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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Simpill, Simple, Sempill, Semple, adj. (adv. and n.). Also: simpyl(l, -il(e, -ell, sympill, -yll, -le, -il(e, -ell, sempyll, -il(e, -ell, (sembill). [ME and e.m.E. simple (c1220), simpil (Cursor M.), symple (Manning), sympule (Wyclif), semple (14th c.), sympyll (1509), F. simple (c1138 in Larousse), L. simplex, simplus.] c1320 Reg. Great S. (1814) 11/1.
[Roberto dicto sympil, delecto & fideli nostro 1330 Cart. Levenax 19.
Willielmo Sympill 1367 Reg. Paisley 31.
Thoma Sympyl domino de Egliston 1400 Exch. R. III 489.]
Johanni Simple de Elyotystoun

1. Of a person, his nature, character, or behaviour: Without duplicity or guile; open; pleasing; unassuming, without pride. Also transf. b. Of truth, etc.: Straightforward, honest, unadorned.(a) 1375 Barb. i 126.
As sympile folk but mawyte ?1438 Alex. ii 1920.
He was … Ȝong simple and of fare sembland ?1438 Alex. ii 7759.
Porrus … saw hir fetas and ioly Ȝing and fare of simpill [F. gentil] manere c1420 Ratis R. 547.
The falow that neuir trouth forsuk So sympill of state he can be sen c1420 Wynt. v 3929.
Bot to sympyll [C. sympil] all wes scho, Swylk dedys as sho dyde to do c1460 Thewis Gud Women 19.
A woman suld ay … [be] Weill of hir smylinge, simpyll [Gud Wyf & D. sempill] and coy c1490 Irland Asl. MS 50/25.
In ane … buke callit the A B C of symple & devote peple Christianetransf. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 272.
Thou lytill quair, be evir obedient, Humble, subject, and symple [B. semple, M. simpell] of entent Before the face of eviry connyng wicht c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. x 16.
Be ye slee as serpentis and sympile as dowis a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. 88/31.
Ane innocent plaine & patent with craftines oncled, Ane simpill thing sueit & bening(b) c1490 Porteous Noblenes 177/26 (Asl.).
Scho [sc. Worthiness] is fers and felloun to outtragious cruell men and to semple men scho makis na let truble nor stopping c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 255.
I semyt sober and sueit and sempill without frauda. 1561 Mill Mediæv. Plays 221.
Siclik that na assemblay … be found within this burgh with armour and wappinnis … bot euerye man to gang and behaif him self in honest and sempill maner without multitude or gaddering 1562-3 Winȝet I 60/32.
That the sempill beleuear may haif sufficient licht to eschew the dissaitful snairis of the erroneous 1558-66 Knox I 430.
The duike answerit, ‘ … gif he promesit fidelitie, he wald faithfullie keip it.' Monsieur Dosell said, in mockage to the Quene, in Frensche, ‘That is ane guid sempill nature, bot I knaw na uther prince that wald swa do’ 1558-66 Knox II 18.
Except that in the cause of Chrystis Evangell ye be found semple, sincear, fervent, and unfeaned 1567 G. Ball. 49.
Ȝe sall him find … Full sempill in ane cribe lying a1568 Bann. MS 218a/7.
Lady … I me commend as I haif done befoir My sempill hairt for now and evir moir a1570-86 Maitl. F. 228/17.
Als semple luikis the subtill man As he that of na falsat canb. c1420 Ratis R. 519.
Sympill trewth is mar of mycht Than is al sciens of al slycht a1500 Henr. Fab. 2930.
I warne thé … it is grit nekligence To bind thé fast … Fra thow be bund thow may mak na defence … This simpill counsall brother tak at me 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary I 40.
To … tak in gude pairt my sympill advys and counsall 1562-3 Winȝet I 60/35.
That the plane and sempill trewth of all thingis requiris only amangis the lautefull and faithfull peple plane, familiar … speche 1566 Crim. Trials I i 484.
This is the simpill and plane trewth of our pairties a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 222/154.
Of auld Sir Richard … We have hard sing … Quhais luiffing praysis … Efter that simpill tyme Ar soung in monye far countrie a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. 140/9.
Accuse not me bot wyite the wicked tyme. The simpill wit and schairpnes of ingyne Quhilk quhylome wes now quyte is taine away 1586–7 James VI Cal. Sc. P. IX 247.
Ye shall rather be exasperattit to passions in reading the vordis then by the plainness thairof be persuadit to consider richtlie the simpill treuth(b) 1528 Lynd. Dreme 799.
Of the realme of Scotland. Quhilk efter my sempyll intandiment, And as remymbrance did to me report I sall declare the suith and verrayment 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 526.
I haue said the veritie In sempyll maner, faithfullie a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. 60/159.
Content thi self with sempill sobirnes

