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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Convoy, Conwoy, v. Also: convoye, -woye; p.t. and p.p. convoyit, -et, -voyt; -voyide, -voyed, -voyd(e, -voy'd; -woyed, -woyde, -woide. [ME. convoye (1430, but rare), OF. convoyer, var. of conveyer Convey, Conway.]

1. tr. To go along with, accompany (one or more persons) as a retinue or escort, esp. in order to show respect or give protection. 1375 Barb. v. 195 (E).
Till the men off Northummyrland Suld cum armyt, and … Conwoy hym till hys cuntre Ib. x. 486 (C).
Douglas held thame gud cunnand, And convoyit thame to thair cuntre c1475 Wall. viii. 1692.
Rycht rych reward he gaiff the harrold to, And him conwoyde … Out off the toun with gudly cumpanye c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 8.
The tailȝeour … Convoyit wes unto the feild, With mony lymmar loun 1533 Bell. Livy I. 183/3.
For that caus thai conuoyit him with incredibil loving to his hous 1549 Compl. 149/10.
The comont pepil met them … vitht grit solempnite, and syne conuoyit them to the plane mercat befor the capitol 1560 Rolland Seven S. 594.
Into thair best wise To the cietie thay did hir all conuoy c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 545.
Quhair hunders wount ȝour faders to conuoye, Now will ȝe ryde with ane man and ane boye a1578 Pitsc. I. 25/4.
Quhair evir he raid he was convoyit with ane thowsand horsmen 1617 Melrose P. I. 290.
The Erll of Errole and Lord Carnegy … to convoy his maiestie … to Kynnaird c1650 Spalding I. 246.
The soldiouris and mvnitioun landit, and wes convoyit wp to the castell with ane strong guarde 1695 Foulis Acc. Bk. 181.
For a pint of wine at Falkirk to Mr Col. M^ckeinzie, Adam Rae, Sauchie, etc., that convoyed us

b. Of a guard or officer(s): To escort or convey (a prisoner). 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 53.
Gevin to Skrymgeour masare to convoye Iames Hering to warde 1497 Acta Conc. II. 89.
Quhare thai wantit gudis, thai [sc. the sheriff's officers] suld ger convoy thare persons to the sade place of Ruthven 1527 Douglas Corr. 117.
Desyring me … seik the saidis trespassouris and (giff thai may be apprehendit) convoye thame to ȝour nerrest approchane officiaris 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 202.
The said William … afoir the hie mes to cum furth of the tolbuith convoyit with the seriandis 1567 Ib. III. 232.
George Couttis … to be relevit furth of waird and convoyit to Leithe and boittit thair 1579 Wemyss Corr. 24.
We comand that ye caus convoy and put Airchie Armstrang … to the captane, counstable, and keiparis of our castell 1645 Peebles Gleanings 252.
To John Plenderlaith and three utheris, to convoy … [a] prisoner fra Peblis to Berwick

2. To go with (a person) as companion or guide; to lead, guide, conduct. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 882.
I … prayt myn borcht that scho wald me Conwoy, & led … Quhare at to enples hyr it mycht maste c1420 Wynt. viii. 5703 (C).
Wat of Curre was withe thaim thar, That conwoyit thaim vpwart the gate a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 389.
He opnit ane secreit ȝet, and out thairat Conuoyit hir … Wnto ane uillage 1490 Irland Mir. I. 141/9.
The sterne conwoyit the thre kingis of the orient to this blist child c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 59.
God and Sanct Jeill heir ȝow convoy … To sonce and seill 1513 Doug. i. ix. 93.
Rehersyng this, convoys sche Eneas Towart the place quhar hir ryche palyce was Ib. xi. i. 51.
All the ȝonkeris meyt for swerdis dynt, Of thar tentis convoyt in array 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 30.
That thar master or hussy pas and convoy ther seruandis, or send ane auctentik persone to convoy thame out of the toune c1552 Lynd. Mon. 727.
He maid man, … Syne plesandlye did hym conuoye To ane regioun repleit with ioye a1578 Pitsc. II. 248/18.
My lord Flemyng was convoyit avay be this same servand callit Craufurd c1590 J. Stewart 74/44.
Scho tenderlie convoyd him from that part 1596 Dalr. I. 323/16.
The conspiratouris … are conuoyet in be a conduit or secreit 1603 Moysie 95.
The said laird of Logie … escapit out be the meanis of a gentlevoman … quho conuoyed him … till a wyndow in the backsyde of the plaice 1659 Hay Diary 181.
I hyred a guyd to convoy us to Gradoun

