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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vicecount, Vicont, n. Also: visco(u)nt, wiscunt, vicount, wicount, vecount; (vicecomes). [ME and e.m.E. viscounte (Trevisa), vescownte (?a1400), vicecount (1461), vycounte (Caxton), vicount (a1548), viscount (1579), OF visconte, viconte, med. L. vicecomes.] A viscount, next in rank to an earl and often acting in his stead. Also, as a title vicecount (of) a place.(1) 1494 Deidis of Armorie 8.
Salusand erllis suld be said: Rycht hie and richt mychti and redoutit lord … And gif thai be vicontez: Hie & mychti lordis c1609 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 82.
The commissioners having power to geive precepts of clare constat may prejuge the vicont [pr. Vicout] in the right of the lands 1630 Acts V 218/2.
The estaits ordains that dukes marqueisis and vicounts sall be insert in the act of taxatioun as persons lyable to the payment of thair parts of the same 1640 Acts V 297/1.
Heereftir all noblemen viz. duikis marqueisse earles vicontis and lords shall give ther personall presence in all parliamentis 1650 Acts VI ii 888/1.
Dukes 2 Marquises 4 Earles 57 Vicounts 7 Barrons 47 Summe 117 16… R. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 393.
Following the forme [of] England we began to have earles, lords, barons, and later vicounts, duks, marquises(b) 1504 Treas. Acc. II 286.
Payit … to the vecount in custome, v frankis(c) 1631 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. IV 275.
It is alledgit that in the said act of counsell the viscounts ar ranked after the erles and before the bishops, after whome ar the temporall lord barons, and after thame the officiars of estait 1686 Acts VIII 633/1.
Dukes marqueses earles viscounts lords knights barronets and other knights c1690 Bk. Pasquils 184.
The mailing Stairs … the tytle of (the) Viscount gets(2) 1603 Inchaffray Reg. 104.
George vicount of Dupling Lord Hay of Kinfawnis heich chancellor of Scotland [etc.] 1630 Misc. New Spald. C. I 154.
Melgwm, John, vicecount of 1643 Dundee Chart. 86.
James, Wicount of Dudope 1643 Dundee Chart. 86.
The said Wicount Dudope c1650 Spalding II 465.
The erll merschall, the viscount of Frendracht [etc.] … and diuerss vtheris barronis 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 83.
The Vicecount of Kenmuir, as bayly to the abbacy of Tongueland hath priveledge of a bayly day 1688 Cromartie Corr. I 60.
For my Lord Wiscunt of Tarbert these 1689 Acts XII 66/1.
The heraulds who denunced the viscount of Dundee at the mercat cross 1690 Acts IX 112/1.
A patent produced and read in favors of Sir James Dalrimple of Stair to be Viscount of Stair, Lord Glenluce and Stranrawer And he thereupon admitted and tooke the oath of allegeance & parliament 1694 Cromartie Corr. I 106.
Viscont 1698 Acts X 118/2.
Patent creating Sir Thomas Livingstoun Viscount of Teviot read and ordered to be recorded(b) 1540 Boyd Fam. P. No. 18 (21 March).
Hugh Campbell of Loudoun vicecomes of Air