(Sir James), a Scottish poet who flourished towards the middle of the 16th century. According to Mackenzie, he was descended from an ancient family in Fifehire, where he was born in the reign of James IV. He was educated at St Andrew's, went to Paris, and returned in the minority of James V. into whose favour he ingratiated himself by his poetry, having written sundry tragedies and comedies, and other poems, that were much applauded by good judges. He joined the French faction against the English; and, in some skirmishes preceding the fatal battle of Pinkie, so distinguished himself, that he was knighted on the field. After the loss of that day, he retired into Fife, and amused himself with his favourite studies; and in 1548 published at St Andrew's his noted Complaint of Scotland.* This is a well-written work for the time; and shows abundance of learning. He appears from it to have read much both in Greek and Latin authors, to have been well-skilled in mathematics and philosophy, and to have been a great lover of his country. Unpublished and in MS. (says Mackenzie) are Poems, consisting of Songs, Ballads, Plays, and Farces. He died at Culross in 1554.