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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Suffrage, n. Also: suffraige, -eige, sufferage, -agh, (suffragage). [ME and e.m.E. suffrage (Wyclif), OF suffrage (1289 in Larousse), MF suffraige (1403 in Larousse), L. suffragium, f. suffrāgārī.]

1. Prayers, especially of an intercessory nature, or a service of such prayers. b. specif., (a service of) prayers or other devotions for the souls of the dead. Also attrib.Freq., to do or mak suffrage.a., b. (1) 1493–4 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 334.
Sayssande to ws and our successouris suffrage of dyvyne seruice of the chappellains of the saide alter 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 416.
For the erding and suffrage of ane gunnar quhilk deit in Edinburgh 1516–17 Edinb. B. Rec. I 164.
Thare hie mes and antiphone of our Lady … and vthir suffrage for hys and thare saulis, contenit in his first fundation and mortification 1533 Bell. Livy I 251/35.
The cieteȝanis to pas with thare wyiffis & barnis to the templis to convert thare hartis with suffrage and votis to thare goddis, that thai mycht be humyll suplicatioun purches the peace of goddis 1533 Boece 183b.
King Donald … be suffrage of kirkmen with devote orisoun and prayer was beryit a1538 Abell 59b.
God … is iust and terribill to synnaris and will at … thai be deliuerit fra thare syn and that wmquhill be suffrage of Sanctis 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 444.
To the freris predicatoris of Striveling, for the kingis suffrage quham God assoilȝe 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 181.
Expensis debursit upoun the suffrage of Quene Magdelane 1539 Strathblane Par. 320.
The said Robert prayand orison and suffrage in the said college(b) 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I 31.
We assentit and grantit tham … the Ile of Sanct Jhone in the college kirk of Sanct Gele … in honour of the said Sanct, and for the sufferage of devyne seruice 1575 Reg. Privy S. VII 27/2.
Sufferage 1575 Reg. Privy S. VII 46/2.
Suffragage 1590 Digest Justiciary Proc. M 14.
For lying wnder the horribill sentans of excummunicatioun separat fra the sufferage and prayer of the kirkpl. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 78/24.
Commonand with cursit men … prevand & defraudand myself of the prayeris and suffragis of haly kirk 1539 Glasgow Prot. IV 120.
Geif it sall happyng the saidis tenement howisis and yard the malis and profettis thairof dow nocht perfurneis and susteyne thir foirsaidis suffragis … swa that pament may be maid thairof yeirlie 1569 Reg. Privy S. VI 150/2.
Confirmand the donatioun … to the said Johnne Symmer of the vicarage pensionarie of the parroche kirk of Ebdy … saulffand to our soverane lord and his hienes successouris suffragis of devote orisoun and prayar aucht and wount 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxix.
That he, his vyf, [etc.] … sould be participant of thear quhole prayers, suffrages, and diwine serwiceattrib. 1541 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 416.
The infeftment and mortificatioun be master Duncan Burnett persoun of Methlik of thwa merkis ȝerelie of the manse thairoff for ane suffrage anniuerser to be done for the King and the said master Duncan(2) 1486 Bk. Carlaverock II 447.
Thre of the persons that was in the said feld … to pas, ane to Rome, ane to Sanct James, and to the haly bluid of Welsuake and thar to do suffrage 1493–4 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 334.
Certane annuallis for suffrage ande diuine seruice to be maide 1498–9 Reg. Privy S. I 45/1.
Fullfilland and doand al suffrage and prayer in the sammyn [sc. chapel] 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I 103.
That we [sc. the barbers] may have anis in the yeir ane condampnit man … to mak antomell of, … and we sall do suffrage for the soule 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 312/1.
For suffrage and service to be done for the kingis fader and moder … at the altar of our Lady 1521 Stirling B. Rec. I 13.
Sufferagh 1522 Cart. S. Giles 214.
To say Yconie Saluatoris … [to] sing ane Dirige … and ane saule mes one the morne thaireftir … For the quhilk suffrage portionis and expensis sua to be maid [etc.] 1535 Stewart 55980.
And for the saule greit suffrage gart him mak a1538 Abell 31a.
Thewis and rewaris and thai be slane in thare steling … thai suld na suffrage be done for thame 1539 Glasgow Prot. IV 119.
I wyll and ordanis als mekyll suffrage to be done in all sortis be the sammyng personis in all sic maner foirsaid yeirlie in festo Sanctorum Cosmi et Domiani … with vicarris, preistis, puyr scollaris 1540 Linlithgow B. Ct. 20 Oct.
All the chapellanis … till sett in the queyr And thai that can nocht syng till do wthir suffrage for the honeste of Goddis seruice 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII 37.
Item, gevin to Henry Kempt, to caus do suffrage for Quene Magdalyne quham God assolȝe, xj li. 1563 Edinb. B. Deeds 82b.
To ressaue suffrage and honouris to be done to the said contractaris 1582 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 768.
That … sall … do sick honouris suffrage and homage for the said slauchter as we sall prescryve(b) 1525 Prot. Bk. J. Foular III 183.
And sall sustene a preist to sing ane yeir for the saule of … umquhile William referrand till the said Johnnis consciens quhat sufferage thairof is done and quhat restis undone 1532 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 59.
For sufferage and prayerris to be done in Sanct Rokis kirk on the Borrowmure for the saullis that lyis in the said kirk and kirkyairdpl. 1530 Lennox Mun. 238.
Sell caus prayearis and suffragis be down for the saule forsaid 1533 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 467.
We are content til pas the thre heid pilgrimages of Scotland and thar til gar do messis and suffragis for the saul(3) 1535 Stewart 37250.
So greit suffrage also in halie kirk Ouir all Scotland he hes gart sing and sa

c. The prayers said or services performed at a particular altar. 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I 29.
Diuine seruice and sufferage of Sant Cristoforis alter is mynist 1558 Glasgow Cordiners 249.
Euyrry man of the saidis occupatioune … sall pay ilk time thay present werk ane penny to the vphald of the suffraige of the said alter [sc. of St. Ninian]

2. Help, assistance; also, an instance of this, ? a payment or service. a1500 Henr. Orph. 291.
Had nocht bene throu suffrage of his harp Wyth scharp pikis he had bene schorne and schent 1528 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 94.
The said Walter … sall content and pay to the said James … the sowme of five hundreth merkis … with wthiris suffragys & assythmentis

3. The action of voting or electing; vote, mandate. Also, an instance of this, an individual's vote.(1) 1533 Bell. Livy II 36/26.
Becaus the candidatis and new litis desiring nyne tribunis to be create empeschit the tribis to gif thare fre suffrage and votis 1559 Knox VI 94.
Difficill it is for to bridell the tonges of a multitude in maters which must pass by publick and common suffraige 1562-3 Winȝet I 43/23.
The princes in our dayis takis on thaim the haill power of electioun, vote, and suffrage of the peple ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 49.
That they did not defyne thes tenents, nor have emitted a synodall suffreige(2) 1570 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 179.
When any man profest in ane abbay, shall be chosen ministrator, or œconomus, be suffrages of these that have been profest in ane abbay ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 121.
The next cure … was for to enter protestationes against thes clero-laicall linsey-wolsey suffrages and electiones ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 176.
The ruling elders had gottne the preveleidge of suffrages