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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Secretar(e, Secretary, n. Also: secret(t)ar, -air(e, -our, secreit-, secriet-, secreat-, secrit(t)ar(e, secret(t)er, secriter, secratour, sacretar(e, -er, sacryter, sacrater, saycretar, secretarye, -ie, secrettarrie, secreatarie, secritarie, secrittarie, -arrie, secreterai, secreterrye, sekretory. [ME and e.m.E. secretaire (Gower), secretare (Caxton), secreatore (1530), secretore (1556), also secretorie (Trevisa), secretary(e (c1400), secretory (1465), -ie (1586), F. secrétaire personal secretary or amanuensis (14th c. in Larousse), med. L. secretarius confidential adviser, secretary (Latham).]

1. One who is or may be entrusted with the secrets of, or performs confidential services for, another; a confidant. Const. of or to the secrets entrusted. Also attrib.In some examples passing into, or not certainly distinguishable from, next sense.(a) 1456 Hay II 161/22.
It is nedefull and spedefull to thé [sc. Alexander the Great] till have a sufficiand and discrete man to be thy secretare and wryte thy secrete thingis, and geve ansueris be wrytt to thame that wrytis to thé 1549 Compl. 117/4.
Thou sal gif credence to this berar Artabasus, quha is my secretar and my speciale frend 1600 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxvi.
Think nathing althocht this berare onderstand of it for he is the speciall secretair of my lyf 1604-31 Craig ii 163.
He … leaues … both lines and lute behind Which I (the true secretar to his woes, And fellow of his fortuns) did foorth find 1619 Sel. Biog. I 79.
But he [sc. Rev. Patrick Simsone] was a faithfull secretar … so loving, peaceable, charitable and secret … [that] if he thought he should reveall any secret he would wish his tongue cutted out(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I 107/20.
[St. John] the nobile notare and hevinly sacretare of the Sone of God(c) 1594–5 Sc. Hist. Rev. XVI 142.
I have … coppied so much of that plotte … as did concerne my sonne … but I desyre it not to have any other secretaries then yourself 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Pref. A. 3.
The … gredie ambition of them, quha were called kirkmen … being secretaries to all kings and princes, be their auricular confession 1635 Dickson Wr. 25.
Let God be thy secretary in all 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 265.
The master delighted much in the minister of Kilmorack, Mr. William Fraser, whom he could not want, and was his sole secretary, to whom he communicated his whole mindattrib. 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 104.
Being a compleit master of mater and language nor did better know the secretary craft to get counsel out of others and keep them in himselfeb. 1490 Irland Mir. I 107/32.
Foure nobile, excellent wertuis, secretaris and wis counsalouris Merci, Verite, Justice and Pece 1490 Irland Mir. I 108/10.
Sacretaris 1490 Irland Mir. I 122/16.
The nobile and hevinly wertuis, his luffit dochteris and secretaris of his counsale c1590 Fowler I 162/6.
My thoughs … trewe secretars of my affections all c1590 Fowler I 279/147.
And thow my secretar, o bed, a bed eearewhile of restc. a1652 Dickson Psalms I (1653) 119.
To lay the worst of our thoughts single before the Lord … and not to the secretars to Satan, but to reveale our selves fully to God a1728 Sel. Biog. II 426.
In this I was indeed the devil's closet secreter, to my great prejudice and Satan's advantage

2. Passing into: A confidential servant, who is employed to write letters or draft documents for his master, and who may also be entrusted with his seals and signets; confidential and specially trusted clerk or scribe.Also, secretare in the Frenche toung.Also fig. and in reference to allegorical figures and characters in a morality play. 1380 Reg. Episc. Morav. 183.
[Willelmo de Camera clerico justiciarie domino nostri Regis secretario illius domini Alexandri … [sc. Stewart, Earl of Buchan] et sigillifero 1414 Liber Melros II 512.]
Et ego Jacobus de fauside prisbiter Sanctiandree … et … domini Archibaldi Comitis de Douglas … secretarius(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1866.
Vlixes the said quantite Of gold tuke & held on but mar To Pallamydes secretar c1450-2 Howlat 126 (A).
He [sc. the Pope] … Bad send for his secretar, and his sele sone c1450-2 Howlat 132 (A).
The Pape commandit but hone to wryte in all landis Be the said secretar that the sele ȝemyt 1456 Hay II 161/20.
