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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unfre, -frie, adj. Also: unfree, -frye, wnfree, -frie, onfre, -frie, (infre). [ME and e.m.E. vn-fre (c1320), unfree (Wyclif), onfree (1574); Fre adj.]

1. Of a person: That does not enjoy the rights of a freeman or burgess in a burgh; that does not have membership of a guild or incorporation. Also absol. and ellipt.(a) 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 8.
That al the communytie, alsweile vnfree as free men, be sworne to rise … in the defence of the toune 1482 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 41.
This statvte to be extendit of all maner of vnfre folkis 1483 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 48.
All vnfre hammermen baith buith-halderis and vtheris 1525–6 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 79.
The balyeis to excers ony [men] fre or unfre takand and resetand ony kynd of stuff cumand to the merkat … quhill it present the cros 1567 Acts III 41/2.
That na vnfre men … hant frequent or vse merchandice nor … saill in France, Flanderis [etc.] 1586 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 211.
The vnfrie stallangeris of the said burgh is set to James Tailȝefeir for ane yeir for the peyment of xxxvj s. viij d. 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 12.
Thair is ane greitt number of … caikbaxteris within this burgh quha ar all wemen and unfrie persouns 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V 274.
Dischairges all unmareit wemen and utheris desolat and unfrie persones without maisteris fra all topping and brewing of aill 1649 Conv. Burghs III 345.
Wnfree 1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II 312.
Thair are sindrie travellours … quha … does sell thair skinnes … to wnfrie persounes 1678 Fountainhall Decis. I 24.
The lawyers … craved that it might be found lawful for them to keep taylors, masons, or other craftsmen, tho' unfree within the burgh, to work their work in their own houses(b) 1557 Inverness Rec. I 14.
The absentes of the onfre browsteris, Manis McIllmichell [etc.] … jugit in admerciament 1551–83 Aberd. Baillie Ct. 11.
Johne Douquharis … being accusit … for bying of hyidis … being onfrie of his craft 1551–83 Aberd. Baillie Ct. 11b.
Convict … in selling of barkit leddir to extranear cordinaris dwelling to landwart and onfrie(c) 1584 Glasgow B. Rec. I 114.
Tucheing ordour taking with infre pakeris and pelarisabsol. and ellipt. 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 17.
At na freman, na onfre, sell onie pettis or bent 1512–13 Mill Mediæv. Plays 121.
Ordanit all fre & vnfre to loit and scot and pay thar part thairto 1590 Coll. Aberd. & B. 190.
The haill toun being lauchtfullie warnit … baytht frie and onfrie be the hand bell passing throw the haill rewis and streittis

2. Of a town, etc.: That does not enjoy the privileges of a free burgh; that is subject to restrictions on trade. 1510 Crim. Trials I i 67.
Geif thair be ony that pakis or pelis … outwith the hede-burghe, sik as Leithe and uther unfre portis and placis [etc.] 1585 Conv. Burghs I 203.
Ane pretendit gift impetratt be the … inhabitantis of the vnfrie tovnis of Anstruther [etc.] 1590 Conv. Burghs I 338.
That the … vnfrye tovnis … be warnit to compeir and produce thair richtis of thair apropriating of the liberty of frie burrowes 1599 Conv. Burghs II 52.
The merkettis and fairis hantit and keipit at the vnfre clauchan of Menygolff 1658 Conv. Burghs III 472.
[The complaint that Glasgow] does cellar thair salt in wnfree places 1669 Conv. Burghs III 615.
The petitioners caice … is of generall concernement to all the royall borrowes in vindicating ther priviledges against burghes of regalitie, barronie, villagies, clachine touns and other wnfree places

3. Of goods: Not free of duty or tax. 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii vii 1 (1699) 193.
When a customer came to enter a boat wherein unfree goods were alledged to be, they did put off the boat from the rock where it lay

4. Unofficial, unauthorised. 1652 Lamont Diary 45.
The ministers … did protest also against [the General Assembly] … as vnlawfull, vnfrie, and corrupt 1677 Inverness Rec. II 273.
Being requyred to giwe in ther diligence anent ther wisiting of the wnfrie shools