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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.

Conques, v. Also: conquess(e, -quesh, cunques. [Inferred from conquest, p.t. and p.p. of Conquest v.]

1. tr. To overcome or obtain by conquest. c1475 Wall. viii. 1346.
He said, he wald nocht ga and conques land Till othir men c1515 Asl. MS. I. 191/29.
It semys nocht to be suth that he suld conques in his tyme xxx kinrikes 1531 Bell. Boece II. 15.
Our ennimes, … desiring na les to devore our blude than to conques our realme 1549 Compl. 85/3.
Thai haue intendit veyris contrar Scotland, in hope to conques it Ib. 91/8. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4205.
Julyus and Pompey … Quhilkis did conquesse all erthly regionis a1586 Maitland Hist. Ho. Seytoun 40.
Of conquessing cuntreis, moving of weiris, and stryking of feildis and battellis 1609 Gardyne Garden 4.
Who sometime all the mundane monarchie By martiall might did conquesse and command c1650 Spalding I. 298.
Monro perseuit not the hous, fnding it difficult to conquess

2. To acquire (land or possessions) otherwise than by inheritance. 1493 Acta Aud. 173/1.
Gif it happinit him to conquesse ony landis efter … the dait herof c1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 12.
By the landis quhilkis he gatt in heritage from his father, … he conquessit the takis of the ten marklandis of Auchmoir 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 26.
Albeit the husband hes litill heritage, and hes conquessed thereafter many lands Ib. Table 66.
He sall gif to the payment of his debts ilk thrid pennie, quhilk he sall happen to conques 1615 Edinb. Test. XLIX. 13.
The said vmquhile Gawin … helpit to conques the haill in hir lyftyme 1629 Mure True Cruc. 3020.
To conquesse rents and lands Him troubled least 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 26.
More for our pastime than to conquesh money, We went a shooting a1691 Kingston Contin. Ho. Seytoun 77.
The said George … did conquesh two considerable feu lands

3. To acquire, gain, obtain. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1398.
To conques hevyne thai tuk bot esy cure Ib. 1543.
Haue knychtlie corage to conques hevinlie crovne c1515 Asl. MS. I. 178/19.
All noble man suld … conques and get frendis be swet seruice 1513 Doug. vi. xiv. 80.
Ȝon other … Ful gret honour sal conques onto ws 1531 Bell. Boece I. 134.
Desirus to conques sum hie honoure be notabill … vassalage Id. Livy I. 14/25.
To conques the mare hartlie kyndenes of the auld inhabitantis 1562 Inverness B. Rec. I. 94.
Quhartrocht the haill inhabitantis … may be … hawaris of gude industrie to conques thair lewingis on 1570 Leslie 240.
Sic fassione of dealing was not the nerrest way to cunques a lady a1578 Pitsc. I. 40/9.
The Earle being gevin … to conques glorie and honour … to his kin 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1757.
This kynd, this constant loue, … We seldome sie is conqueshed