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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Clergy, -gie, Clargie, n. Also: clergé, clergi, -gye; clargé, -gye, clairg(i)e. [ME. clergy (clargy), clergie (a 1225), OF. clergie, clargie.]

1. Clerkly knowledge, learning, science. 1375 Barb. iv. 689.
Thai, throu thair gret clergy, … makis … fanding Of thingis to cum to haf knawing Ib. 723.
Throu craft of clergy [E. science of clergi] a1400 Leg. S. xl. 130.
Thane trawalit he besyli, Til he in knavlege of clergy, That nedful wes, wes wise inuch c1420 Wynt. v. 2646.
He leryd hyr off mynystralsy, And off all clerenes off clergy Ib. 4442.
Schyr Leoys … The modyr at scule held off clergy 1456 Hay II. 17/30.
Thare is sa mony sculis … of sciencis of clergy Ib. 106/33.
To prouffit in science and to cum to perfectioun of clergy a1500 Henr. Fab. 990.
The uolf is … mair cunning in clergie fer then I a1500 Prestis of Peblis 40.
To gret clergy [Ch. clargie] I can nocht compt nor clame c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 62.
Quytclame clergie, and cleik to thé ane club Ib. lxxxiv. 31.
Arrestotlis clergie, Sampsonis strength and force 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8359.
Him to instruct and for to leir clergie, Of cunning men that clergie had perqueir 1573 Sat. P. xlii. 18.
The tane of thame appeirit to be Ane cunning clerk of greit clergie a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 863.
Sir, for ȝour clergie to be kend, Tak ȝe twa asses eirs

2. The body of, or a number of, clerics.(a) a1400 Leg. S. x. 441.
The clergy com … , & sobryt tham, that nere woud was 1398 Acts I. 574/1.
That it ryn nocht to the clergy in preiudice in tyme to cum c1420 Wynt. v. 3357.
For hys oppynnyown the clergy Gert hym be sowmownd Ib. vii. 870.
The byschape … Ressayvyd the kyng … , Rewestyd welle wyth hys clergy 1456 Hay I. 18/34.
The quhilk gert call a grete counsale generale of clergy in Rome c1475 Wall. xi. 1312.
King Eduuard than cummandyt his clergé, And said [etc.] a1500 Prestis of Peblis 352.
Than to his clergy come this noble king, Of his questioun to heir the assolȝeing c1500-c1512 Dunb. x. 25.
All clergy do to him inclyne, And bow vnto that barne benyng 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 164.
The ornate oratouris … Boith of the clergy, toun, and counselouris 1562-3 Winȝet I. 64/3.
Of the inferiour ordour of clergy [v.r. clargye] and layitmen 1570 Leslie 178.
He … wes weill treated be the clergie(b) 1536 Douglas Corr. 144.
The Kingis charge … bydand the clarge gyff owr the crospresandis and the owmest claytht 1558-66 Knox I. 99.
For the parte of the clargie, Hay, Dene of Restalrige, and certane old boses with him 1570 Leslie 277.
The clarge having spirituall … jurisdictioune a1578 Pitsc. I. 308/6.
Bischope James Bettoun witht … money of the clairge of Scottland Ib. II. 52/1.
The cardinall and his bischopis witht the rest of his clairgie 1596 Dalr. II. 397/26.
The clargie in gret number compeiret to the counsel Ib. 402/17.
Certane vtheris baith of the gentlemen and clairgie 1622-6 Bisset I. 65/20.
King Edgare … wrait to the clargie of Ingland certane constitutionis of lawes 1660 Bk. Carlaverock II. 150.
I could get a burthen of testificats from the clargie

3. The ecclesiastical state or profession. 1456 Hay II. 20/1.
As clergy was nocht ordanyt to be agayn the ordre of knychthede, bot to honour it Ib. 5.
The haly ordre and office of clergy