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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Harmles, adj. Also: harmeles(se, hairmeles, hermles, hermeles, hearmeles. [ME. harmeles (1418), harmles (c 1290).]Chiefly in legal documents and commonly coupled with scatheless.

1. a. Free from injury or violence, free from damage (at the hands of a certain person or persons); const. of. 1456 Hay I. 155/33.
I am behaldyn to … ask him law and resoun … to hald me harmles of the thef and his party 1478 Acta Aud. 71/2.
That James … salbe harmles and scathles of thaim, thar freindis, partij and anherdandis 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxi.
Souerte … that Schir James Ogilby salbe harmles and scaithles of Alexander Lord Glammis and all that he may let 1578 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 60.
The said Stevine sall defend and keip the meithis and merchis … fre and hairmeles of vtheris nychtburis adiacent thairto 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 10.
That their bairnis, tenentis, and servandis salbe harmles and skaythles of the said Johne Leslie in thair bodies and landis 1605 Stewart Mem. 115.
Hermles 1612 Orkn. & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 20 Aug.
Hearmeles c1650 Spalding II. 91.
He wold not set cautioun that the brughe of Abirdein suld be harmeless and skaithles of him

b. Free from liability or obligation. c 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
Sa that we be haldyn harmeles fore that paiement 1482 Edinb. Chart. 155.
That we … sal keip … the saidis provest, ballies and communite … harmles and scaithles … anent the payment of the said some 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 202.
The saidis William and Katerine oblissis thaim … till keip … the said Henry harmeles and skaithles … of the said geir 1566 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 47.
To … keip him … harmles and skaithles of the rycht of his marriage

2. Free from hurt or harm (from something). 1573 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 3.
Jhonne Lawsoun … to tak doun the same [decayit gallery], sua that the Kingis lieges be hairmeles thairof