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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Progres(s, -gres(s)e, n. Also: -grace. [Late ME and e.m.E. progresse (1432–50), -grasse (once, 1586), obs. F. progresse (1513 in Godef.), repr. Romanic *progressa, noun f. L. progressus, -a, -um, p.p. of progrēdī to go forward.]

1. To mak progres, to proceed, to advance, to move (forward). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxii 52.
Through streittis nane may mak progres, For cry of cruikit, blind, and lame

2. A state journey made by a monarch; a visitation by an official or body of officials.Also attrib.(1) 1564 Q. Mary in Melville Mem. 112.
Having bene in our progres towardis the nourthemest partis of our realm 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 63.
Bot scho … gettis hir ane clene contrarie way, into ane uther countrie, in progres, and … visitis nobill mennis housis [etc.] 1580 Treas. Acc. MS 24b.
For … awaiting vpoun his maiestie during the tyme of the progres 1640 Maidment Balfour Ballads 5.
Each where, that … Our present progresse keepes a residence(2) 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 146.
The tutor took a progresse to the Highlands 1694 Misc. Spald. C. II lxvi.
We [Committee of General Assembly], having made a progresse thorough the northattrib. 1571 Leslie in Misc. Bann. C. III 136.
[Queen Elizabeth] willed me to tak patience quhill the progres tyme suld be done 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 82.
Arthure Hamiltouns compt in the progres tyme

b. A march or expedition. — 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 65.
That panefull progres I think ill to tell, Sen thay ar bowit and bruderit in our band

3. Improvement; advancement, development; (continuous) growth or increase.(a) 1457 Acts II 52/2.
Sen Gode … hes send oure souerane lorde sik progres and prosperite, that [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 106/15.
The beginning of our houssis progrese [and] genoliegie of the samin Ib. 132/1.
We man … grant thy felicietie and happie progres in all thy doingis 1610 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1093.
Which otherways had kithed so incurable a canker, being permitted to have had any farther progresse 1619 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 19.
For tryell of the … progress of the gospel amongst them 1649 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 75.
That evrie kirk session have ane regular book quhilk shall contain these particulars: 1^o. The vholl progresse of disciplin bothe in regarde of the beginning … and close of evrie processe(b) a1578 Pitsc. I 22/23.
Gif our discentione haue ony fordar prograce

4. The course or process of an activity, or of time. a1578 Pitsc. I 142/28.
The king … ansuerit that he wald wse the nobillis consall in all the progresse of weir 1622-6 Bisset I 81/3.
And sua consequentlie following be progres of tyme unto the dait of this oure commissioun

5. Only Sc.: An unbroken series (of lawful possessors, incumbents, etc.) over a period of time of considerable but unspecified length; the demonstration or proof of the existence of such a series. (A) title by progress; cf. later Sc. progress of titles, ‘such a series of the title-deeds of a landed estate, or other heritable subject, as is sufficient in law to constitute a valid and effectual feudal title thereto’ (W. Bell Dict. Sc. Law).(1) 1563 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 23 June.
Williame Fischar nepote air & lineall successour be progres to vmquhill Johnne Fischar 1567 Montgomery Mem. 204.
Pronevoye and air be progress to vmquhill Hew Erle of Eglintoun 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 140.
He … as nevoy and air be progres of umquhile Andro Wod … his guidsire 1587 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 241. 1591 Lennox Mun. 332.
Pronevay, air, and successour be progres to … our grandshir 1665 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 393.
Heir by progress to the deceast Lord Fraser — 1638 Bk. Univ. Kirk App. xxvi.
Considering the same [registers] hath come by progresse and succession of clerks(2) 1622-6 Bisset I 59/1.
That Banchois posteritie suld injoyse the croun of Scotland, be lang possessioun of progres(3) 1647 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 385.
Lykwayes my Lady Dutches is oblidgit by band to make furthcumand to the universitie a perfyte progres of her right to the said benefice 1679 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 248.
[The defender produced a charter from the king in anno 1540 … The defender doth also produce a progress of the said lands down to himself Ib. 249.]
Joseph Marjorybanks sells to Rankin the lands of Fields etc. and obliges himself to give him a sufficient right thereof; and … obliges him to deliver the same progress of right that he had from his author(4) 1681 Stair Inst. iv xxxviii § 19.
Titles by progress are either retours on services of heirs, or confirmations of executors, or assignations [etc.] … from whence the conclusion of the summons is justly and legally inferred Ib. §24.