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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Spering, Speiring, vbl. n. Also: speryng(e, -inge, speirring, speering, spearing, spyryng. [North. ME spiring (Cursor M.), speryng (c1400), spirring (c1440); Sper(e v.]

1. The action of asking or inquiring in senses 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13 of the verb.(1) 1375 Barb. iii 568.
The King, Quhen he had lewyt hys speryng … went … towart the se 1375 Barb. xvi 24.
Quhen the king left had the spering [C. had left spering] Hys charge to the gud king tauld he [sc. that he should go to Ireland] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1293 (C).
But I throw spering [D. speryng] besely Fond [etc.] 1552–3 Reg. Privy C. I 137.
Anent the spering, fyling, swering, and delivering of every wrang sen the peax bigane ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court (1821) 16.
[Baillie] … I am thick of hearing. [Chamberlain] Sir, you may mend it by a double speering(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 14.
The word of God not only spyryng it and speiking of it, bot to do thair efter in deid(3) 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI 469.
For the speiring and trying of the quhilkis guidis [pursuer gave 130 merks of] saw silver 1678 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 95.
Elspett Scot gave in hir complaint that some persones wes owing to hir, David Dalrymple gave his solempne oath that on Fryday night he countit with hir and wes payed bot onlie of the Saturdayes speirring(4) 1676 Inverness Rec. II 265.
Ther ar sewerall persons … stollen in quyetlie to this burghe, and haue tacken up ther lodging and dwellings as constant residenters not so much as speiring leawe or attolerance from the magistrats a1700 Haigs of Bemersyde 477.
They cam to fish without speiring her leave — 1584 Melvill 187.
Heirby is the libertie of God's Sprit bund in the mouthes of the preachours, the gift … of cutting and devyding of the Word aright, and applying till everie an thair part, as they haiff neid, without spearing of the graittest because of graittest neid(5) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 151b.
Quhere they haue ane doubt, that the presentation of the gudes, quhilk sould be custumed, is not sufficient; they search not … either be quiet and secret demanding and speiring of the people … bot suffers sic thinges to passe by(6) 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 53/11.
Because the ground of this conference of ours, proceeded of your speering at me … if there was such a thing as witches or spirites … I … haue framed my whole discours, only to proue that such things are and may be(7) 1600 Crim. Trials II 295.
The … duik making speiring for him, at the common people about the ȝetis, and porteris thairof, hard that he was not ȝit cum furth — a1400 Leg. S. xviii 163.
Ilkane lufyt as hym lyste But sperynge ane of ony vthyre Al-sat he vare his awne bruthir(8) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 615.
Hou lyk this man is in althing Til hym of quham we mak spering c1460 Consail Vys Man 307.
Thar is ful few fulys … A bag of gold gif at thai fand, And … of it hard na speringe … wald gar in merket cry To sper quhay tynt it opinly(9) 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 157/1.
Inglismen … frequentis marcattis … and usis thame selffis … onleifullie … speciallie be spering and sercheing out of secreitis and taking of inspectioun of sindrie strenthis … quhilk is nocht permittit to oure soveranis subjectis within the realme of Ingland 1623 Crim. Trials III 548.
Becaus his towng was the instrument quhairby, as thay alleged, he offendit, in speiring out of the former stowin goodis, thay … tooke his toung out 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS 5.
To Robert Baiten merchand for to go to Air for speiring out of Mr. James Haughtoun £5 6 s.

2. Information obtained by inquiry. 1375 Barb. v 490.
He … lay still in the castell than Till he gat speryng that a man Off Carrick … Wes to the king Robert mast preue