How princis and lordis suld have discrete ande wys secretaris 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 344.
To Monsieur de Albaneis secretar, at his passage to France 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 413.
To Maister Johne Campbell for the Franche secretaris expens that come fra my Lords of Albany furth of France 1519–20 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 194. 1533 Boece 607b. 1537–8 M. Works Acc. I 199.
Resavit fra Schir Hew Curry secretar to my lord chancellar of the said taxt [etc.] 1550 Reg. Morton I 7.
Fra the handis of master Johne Bougomyn secretar to the Quenis grace dowriar of Scotland 1552 Treas. Acc. X 109.
Propinit to Bewdolphine, secretar, that come heir for the divisioun of the Debatable land … £80 1558 Treas. Acc. X 418.
To Secretar Rollat 1566 Crim. Trials I i 481.
[They] invaidit umquhile Secretar David Riccio … than … within hir hienes chalmer … and slew him 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 89/2.
The cruell murthure … of thair familiar servitoure and secretare David Riccio … committit within thair secrete chalmer of honoure c1590 Fowler II 148/16.
Antonus Venafro, secretar to Pandolpho Petrukci, Prince of Cienna a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 7.
Bot also laid violent hands upoun hir Italiane secretar … and thair murderest him 1622-6 Bisset I 41/6.
Thir presentis … maid under oure [sc. the king of France's] royall seill or dewlie collationate be ane of oure loyall or fideill notaris or secretaris 1641 Baillie I 319.
Strafford, in the midst of all the noise, was serious with his secretars, conferring their notes and wryting c1650 Spalding II 51.(b) c1590 Fowler II 71/2.
The Prince, off Nicolas Machiauelli, secretaire and citisen of Florence 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII 352.
It will pleis ȝour Ho: to excuis the informalitie and ewill wryte seing in this I will use no secretair and was forcit to wryte in greit haist(c) 1596 Dalr. II 287/11.
Dauid Panter is maid bishop quha was secreter to the Gouernour(d) 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III 16.
To consent to the murther of hir grace's secriter in hir majesteis presence a1578 Pitsc. II 187.
Seinȝeour Dauid the Italian secriter 1684 Bk. Old Edinb. C. IX 166.
Late secritare to the Duck of Lauderdaill(2) 1552 Treas. Acc. X 97.
To Theodore, secretare in the Frenche toung, in my lord of Ros absence(3) fig. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1707.
Syne cummis ver, quhen winter is away, The secretar off somer with his sell(4) personif. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii 1797.
Firme Constance is the kingis secretair And Liberalitie hecht his thesaurair 1540 Lynd. Sat. 874.
Heir I [sc. King Humanitie] mak thé [sc. Flatterie] my secretar, And thow [sc. Falset] sall be my thesawarar 1540 Lynd. Sat. 422.

b. The secretary of the Scottish sovereign; passing into the royal officer who, from some date in the later 15th c., had charge of the royal signets and was consequently responsible for writs passing the signet; also applied to his subordinates or deputes.See J. M. Thomson The Public Records of Scotland (1922) 66.Also principal secretar, secretar deput, secretare of state.For my lord secretar see Lord n. 28 and 28 (20).For further examples see the indexes to Acts XII, s.v. Secretary; Acta Conc. II, s.v. King's Secretary; Acta Conc. Public Aff. and Treas. Acc., s.v. Secretary. 1360 Exch. R. II 7.
[Coram … Roberto de Dunbretane, clerico, secretario domini regis 1542–3 Reg. Privy S. III 19/1.]
Magistri Henrici Balnavis de Halhill, faciendo eum secretarium domine regine et custodem omnium signetorum eiusdem pro omnibus diebus vite sue(1) 1460 Ayr Chart. 89.
George Liddale secretare til our soveran lord the king 1474 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 442.
The lordis ordanis the secretare to direct lettrez for the execucioun of this decrete 1477 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 200.
Archibald abbat of Halirudhous maister Archbald Quhitlaw secretar 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 122.
Maister Richard Murehede, Dene of Glasgw, Secretar to our soverane lord 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 387.
And that he pas til the secretar and tak his letters of ressat thairapone 1502 Acta Conc. III 177. 1506 Treas. Acc. III 283.
To the Secretar he laid doun to the kings offerand, … xiiij s. 1514 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 14.