2. Of persons: Of no or (relatively) low rank; of humble origins; one of the common people; lowly; mean; wretched; miserable. Passing into 7 below. Also ellipt. or absol. as noun.(1) 1375 Barb. i 463.
The harme … At that fele folk … Dyd till sympill folk and worthy That couth nocht help thaim self ?1438 Alex. ii 8232.
Of simpill men [F. de basse gent] 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
And richt hee & maist excellent prince I write to ȝour hee excellence anyrly for cause that I was commissare to my said lege lord sett I be symple in the tyme of takyng of the said trewys … And maist excellent prince gif thar be ocht that may plece yw that I may do … it sal be … hartfully done at al my symple powaris c1420 Wynt. ii 1379. 1429 Acts II 18/2.
That ilk man … at has j^c lib. in movabil gudis that he be wele horsit & haill enarmyt as a gentill man aucht to be and vther sympillar of x lib. of rent or 1 lib. in gudis haif hat gorgeat or pesane [etc.] 1442 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 6.
To thir fie … of the best of the towne ij d. and of the simplare folk j d. 1460 Hay Alex. 754.
Men seis oft hie pridfull men cum law, And pure and simpill men to lordschip draw 1469 Acts II 95/1.
Tuiching the electioune of … officiaris of burowis becaus of gret truble … for the chesing of the samyn throw multitud & clamor of commonis sympil personis it is thocht [etc.] a1500 Rauf C. 373.
Hald ȝow fra the Court for ocht that may be Ȝone man that thow outrayd Is not sa simpill as he said Thairun my lyfe dar I layd c1475 Wall. vi 828.
In that hauld was no ma, Bot ane auld preist, and sympill wemen twa 1492–3 Mill Mediæv. Plays 158.
For mett drinkis & wagis for simpile folkis 1498 Acta Conc. II 285.
Anent the terme assignit … til Andro Hudsone aganis Wilyeam of Lundy, son … til Jhone of Lundy of that ilk, knycht [etc.] … the Lordis contenewis the sade act … togidder with the summondis belangin the sade Andro … quhilk was ane simpil man 1528 Exch. R. XV 666.
That … na schireff thoil simple men to deforce thame in the executioun of thar office nor nane other of soberar or les degre na the saidis schirreffis 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. I 208.
Ane burnyng irne to burne the cheikis of symple personis convict for small crymes 1560 Rolland Seven S. 924.
It is oft sene ane sober simpill man To ane greit man ane counsallour may be a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 146/15.
The pestilent preacheouris … subuertand … the symple people 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 34.
Sindrie burgesses and merchands of our said burgh … being simpill pure men 1666 Sel. Biog. I 161.
The people, being landwart simple people, were more likely to be wrought upon(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 3498.
To send away na man that micht avaleȝe Sic ane gudman may win a hale battale And sempillare men mycht wele do ȝour message 1490 Irland Mir. I 44/17.
The wrangwis … appetit of waurldly gudis as quhen … a sempill man [desiris] the state of a king or prince 1490 Irland Mir. II 69/13.
The sempil persouns … the gret clerkis and haly prelatis … the haly martiris [etc.] c1500 Justiciary Rec. I 154.
Suffir not the pure sempill pipill to be … reft be strang mischewes tyranttis 1502–3 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 97.
Throw owerseing of guid rewle and slewth thairof be greitt confluence of sempill peipill and vtheris 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 75.
The said Robert proponit aganys the assis chossin … becaus thai ar sempill and sober of reputatione and substans to pas of this or sic caisis the said Master Abrahaam replyand … answerit the foyrsaidis persones chosin … ar honest substancuows men 1535 Stewart 40531.
Commandit … that nane … suld meit Vpoun ane brig … The sempillest dene in all Ingland … Bot to remane ay at the brigis end, … Quhill that the dene wes passit ouir 1550–1 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 152.
The … lichtleing of this realm … in pairts of Flanderis and France be passing of certane sempill persouns thair in merchandice cled in vyle array c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2647.
Quhy do ȝe nocht the sempyll peple teche Quhow and to quhome to dresse thare orisoun? 1562-3 Winȝet I 78/24.
Cryand Papistis, Papistis, mekand the semple and humill membris of Christis body as ane gesting-stok … to lach atellipt. or absol. as noun c1420 Ratis R. 1551.
Syk men … That wyll punys our mesure That simplare fore thar gret erour … Sal as thai met resauf agan c1420 Wynt. v 3963 (W).
Baith to sympill, seik and sair, Hir besynes scho wald nocht spaire c1420 Wynt. viii 2585.
Yhe ar cummyn off gentill men: The sympellast [C. symplast] that is oure ost wyth in, Has gret gentillis off hys kyn(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2033.
Quhen women settis thaim … for to defoull thare bodyis Thai tuke … A sempler, as we may oft se, Na thare lord & of les degre(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxii 32 (M).
Gentill and sempill of everie clanellipt. or absol. as noun a1500 Seven S. 536.
Thair was na man than sa wicht Bot it was merwell gif he micht With lyf eschape … For gentill and sempill als he slewe a1538 Abell 51a.
He wes sa sweit in his exortatioun that nother gentill nor sempill pure nor riche … passit away without consolatioun a1568 Scott vi 2.
Luve preysis but comparesone Both gentill, sempill, generall … For luve makis nobill ladeis thrall [etc.](3) c1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
That sympyllere men of degree than a kyng has requerit for swylk election(4) c1420 Ratis R. 45.
Pwre men, cumyne of simpyl blude 1424 Acts II 8/1.
That ilk man of sympil estate that of resone suld be a laborar 1456 Hay I 281/19.
As gif a souldiour of symple state tuke the armes of a knycht noble of Fraunce a1500 Bernardus 173. c1475 Wall. vii 738.
Law born he was, and off law simpill blud c1600 Montg. Suppl. xv 1.
Suppois I be of simple clan Of small degrie and michtie name(b) 1535 Stewart 13211.
All … That cuming ar of sic sempill degrie

