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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Proclame, v. Also: proclaim(e, proclayme, proclamm-, proclamn-, procleme, procleam(e. P.p. also (Doug.) proclame. [ME and e.m.E. proclame (Gower), proclayme (c 1450), proclaim(e, L. prōclāmāre, F. proclamer (1549 in Hatz.-Darm.).] To proclaim.

1. tr. To make official announcement (of), also, to have officially announced, by public proclamation by word of mouth (some statement etc.); to promulgate officially (a written statement) by public reading.(1) 1451 Acts II 40/1.
Fra this new grote be strikin & proclamyt & a … day sett for the cours of it 1456 Hay I 162/10.
And quhen the weris ar jugit opinly tobe rychtwis and brokyn up and proclamyt betuix the twa realmes c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 564.
Philip the king Haid gart proclame ane generall iusting c 1476 Lennox Mun. 107.
That bref suld be proclamyt tyl a certane place or ellis it is nane availl 1490 Treas. Acc. I 173. 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 34. 1507 Edinb. Chart. 191.
Alhalow Fair … has bene in tymes bigane proclamit on Alhalow evin, and than began 1513 Doug. v xii 174. 1523 Treas. Acc. V 231. 1532 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS I 44.
Anentis crownis … quhilkis ar … nocht convenient to have passage for the avale that thai war proclamit 1533 Bell. Livy II 60/18. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1813 (Bann.).
Or I proclame ocht with my mowth But dowt I mon [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 144 b/42.
Gif to the courte thow makis repair And thow haif materis to proclame [: hame, schame, name] 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 202. 1555 Edinb. Hammermen 200 b.
The dekins & preuelegis wes solempnitle proclamit with sond of trumpettis & the heraldis with thar coit armouris 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II 237.
As … is contenit in the saidis letteres proclamit thairupoun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2130.
This was proclamit throw his kinrik and land Ib. 2122. 1565 Canongate Kirk S. MS 28 July.
The quhilk day the namis of the faythfull that be in the lyt of the elderis wes gewin wp … to be proclamit be the minister 1572 Irvine Mun. I 57. a1578 Pitsc. I 260/7.
Thair was a cry hard … proclamand as it had bene ane sowmondis Ib. 287/3.
Lord Home … proclamett the saidis bischopis bullis Ib. 260/16, II 118/14. 1600 Elgin Rec. II 84.
That this daye … the actis maid anent the … watche … be proclamit be sound of the hand bell that nane pretend ignorance thairof 1610 Rep. Sir Arch. Grant Mun. 240.
The king was proclamet on the morne efter 1660 Banff Ann. I 143.(b) 1488 Lag Chart. 15.
We charge … yow sheriffis [and others] … ye mak the samyn be dewly proclaimit execute and servit in all poynts 1558-66 Knox II 152.
Quhilk persones ar publictly proclaimed in the audience of the haill kirk 1594 James VI in Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 101.
Proclaimed 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 98.
The actes against fugitives … which must be proclaimed at everie mercatcroce the first mercat day 1661 Lanark B. Rec. 186.
To the hereȝeld that cam to proclaime his majesteis commission ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 22.
The kings declaratione was proclaimed in the Scottish campe … by Sir James Balfour, Lyon heralde king of armes(c) 1585 Glasgow B. Rec. I 118.
[The council] hes … continewit the … statutis in the same … effect as thai ar maid, buikit and procleamit(2) 1537 Acts Sederunt (1790) i 30.
The kingis grace thinkis expedient that ane parliament be proclemit and haldin 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1778 (Bann.).
I counsale ȝow … Agane proclame the parliament Of all the thre estaitis a1578 Pitsc. I 52 head of ch.
Ane parliament proclaimit [infra, in marg.: proclamed] for forfaltting of the governour [etc.] Ib. II 114/3.
Proclammitt 1596 Dalr. I 290/19, II 171/4. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 29.
He … did proclayme a parliament to be haldin(3) 1498 Acta Conc. II 287.
That the justice airis … be haldin at the termes and dayis that thai ar proclamyt to, and … ordanis [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 171/3.
Ane parlieament was proclamnitt to the tent day of Junij Ib. 183/15.
Proclemit 1625 Glasgow B. Rec. I 345.
[The council] ordaines the hors rais to be proclemit to the xxv day of Maij(4) c1515 Asl. MS I 232/20.
The lord of ylis … tuke the kingis fermes … and proclamit all the gudis and the landis of the kingis in till his handis 1525 St. A. Formulare I 268.
To … procleme thame oppinlie and generalye cursit at this merket crois 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 33. a1578 Pitsc. II 129/6.
That the Dollphin might be crounit thairwitht and proclamitt [infra /30: proclammitt] King of Scotland Ib. 139/24.
Proclaimitt 1581–2 Waus Corr. 237.
For he may at this present proclame and sweir him selff beir man at every mercat croce 1674 Arbroath Old Doc. 11/2.
Wiliam Strachan hade caused proclaime through the toune salt … at [4 s. 4 d.] … the peck(5) 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 199.
That thai … proclame wappinschawingis to be haid(6) 1468 Smit Bronnen I ii 1019.
Thai haff proclamyt … at all the schypis pas to Scelande and los with ȝow in Medylburch 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 101.
That it be proclamyt that … he … that bringis … a man at the kingis horne … sal [etc.] 1535 Stewart 19824.
He desyrit than For to proclame that euirilk Scottis man … be his auctoritie, All out of Scotland exull maid to be Ib. 25271.
Incontinent [he] proclamit with ane cry That euerie man suld reddie be in hy Ib. 19830. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1745.
Sa on ane day he causit to proclame At his castell … Quha wald cum thair to tornay a1578 Pitsc. I 14/22.
Alexander Erle of Douglas … causit procleame publicklie that na man [etc.] c1650 Spalding II 227.
The hand bell sould go and proclame throw the toun who wes deid

