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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.

Lemistar, Lym(m)istar, n. Also: lemy-, leme-; lym(m)y-, lym(m)e-, lymma- and -ster, -stir. [Appar. f. ME. Lemyster, Lemster, Lymynistre, Leominstre, Leomynster, forms of the place-name Leominster in Herefordshire, where in the 15th c. a costly variety of wool was produced:In a petition presented by the House of Commons in 1454 … the ‘Herefordshire wolle in Lemyster’ is far higher than any other, being rated at £13 the sack … The next to it in value also comes from the neighbourhood, the ‘soke of Lemster’; W. H. R. Curtler Victoria Hist. of the County of Hereford I. (1908) 408.Prices of the wolles of this lond … A sakke of Shropshire Marche xiiii marcs, A sakke of Marche wolle of Lemster Soke xiiii marcs; 1454 Rotuli Parliamentorum (Henry VI) V. 275/1. Suthfolk wolle for lii s. Herefordshire wolle in Lemyster for xiii li.; Ib. /2.]

Lemistar-, Lymistar-blak, also blak Lymmester, a type of high quality (and expensive) fine black cloth chiefly used for hose. Also comb. with Mauchlyne, -lynis, q.v.For further references see Indexes to Treas. Acc. V. (s.v. Lymystar), VI., VII. (s.v. Cloth, Leominster).(a) 1526 Treas. Acc. V. 275.
Sex quartaris of lemestar blak to be his grace twa payr of hois, price of the eln iij li. 1533 Ib. VI. 182.
To begarye … the hois of lemister blak … ane elne … claith of gold(b) 1512 Ib. IV. 423.
iiij elne lymmestir blak … for the Quene, to be ane cloik and hois, ilk elne xlix s. 1526 Ib. V. 296.
Lymystar blak 1531 Ib. 416.
Lymmastar blak 1538–9 Ib. VII. 134.
To be ane fute mantill … x quarteris of fyne lymmister blak, price of the elne xlviij s. 1540 Ib. 324.
Ane elne blak lymmester, price xlvj s. Ib. 403.
Lymister blak Ib. 407.