The qwenis graice had writtin to his lordschip to remoife the secretar fra his office and to tak the signetis tharof fra him [etc] 1514 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 15. 1523 Treas. Acc. V 218.
With intimatioun that ilk ane of thame [sc. the burghs] suld certify the secretar of the noumer of thair hors 1528 Acta Conc. in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI 115. c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS 96a/21.
The secretar bayth war and wyse Hecht me ane kast of his offyse 1542–3 Reg. Privy S. III 7/2.
Ane lettir maid to Maister David Paintare … makand him secretare to the quenis grace, … and keipar of all hir signettis, … [etc.] 1546 Treas. Acc. IX 31.
Maister David Panther, secretar and ambassatour 1558 Treas. Acc. X 417.
To Williame Maitland of Lethingtoun, Ȝoungar, secretar, passand … to Londone and France in the quenis grace effaris … £765 1562 Reg. Privy S. V i 285/2.
Hir secretare, William Maitland 1563 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 38.
The Generall Assemblie … Williame Metland of Leithingtoun, secreitar 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 1.
The marriage … was devised, some think, be the Secretare of Scotland, Williame Maitland 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 37.
And made his harrange to the great god, the Secretare 1558-66 Knox II 361.
Robert Melven receaved ane horse to the secreatare's use 1573 Casket Lett. 118.
This deponer come to the secretares day of law, to assist his frend … according to the custume of Scotland 1587 Boyd Fam. P. No. 71 (22 July).
And that thai cum to our secretar or his deputtis keiparis of our signet 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV 167.
Schir Johnne Maitland of Thirlstane, knycht, his Majesteis secretare and vice-chancellair 1596 Dalr. II 448.
The Erles of Mortone and Glenkarne and Ledingtoune, quhom we cal the queines secretar 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 53.
It is statute gif anie resignation in time comming be made in the kings hands of any landis or tenements and ane new infeftment pas be the king tharevpon, the kings secretare sall wreit in the kings precept, to be direct to the chancellar, the names of them quha was present at the time of the making of the resignation in the kings presence 1615 Highland P. III 266.
Secrettar 1622–3 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 152.
For thrie new glas windowis put up in the auld secretaris turnepyk in my Lord Chancellaris ludgeing in Halyrudhous 1633 T. Hope Diary 3.
To the Erll Stirling Secretar c1650 Spalding II 295.
This Duke and his brother, the Erll of Lanerk, secretar in Scotland, and of the Scottis counsall at England c1650 Spalding II 295.
The committee of estaitis … gave ordour to … the Erll of Lyndesay … to mell with the Duke's estait [etc.] … and … with the dewis and commoditeis of the signet pertening to his brother as secretar a1651 Calderwood II 252.
Secretar Lethington began with an harang [etc.] 1694 Annandale Corr. 81.
Secretare Johnston will be found firm to him(b) 1535 Stewart 55892.
Expert he wes to dyte and wryte rycht fair, Thairfoir the king [sc. Robert II] maid him his secretair, And of his signet gaif him all the cuir 1579 Acts III 151/1.
That all the saidis missiues salbe subscriuit vndir the kingis subscriptioun be the secretair or his deput, or ellis not to be signet or closit with his hienes caschet 1585 Acts III 377/2.
That the secretair admonishe all his deputis and writtairis to the signet that [etc.] 1592 Acts III 563/1.
Secrettair 1596 James VI in Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxiii.
Secretaire I haue receauid youre lettir 1615 Highland P. III 212.
In presence of my Lord of Binning, secretair 1624 Melrose P. 576.
We, your maiesteis chancellair and secretair, had diuers meetingis with the Earle of Nithisdaill 1694 Annandale Corr. 82.
Al at present he [sc. the king] can be persuaded to is to order Secretair Johnstoun to writ to your lordship(c) a1578 Pitsc. II 308/3.
Secretter 1622-6 Bisset I 241.
And uthiris wreittis first called the secreteris registere 1636 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 263.
William Erle of Stirline our secreter 1643–4 Aberd. Acc. in Misc. Spald. C. V 107.
Secreter(d) 1558-66 Knox II 406.
I began … to ressoun with the Secratour 1558-66 Knox II 423.
The Maister of Maxwell, Secretour Lethingtoun, [etc.](e) a1578 Pitsc. I 334/8.
The king [sc. James V] … changit money of his offieceris that is to say, thesawrar, comtrollar, secrietar, and Maister houshald a1578 Pitsc. II 252/14.
