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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.

Summon(d, Sommond(e, Sowmon(d, Summond(i)s, v. Also: summonde, -ound, -ont, sommounde, swmmound, sumond(e, somon, -own, somond(e, -ound(e, sowmone, -ond, -ont, sowmed, soumont, -onde, sowmmond. P.t. summon(d)it, somonit, sumound, -and, sommoned, sowmond. P.p. also summonat, -id, summond(it)t, summoind, somoind, somment, solmond, sowmo(u)nd, -ownd. [ME and e.m.E. sumun(en, sumnien (both Layamon), somonien (c1250), somoune(n (c1290), somond (Cursor M.), sumne(n (Manning), sumund (Rolle), somown(en (c1400), summon (Shakespeare), OF somondre, semondre (1080 in Greimas), pop. L. *summonere, f. L. sub-, summonēre to remind privily, give a hint.] tr. To summon.

1. To assemble, call together ((a body of) persons); to cause a legal or other body of persons to come into being. 1375 Barb. i 592.
Thiddir somownys he in hy The barownys of his reawte 1375 Barb. xi 208.
In hy gert he His men be summond generaly 1375 Barb. xiii 734.
The king … Ane hoost gert summond … And went syne soyne in-till Ingland 1428 Liber Melros 519.
To the quhilk departison all the partis war lachfully sommounde 1483 Acta Conc. II cxxxii.
The said schiref … summond of the barons and frehaldaris … to the noumer of xxx^ti … persons lest suspect to compere befor the justice … to pass apone the assise 1501 Treas. Acc. II 105.
To David Tempilman, … passand in Annandirdale to summond the lardis thairof to ward 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 415.
To pas to Peblis and summond ane assis for the breking of lawborowis 1533–4 Treas. Acc. VI 220.
Summond ane inqueist to pas apoun Joke Nesbittis assyse 1600 Crim. Trials II 203. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 55b.
As quhen the King … commands ane inferiour court to be summoned

2. To order a person to present himself at a particular time or place; specif., to arraign before a court. Also fig. Variously const.(1) pres. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 33 heading (A).
The maner to somond burges again … burges 1494 Treas. Acc. I 240.
To Wauchop, currour, to pas to Laudir to summond the man that desertit the aire of the samen 1496 Acta Conc. II 31.
The sade Anthone to haf letters to summond his witnes 1527–8 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 94.
We ordand na burges soumont ane uther under the pane of viii d. 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 128.
David Brydin flechour and Jok Down to sowmont the man that hes the kow and the stirk 1596 Misc. Spald. C. I 84.
To summond, warne, cheis, and caus be sworn clarkis [etc.] 1633 Kirkcaldy Presb. 65.
Compeired Archbald Cambell, kirk officiar of Kingorn, … censured for refuseing to sowmed [? erron. for sowmond] the witnesses at Robert Mackgullans instancep.t. a1578 Pitsc. I 54/4.
He … sowmond the Earle of Crafurde and led upoun [him] ane sentance of curssing for his contemptioun of the censouris of hallie kirk 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 219 (14 Aug.).
I Wiliam Meikle stewart officer past at comand and lafuli sumand and personli aprehended Master James Kirkp.p. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 46 (A).
& he be somounde thru the bedall that is the seriande befor gude witnes & cumis nocht to the kingis court [etc.] 14.. Acts I 357/2.
The defforsar salbe soumonde … be sic lik borgh 1473 Acta Aud. 29/2.
Summond 1482–3 Acta Aud. in Acta Conc. II ci.
Beand lauchfully and peremptourly summond and oftymes callit and nocht comperit 1587 Acts III 459/2.
Summound 1600-1610 Melvill 143.
[They] takes the deposition of a number of witnesses, summoned out of St. Androis 1656 Dingwall Presb. 287.
Sumond(b) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 4.
The name of hym that is somoundyt salbe nemyt 1626 Elgin Rec. II 194.