b. fig. To lead or guide to some end; to guard or preserve from some evil; etc. c1475 Wall. viii. 1212.
The ost … prayit God, off his grace, Him to conwoy fra all mystymyt cace 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 8.
To follow Virgil in this dyrk poyse Convoy me, Sibil Ib. vii. i. 34.
O thou sweit goddes, … Convoy and tech thy poet to say ryght 1562-3 Winȝet I. 13/32.
The spirit of Jesus … mot conuoye the hert of thy Maiestie … to behald the samyn mirrour 1573 Sat. P. xli. 9.
Allace, thow wants the instrument That was the lanterne to conuoy thé c1590 Fowler I. 304/27.
That I may well conwoy These lynes vnto the scope quhilk I desyre

c. To lead or drive (a flock). 1549 Compl. 42/25.
I beheld mony hudit hirdis … calland and conuoyand mony fat floc to be fed on the feildis

3. To accompany in hostile manner; to pursue. 1375 Barb. xiii. 578.
He convoyit thame so narrowly, That of the henmast ay tuk he Ib. xviii. 331.
Thai … tald thame quhat kyn velcummyng Dowglas thaim maid at thair metyng, Convoyand thame agane roydly c1420 Wynt. iv. 607 (W).
The Sythikis handillit thaim so fast, Conwoyand [R., C. co(n)stayande] thaim on ilka syde

4. To convey or carry (goods, etc.). 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 84.
That the baillies convoy and caus be convoyit the saidis guids to the rynnand water of Leyth 1533 Boece ii. x. 78.
Fra Camelodune was his corps to Berigone convoyit 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 118.
The space of xv dayis that he was conwoyand the artalry 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5888.
This king he thocht … efter to conuoy To his kingdome the deid banes of thir two 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 72.
My lord Arrane was convoyiit in the quenis graces cosche 1601 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 965.
The impunitie of sick quho convoyes and sparsells the bookes through the countrey 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I. 178.
The spowt that convoyes the watter fra the weshing tables to the new maid sompes c1650 Spalding II. 82.
It is said that the King had receavit ane letter from the Erll of Montross, cannelly convoyit 1650 Nicoll Diary 14.
To convoy his heid af the prick quhairon it was set 1660 Dunferm. Kirk S. 55.
Ane open cast for convoying the water away 1693 Ann. Banff I. 97.
Ale to his likewake and to the officers for convoying the coffenfig. a1585 Maitl. Q. xciv. 7.
I will, and sall conuoy His consell, … through all the warld

b. refl. To remove from one place to another. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 476.
A horse marschall thou call thé … , And with that craft convoy thé throu the land 16.. Hist. Kennedy 151.
He lap on horse and convoyit him self … away

4. To conduct, manage, administer, or accomplish. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 453.
[We] quyetly with sic craft convoyis our materis Ib. xliii. 9.
With littill noy, thay can convoy Ane mater fynaly 1512 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 136.
The said Robert to convoy and reull the said qwerrell [= quarry] … sua that na reasonable caus of complaynt be had 1533 Boece ix. i. 286 b.
The Britan pepill … consulting how the instant weris contrare Saxouns suld be convoyit 1549 Compl. 130/16.
Thai hef nothir prudens nor knaulege til conuoye and til exsecut ony point of trason 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 502.
What clocked knaverie he convoyes, , . It comes to licht now at the last 1622-6 Bisset II. 237/32.
The maister calfatter … that convoyis the wark sal have for everie day x s. 1643 Baillie II. 91.
A thornie businesse came in, which the moderator, by great wisdome, got cannilie convoyed