Secrittar 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI 545.
We understanding … that our secritar hes na allowance nor fie appointit to him for his panes and service 1609 Colquhoun Chart. 215.
Ȝour maiestie secritar 1600-1610 Melvill 645.
Hay, the Scotisch Secreatere(f) 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 182.
The sacreteris sarwand 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 183.
I traist the sacryter hes menyt in hys syfeyris writin to the beschop of Dunkell that this Frenche man … will dyssyr [etc.] 1604 Stewart Mem. 113.
That thai cum to our sacretar … and resaue our vther letrez for thair ressait and ward within our said castell(g) 1558-66 Knox II 331.
And with hir … war the Lord James, the Erle of Mortoun, Secreatarie Lethingtoun 1558-66 Knox II 459.
I [sc. Lethington] … being ane subject, and the quenis majesties secretarie 1558-66 Knox II 343, etc.. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 2.
With the advyse of the ducke, Lord Heareis and Secretarie c1580 Q. Mary in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 9.
I hard, be my secreterai, your fethful good will and keer touards me 1587 Gray Lett. & P. 148.
He pretended to have slaine the Lord Secretarye, wherby the Court might have bene changed 1622 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 122.
Rather then the secreterryes plaices shuld fall in unfrinds hands 1693 Annandale Corr. 64.
Secrettarrie 1693 Annandale Corr. 65. 1695 Annandale Corr. 102.
Secritarrie Johnston is appointed to attend the morous morning(2) ?1538 Misc. Spald. C. II 192.
Maister Thomas Erskyne … our principal secretair 1570 Treas. Acc. XII 212.
Williame Maitland … of Lethingtoun … the principale secretar, to … use his office within aucht dayis … quhilk aucht dayis being bipast and he nocht comperand salbe dischairgeit of his office of secretarie(b) 1660 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I 84.
To the right honourable the Earl of Lauderdale, secretary of estate to his majesty 1695 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 249.
Esquyre Johnstoune principall Secretary of State produced a lyne from the Master of Stair's the other principall Secretary to him in answer to a lyne he wrott … anent the stamps for the mint house(3) 1594–5 Misc. New Spald. C. I 86.
David Moysie, Secretar Deput to His Maiestie 1600-1610 Melvill 38.
Mr. Thomas [Melvill] … Secretar-deput of Scotland(4) c1690 Bk. Pasquils 187.
He … swore That his hand wrytting sould turn God's hous o're, Which merite made him secretare of state

c. A, or the, Secretary of State of England.(1) 1536 Douglas Corr. 144.
That ȝe wyll desyr the kyngis grace, and my Lord of Norchtwolk, and the sacrater, to byd him speyk in that mater ?1544 Bk. Carlaverock II 30.
To the rycht worssehepfull master Paget, saycretar to the kingis he maisstye 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 244.
I have send you heirin inclosit ane pacquet direct to Mr. Secretaire Cecill 1568 Reg. Morton I 37.
The Erle of Harford … suld marie secretar Cecillis dochthir c1590 Fowler I 307/4.
The vntymly death of Sir Frances Walsynghame, knight, her maiesties secretair 1603 Moysie 47.
Ane Inglische ambassadour in Scotland, namit Sir Francis Welchinghame the queinis secretare 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 155.
How necessar it is … that they have the kyndnes and freindship of the secretars of state 1698 Annandale Corr. 147.
Secritaris(b) 1562 Lennox Mun. 433.
Schir Wyllam Cycell, … chefe sekretory to the quenes maiesty 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 372.
Good mester sekretory [sc. Cecil] 1583 Misc. Bann. C. I 82.
That the said Secretarie [sc. Walsingham] be ane gude instrument in halding forward the treatie 1586-7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 69. 1586 Gray Lett. & P. 140 Secretaer; 1586 Gray Lett. & P. 142.
Secretarie to the Qwins Maiestie of Inglande 1590 Cal. Sc. P. X 278.
These soroufull newis of the deathe of Mr. Secretarie, that hes greved me verie far 1596 Gray Lett. & P. 184.
Secretairie 1649 Fraser Sir-Name of Baird 81.
That the Secretaries of England are turned to a confusion among themselves(2) 1692 Conv. Burghs IV 155.
The convention revives all acts of former conventions in relation to the said pension, and that in favores of the two principall secretars of state