b. Of rank or degree: Lowly, humble. a1500 Rauf C. 768.
Thy simpill degre

3. Of a particular designation of person: The least or lowest of that sort; no more than the sort indicated; ordinary.(a) 1456 Hay I 209/2.
Here speris the doctour, gif ilke lord may geve lettre of leve to tak mark, as lordis, symple lordis 1456 Hay I 220/9.
Kingis, dukis and symple erllis 1550 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 3 (7 Oct.).
That na vnfreman mak malt within this bourgche nor symple burges vse the privilege of the gild a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 127/15.
Moses … beand ane sympil seruand of the Lordis 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V 228.
That na simpill barbouris suld haif gritter privilege bot onely to coll [etc.] 1651 Blairs P. 40.
Withdrawing himself allone in a disaguysed simple sojers apparell(b) 1490 Irland Mir. III 89/31.
And he is in gretar autorite na is the sempill prest a1500 Bk. Chess 1003.
He come to Porrus king of Ind Dissimilit in a sempill knychtis kynd a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 212.
Neir thretty ȝeir fra He had maid duelling with His moder as sempill seruitour c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 125/64.
A sempill vicar I can not be 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 84.
Hir Majestie … being ludgit in ane sempill burges hous 1596 Edinb. Test. XXIX 315b.
Scho leuis four hundretht merkis to be distribute amangis sempill freindis c1600 Montg. Suppl. v 4.
King Cupaid, gracles god of glaikes … Thay sarwandis that sick plesur takis to leif lyk sempell slaives of thayne 1605 Glasgow Chart. I dcxiii.
It sall not be lesum to ane sempill burges … to tap … bras, copper, nor as c1615 Chron. Kings 105.
The Queine … passis quyetly to … Newheaweine … and with ane sempill men [sic] of siefair traid entirit in ane small boitt 1653 Edinb. Surgeons 245.
The manefest hurt and prejudice that the calling sus[t]ennis by semple barbouris and expectantis in chyugirie