b. To proclame (a contracted couple's) bandis or bannis (of marriage): see Bandis n. pl., Bannis n. pl. c. To proclame (a person, a couple, a person's name), as intending marriage; also const. with (the intended spouse). Appar. only Sc. 1597 in Moysie xxiv.
Mr. Thomas Hamiltone is contractit and proclamit with Colintons dochter 1637 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 44.
James Huntar and Janet Vright … gaif up thair names to be proclamed vpon promeiss of future mariage 1640 Mouswald Kirk S. MS 1 July.
That when parteis are to be proclaimed to be married that before proclamatione they shall [etc.] 1641 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 59.
Johne Henderson efter he haid satisfeit the kirk wes proclaimed with Janet Hostler 1650 Auchterhouse Ann. 106.
To inform you that James Fyffe … and Christian Wintoun … are proclaimed on three several Sabbath days in our church, and no impediment in the contrar, therefore they desire to be married 1658 Edinb. Kirk S. in Scot. Ant. XIII 36. 1661 Cramond Kirk S. 29 Dec.
The session … appoints the said Jon to be proclaimed 1662 S. Ronaldsay 37. 1665 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 65.
The said Robert alwayes recaving the kirk dwety … and alsoe the said Robert is to proclaime any persons within the said paroch in the band of matrymoney 1676 Cullen Kirk S. 9 April.
James Morison & Margaret Shepherd … being booked and proclaimed in order to marriage 1684 Bonckle Kirk S. 106.

2. In non-official contexts: To announce or assert in public; to publish, declare, noise abroad.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii 54 (Ch. & M.).
In euery province … Proclamit is thi name of excellence Ib. xli 14 (Bann.).
Be nevir he that lesing sall proclame Ib. xlviii 24.
The lork hes done the mirry day proclame 1513 Doug. i vii 75.
Quhat regioun in erd may fundyn be Quhar our mysforton is nocht fully proclame? Ib. xiii viii 74. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2513.
And weill I wait quhair my name was proclamit Vnto this hour for na caus was defamit a1585 Maitl. Q. xciv (4) 13. c1590 Fowler I 230/7.
Thir lipps, which lesings did proclame 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 107/14.
For what in barbarous leide I blocke and frames Thou learnedlie in Mineru's tongue proclames(2) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1367.
Thai will proclame that he is Crist our king 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1780.
Ane garitour … Proclamand loud that did thair hartis swidder, ‘Out on falsheid’(3) 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 21.
Proclamand ȝow the prince of poetry c1552 Id. Mon. 103.
Off rethorick heir I proclame thé quyte a1568 Bann. MS 286 b/20.
Bot oppinly thair lufe proclame Vane

3. To denounce publicly. Also intr., to proclame against id. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 24.
To gar me ryme … And throw all cuntreis and kinrikis thame proclame Ib. lxxv (O.U.P.) 67.
That na extortiounes be, proclame All fraud and schame 1596 Dalr. I 194/18.
Maximus … be a heralde of armes denounces weiris and proclaymes against Eugenie, except he forgyue al jniure … committed … against him