These that wer absent from the kirk wer summondit being at a landwart brydell 1653 Argyll Synod II 28.
Summonded(c) 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 294.
Summonit 1657 Sc. Ant. V 17.
Summonditt 1668 Laing MSS 368.
Summonid(d) 1625 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 210.
Summonat(2) 1385 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 8 (i).
I, Robyn Jopson, sergand, … somonde at the chef plaȝ of the teneindri of Lytilton … Sir Thomas the Hay [etc.] … that thai apere lauchfolly at the Hundhil in Langforgrond 14.. Acts I 324/2.
Gif copy of ackornys hapnis to be in the kingis forest the forster aw to somonde alswel burges as land men that thai bryng thar swyn thar 14.. Acts I 329/2.
That ȝe ger be sommond and warnyt all ȝur burges … that thai be befor ws or our steid haldande the forsaide day and place a1500 Henr. Fab. 1163 (Bann.).
[He] Sommond the scheip befoir the wolf, that he Peremptourly, within the dayis thre Compeir 1564–5 Rec. Earld. Orkney 119.
This oure precept sene, that ye pas and layhtfully sowmone, warne, and charge the said Malcum Grot … that he compeir befor ws … to the fyrst shiref curt c1590 Fowler I 304/7.
[God, who] summonds vs that with our hartis right sone We turne vnto our souerane lord and king(3) pres. 1424 Acts II 4/1.
Gif it likis the king he may ger summonde all and sindry his tenandis at lauchfull day and place to schawe thar charteris 1495 Reg. Paisley 404.
That ye peremptourly summond, warne and charge the bailȝeis … of Renfrew, and the comunite … to compeyr before ws and our counsale 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 116.
To summond certane witnes … to beir lele witnessing [etc.] 1546 Treas. Acc. VIII 469.
Lettres direct … to summond certane gentillmen … to underly the law a1585 Polwart Flyt. 137 (H).
To this effect I summound thé By publick proclamatioun Gouk, to compeir vpon thy knee 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 26.
Summonds 1638 Kirkcaldy Presb. 129.
Sowmon 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xvii § 9.
A man whose wife diverts from him, ought to summond her to adherp.t. 1671 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 100 (16 June).
John McCulloch officer, lawfully sommoned Janet Tomsone … to compearp.p. c1420 Wynt. v 3358.
The clergy Gert hym be sowmownd … To here the condamnatyowne Off his fals oppynyowne c1420 Wynt. viii 1609.
He wes swmmownd till appere Till Makduff to mak awnswere 14.. Burgh Laws c. 33 (A).
Giff he will nocht cum to the court at the day of the mut set he … salbe somonde [B. summond] to cum to the next court 1435 Aberd. B. Rec. (SHS) cxxxii n. 1.
He … mad hym sommond in playn court to entir to this court a1500 Henr. Fab. 2684 (Bann.).
His aduersar … suld haif leif to mak lawchfull defens, And thairvpone summond peremptourly, For to propone and contra and reply 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 104.
Richert Dauieson Thomas Skyrleyng [etc.] … lauchfully summond to this curt to ansuer [etc.] ?1555 Corr. M. Lorraine 401.
The provest hes sowmownd dyveris off his freyndis … to se ther takkis tynt and off na awaill 1567–8 St. A. Kirk S. 294.
Dauid Hakstoun … decernit … to be somound of new to proceid in the said mareage 1572 St. A. Kirk S. 366.
Margarete Coling … somoind wytht my Lord Archibishop of Sanctandros letteres to compeir befoir hym a1578 Pitsc. I 100/15.
James Hammelltoun … was sowmond to the parlieament … to wnderly the law 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 242.
Summond(b) 1631 Kirkcaldy Presb. 30.
Agnes Grig was sowmonit … to compeir befoir the Presbytrie for troubeling the kirk(c) 1653 Dumfries Council Min. MS 4 Nov.