b. Used (of oneself) as an expression of modesty or humility.(a) a1400 Leg. S. iii 964.
I, thocht I symple be, Goddis servand, hechtis thé a1400 Leg. S. xviii 314.
A sympil preste tho I now be 1423 Edinb. Chart. 213.
That our bodijs and al our gudis as yhur symplez leegis ar at your wyll now 1423 Edinb. Chart. 214.
Yhur symplez sugetis, alderman, baillees and conseel of yhur burgh of Edynburgh 1460 Hay Alex. 2282.
It is revilling to thi maiestie To gar ws simpill messingeris dee 1460 Swintons App. xliii.
Mast humily and lamentabilly menis and complenȝeis ȝur simpil servitour … that [etc.] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 85.
To me quhilk wes his simpyll seruetoure a1568 Bann. Bann. MS (STS) II 1/8.
Quhais trewth as standis (ȝit haif I sympill wicht) Tryd furth 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii 96.
A symple merchant, ȝe man see(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 678.
‘Father,’ quod he, … ‘Ȝe ar the lanterne and the sicker way Suld gyde sic sempill folk as me to grace' a1568 Scott i 223.
This dull indyte, … Send be thy sempill servand Sanderris Scott

c. With non-material substantive: Just the quality, value, etc. expressed and nothing else; mere; exact.(a) c1420 Ratis R. 1111.
With mony fanteseis sere, That changis ay condiscione To thar sympill perfeccioune 1560 Acts II 526/2.
For stopping of the mouthis of impudent blasphemaris quha baldlie condempne that quhilk thai haue nouther hard nor vnderstand. Not that we juge that the cankerit malice of sick is abill to be cureit be this simple confession 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 89.
Quhasaeuer I do not say, hurtis the King … bot slayis him … and … is not contentit with simpil torment, semis he not … to haue ane desyre to pull God out of heuin?(b) 1578 Acts III 113/2.
Vpoun prouisioun that the haill iniureis and attemptatis committit of befoir … suld be reparit to the sempill availl; and to that effect iugis and places of sitting wer appointit

4. Of things, freq. clothes: Ordinary, not sophisticated, elaborate or rich; appropriate to a humble or lowly person. Also, once, transf. of a person wearing such clothes.(a) 1375 Barb. x 307.
Syne he sped him to the were, … Bot with a sympill apparalyng a1400 Leg. S. iii 913.
Of kingis kyne ȝet am I, Thocht I this symple wed has tane 1460 Hay Alex. 1121.
In sic a simpill aray Off presoun fra myne eame I brak away, And … King Alexander now thus hes me dycht In stait of prince 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII 256.
The insycht & plenessing … is bot small in sick ane simple landwart houstransf. 1596 Dalr. I 323/27.
A woman with a lamentable countenance, symple in rayment, and a pitifull voce(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2513.
He put him sone of his awne clething and cled him in-to sempile weid [L. vili et veteri veste] a1500 Henr. Fab. 197.
It was ane semple wane, Off fog and farne full misterlyk wes maid a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1370 (Asl.).
Quhar sempillest stuf is gold and precious stane a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 206.
Thoucht He wes sone & prince to God eterne, Makand His duelling intill ane sempill hame 1535 Stewart 49263.
Robert the Bruce wnder the levis grene … Oft disagysit in ane sempill weid 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 444.
x elnis of cammes to be ane semple mathelas 1567 G. Ball. 50.
The sylk and sandell thé to eis Ar hay and sempill sweilling clais 1580 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 2b.
The sempill guidis and geir that thay posseidis beand conqueist and obtenit … be thair awin laubouris and trawaill 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XII 111.
Tuay Irysche gentilmen … ar to pas thurch this cuntry in semple veid c1610 Melville Mem. 332.
Ane Yreland boy … in semple array … lyk a landuart yong man(c) a1500 Henr. Fab. 141 (Makc.).
This cok disyryng mare the sampill [Bass., H., Ch. sempill, Bann. symple] corne Than ony ia[s]p

