Illness in literature: an example in Middle Scots

Few poets have written on medical topics, but one who did was William Dunbar, an eighteenth century Scots poet who wrote of his headache. His headache was severe enough to confine him to his house, and may have been migraine, but this remains uncertain. Scotland's king at that time was James IV who was well-educated and interested in medicine. He awarded Dunbar a salary, probably as secretary in his household, which may reflect his general …