Who ar to be somment to the nixt councell day to accept of thair chairge & tak thair oathes of fidelitie(d) 1684 Law Memor. 72.
Being summoned aforehand by a Lyon-herald to enter themselves to the tolbuith of Edinburgh(e) 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 50.
All thes quha war at that deid, solmond to onderly the law(f) 1574 Aberd. B. Rec. II 17.
The prouest, baillies [etc.] … of our burgh of Abirdeine, ar oftymes attechit and summondit to pas upoun inquiestis and assyssis to our burgh of Edinburgh 1597 Elgin Rec. II 62.
The south east quarter that ar alredie cathecheisit to be summondit agane eftir none to ressaue thair taikyins 1652 Dumfries Kirk S. 20 Dec.
Summondit to appeir befoire the presbitrie thair to answer [etc.](4) 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 36.
Ather party aw be the scheray or be his minsteris to be somounde … befor lauchfull witnes 1449–50 Acta Conc. II xiv.
Gif ony persone geris summonde ane uthir befor the king and his consal 1456 Hay I 258/19.
And he war summond at instaunce of party before the king 1513 Stirlings of Keir 299.
The said Patrik … to … lyft vp the sammyn dettis, the denyaris to summound and follow with rycht befor quhatsumeuer juge spirituale or temporale a1578 Pitsc. II 138/3.
To summond Paull Mephin befoir hir grace at Edinburgh 1586 Wemyss Corr. 104.
I am sowmond afor the commyseris 1600-1610 Melvill 28.
Mr. Jhone Davidsone … maid a buik … for the quhilk he was summoned befor the justice-ear at Hadinton … and banisched the cowntrey 1644 Moray Synod 70.
The Comittee of Estaites … had direct letters to summond them befoir them for their refusall(5) ?1656 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 63.
That no Shirreffs Officiar conceall any slauchter … nor tak benifit … from any person sumondit upon ane assyse(6) pres. 1456 Hay II 97/29.
Ger summound to thy hall to mete and drynk ane to-day ane othir to-morne 1466 Acta Aud. 5/2.
Walter Ogilby gert summond sir Ja. Stewart & A. Ogilby til a certane day in the parlement 1480 Acta Conc. I 62/2.
Alexander … gert summond him to his instance and wald now persew him [etc.] 1488 Treas. Acc. I 91.
To Dave Rudman, to summonde the Lorde Eskin to the chekkar, iij s. 1504 Treas. Acc. II 432.
To summond George Robison to the kingis instance 1517 Treas. Acc. V 120.
Lettrez of our soverane lordis to somound and charge all the thevys and brokin men out of Tweddale and Eisdaile to thair awn cuntreth 1527 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 249.
All maner of inhabitaris or trespassouris within the said barony to summont [blank] to thar courtis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2259.
I sall … summond ȝow to thair senȝie 1566 Rec. Earld. Orkney 122.
Somon a1578 Pitsc. I 67/11.
Thair come ane thunderand woyce out of heawin cryand and sowmmondand him to the extreme iudgement of God 1619 Aberd. Council Lett. I 176.
If he be forced to summound thame heir 1676 Welsh Gospel Summonds 15.
I do here summond you of all ranks of persons unto a serious framep.t. 1610 Rec. Earld. Orkney 184.
I … past and laffullie chargit and summondit all the parteis abone wreittin … to the day foirsaidp.p. 1467 Acta Aud. 7/1.
The said Johne … beand lachefully and perempturly summond to the said actioun 1467 Acta Aud. 7/2.
The witnes … to be summond to the said day c1515 Asl. MS I 232/22.
He was summond to the parliament wnder the pane of forfalt 1529 Red Bk. Grandtully I 68.
I put the said mater to the knawlege of thir worthe personis wndir writtin beand lachtfullie summonit thairto be the said precept 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 104.
Decernit be the decreit of curt to be summond literatorie to the nixt curt and poindit 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 293.
Summoind(7) 1467 Acta Aud. 8/1.