b. Unremarkable, ordinary, of no particular note. Also ellipt. a1500 Colk. Sow i 4.
He had a simple blak sow 1494 Loutfut MS 17b.
The connyn is a simple best c1590 J. Stewart 25/382.
Fume neuir so Sir for ane sempill fall 1596 Dalr. I 316/27.
Edward … was slane nocht far frome Anwik at a simple meitingellipt. 1569 Lanark B. Rec. 44.
That na ostlaris … sell na aill derer nor iiij d. the pynt the best thei brew, and the sempillar thre pennes ilk pint

c. Of a piece of writing: Not elaborate. c1515 Asl. MS I 329/24.
The vij deidis of cherite … the vij dedly synnis with braunchis and spycis of thaim with poyntis of speciale and generale cursing the quhilkis & vtheris ma ar so notourlie knawin … that it is nocht nedefull to expreme thaim here in this semple memoriale

5. Of a person, his attitudes, lifestyle, etc.: Modest, unremarkable; appropriate to a person of humble origins.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii 54.
That ald ansuered with simpill cheir c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 81.
Sympyll or sufficeand, quhether it [? erron. for I or ik] be, To bowsumnes ay yhelde I me a1500 Henr. Fab. 1435.
Lord, I beseik thy kinglie royaltie … Considder first my simple pouertie And syne thy mychtie hie magnyfycence 1494 Loutfut MS 34a.
The tenche … sum tymes has the skin blak and othir tymes of goldin colour … and signifies at he that first bure him in armes schew him rycht simple [F. simple] and othir tymes with gret riches and cleid with gold 1596 Dalr. I 106/5.
Of the ecclesiastike state I wil first speik and trulie in fauour of the simpiller sorte(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 373.
Intermellit is aduersitie With eirdlie ioy … And namelie thay quhilk clymmis vp maist hie And not content with small possessioun. Blissed be sempill lyfe withoutin dreid a1570-86 Maitl. F. 245/21.
Off sturtsumnes scho hes no peir Scho garris me say with sempill cheir That I haue nother corne nor kow 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xx 17.
For I, a wyfe with sempill lyfe, Dois wyn my meit ilk day, For small auaill, ay selling caill, The best fassoun I may(c) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 447/7.
Leirne by his lyff to leive in sembill reatt With luiff to God religioun law and rycht For as he was of wertu lucent light Off ancient bluid of nobill spritt and name

6. Of an army, resources for fighting, etc.: Not adequate, lacking, insufficient. 1375 Barb. v 186.
The Persy, With a full sympill cumpany, In Turnberyis castell lyand 1375 Barb. v 258.
Vith twa ȝhomen forouten ma That ves a sympill stuff to ta, A land or castell for to vyn 1375 Barb. xi 209.
Thai war all-out to fele to fycht With few folk of a symple land a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 340.
He bad thame walk for He to pray wold pas Me think this King had bot ane sempill gard, That ȝeid to sleip, quhen He to batall wes 1535 Stewart 27149.
Syne quhen tha knew thair captanis all wer keild, And in the feild sa mony als war slane, Without beleif to gif battell agane; For-quhy thair power sempill wes and small [etc.]

