson shows that during the early reign of James, Melville, before his imprisonment, viewed Elizabeth I as a reformer and a ruler of one of the 'britians,' as is shown in some of his poetry of 1603- In another example of political representation, Reid's opening question in his article on the law of kingship asks what Melville thought of James VI. [...]this volume contributes much to the overall understanding of Melville as a man and a poet, even if 'what is emerging is a life of under-achievement" (10).