He sal bring with him … The twa charteris vnder the gret seele that the lord Haliburton summond him for 1502 Treas. Acc. II 143.
To Richard Wallas, passand to the Erle of Menteth, to summond him for Gilmertoun 1517 Treas. Acc. V 123.
To David Purves quhilk somonit the bailȝeis and deiknes of Edinburgh for the taxt 1519 Fife Sheriff Ct. 164.
Thai that war lachfully summond … for the breking of ane arreist 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 179.
Summond 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 103.
That this day xv dais he suld produce the saidis Dandis evidens or ellis schaw his cusing batht sowmont and cursit for detentione of thaim 1533 Treas. Acc. VI 138.
To summond the lard of Nederye for ane deforciament a1578 Pitsc. I 184/20.
To sumond the Diuk of Albanie … for randering of the toune of Bervick in the Inglischmenis handis a1585 Polwart Flyt. 131 (T).
For this effect I sumound thé Be publict proclamatioune; Cum and compeir [etc.] 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 17.
She being summondit of new for taking of furder tryall thairanent 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 482.
To summond … John M'Kerrells wyfe for knocking of webs that day 1653 Dumfries Kirk S. 7 April.
William Glen to be summoned for ten merks for the mortcloath elder 1658 Dumfries Council Min. MS 23 July.
The said A. being sumondit for a ryot comittit be him … wes fynit 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 232 (1 Nov.).
You are to sumond … the said William Cairns of Kip for resetting of Egitians — 1542 Acts II 415/1.
In the xlviij cheptoure of the saidis actis intitulate of the fugiteuis suspect and summond of herese(8) 1456 Hay I 235/26.
Na thare aw na juge to ger summound thame in jugement 1675 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 22 Dec.
Thomas Hauch and Johne Sproat … being laufullie summondt (and absent) as witneses 1676 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 51.
We ar sumonded … in ane actione of improbatione and reductione at the instance of the said John Tureing(9) fig. and transf. ?1438 Alex. i 3198.
Ire, matelent and stoutnes Summond thame to do proues ?1438 Alex. ii 7401.
Worship ȝow summondis on Tyisday To put ȝour bodeis to assay c1460 Regim. Princ. 66 (Maitl.).
Thow … wait nocht quhen thow salbe summont For to compeir quhair thow sall langest duell 1494 Loutfut MS 22b.
And quhen it cummis to the term of his lif his natur somondis him and avise of his ded for til haue a new lif 1549 Compl. 6/30.
I beand summond be institutione of ane gude zeil, hes tane ane temerare consait to present to ȝour nobil grace ane tracteit [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 154/12.
Go! go! my dame, and theme no more convert To summond me vnto your love agayne c1590 Fowler I 365/20.
Those crisped hayres … that thralls my might, And sommond first my hart hir help to crave a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxiii 7.
Quhat tyme the bluid vnto the hairt does flie … At that tyme Morpheus sent to summond me 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 136/431.
When as The voice eternall ay, Els thundring summond did the troupes, That guiltie were alway 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 180.
At my first coming here, I took the dorts at Christ & would forsooth summond him for unkindness

b. With impersonal construction: It was sowmond, it was specified in the summons. a1578 Pitsc. I 225/7.
I trow the sowmondis be desert and ewill of the self because it was sowmond to compeir to this court … without continuatioun of dayis

3. absol. To initiate legal action by taking out or proclaiming a summons. 1429 Acts II 17/2.
It is statute that the summondour sal summonde & mak his rehers in courte quhethir that hym likis be tounge or be write kepande the vj termes of summondis 1605 Aberd. B. Rec. II 280.
The counsall … cheisit James Mowat … to pas south to Edinburgh … to lybell and summondis vpone the townis infeftmentis and previledges for seiking … ane declaratour of the lordis

4. To call for, cause to be brought. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 140/527.
One dish another summonds, and Her gourmand entrails eats