7. Of a person, his understanding, capacity, etc.: Uneducated, illiterate; naive, unsophisticated; foolish, stupid. Also, expressing (conventional) modesty as to the adequacy of the individual's capacities. b. absol. as or passing into noun. c. Of a literary work: Expressing conventional modesty. d. Of an example: Unsophisticated. e. Of an argument: Foolish, stupid.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 619.
Machore gerris men be sorcery Trowis he dowis merakile opynly & sympil men … Dissawis 1456 Hay I 15/35.
Nocht allanerly … symple folk … bot … mony notable and gudely clerkis of hye science 1456 Hay I 30/22.
Be the quhilk grene thingis is understandin the symple peple that ar of ignoraunce; the quhilkis gave trouth and credence to the Romaynes … traistit that thair doctrine had bene trew and lele 1456 Hay I 100/18.
Symple folk that ar nocht letterit folk 1456 Hay I 173/7.
Bot thare is na man sa symple of wit that wald that ane othir man had brokin his prisoune and escapit fra him 1456 Hay I 297/12 (see Simpilnes n. 3). 1507 Edinb. B. Ct. Bk. 11.
The quhilk inquest … couthe nocht deliuer … becaus thai war simpill personis of knaulege c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 468.
Thoght he be sympill to the sicht, he has a tong sickir 1533 Acta Conc. & Sess. (St. S.) 104.
[The] said sheriff and his deputes are oure simple of knowledge to decyde apoun his auld heretage and non-entres thairof 1570 Bann. Memor. 11.
Make the simpill band a cunȝiehous, and gar thame pay euerie ȝeir an guid tribute 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 146.
Thir antichristianis playis fast and lous vith pure simpill mennis saulis 1586 Gray Lett. & P. 91.
He entred in some speache of the late Chauncelor, and of Colonell Stewart, alleadging him to be a simple bodie (so he termed him) ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 77.
The inhabitants thairof are simple creatures, scant learnit in ony religion 1608 Crim. Trials II 324.
I was neuer sic a sott to think that your maiestie was so simpill to be guidit be them that ar about ȝow 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 23.
He was nevir so simple a fae Bot once he may noy 1644 Chron. Perth 41.
The soieueris being hieland simpill bodeis c1650 Spalding II 297.
Gilbert Brek, ane of the touns officiaris, causit bring ane barne … to be bapteisit … bot … he [sc. the minister] wold not gif baptisme to this young infant; quhairvpone the simple man wes forsit to bring bak his barne vnbaptised(b) 1490 Irland Mir. III 12/19.
It is gud that the sempil peple knaw and wnderstand the mater & forme of this sacrament 1490 Irland Mir. III 42/3.
And that the lawde peple suld nocht er trowand that the body of Jhesu is vnder the figur of the breid and nocht his blud [etc.] … and that the semple and lawde pepill suld trow that [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I 61/23.
The erroneous … pleidaris quha … ithanlie labouris to subuert the sillie semple anis 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 525.
[He] thinkis to perswade and entyse sempill and ignorant men to assist him 1567 G. Ball. 72.
Ȝe sempill peple, vnperfyte, Greit ignorance may ȝe tell Of stock and staine hes mair delyte Than in to God Him sell 1558-66 Knox I 62.
In the which [religious play], all thingis war so levelye expressed, that the verray sempill people understood and confessed(2) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58 (see 2 (1) above). c1420 Wynt. i 40.
Rwde is my wyte And sympyll to put all in wryte 1494 Loutfut MS 155a.
And I confes my simple insufficiens litil haf I sene & reportis weil les of this materis to haf experience [etc.] 1526 Douglas Corr. 342.
Besekyng ȝour graice to pardoune me of my simpill wit that writis sa hamly 1533 Boece 245.
Eftir my sympill engyne I follow the historie extractit fra oure ancient croniclis 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 18.
Madam, efter mast humill, mast lawle recommendatioun unto your grace of my sympill servis c1616 Hume Orthog. 11.
The south, … pronunces eu, we ou, both, in my simple judgement, wrang(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I 75/13.
Bot lefull is to me … to schaw my sempil wit in the werkis of the hie maieste 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 135.
Write thir frenesyis Quhilks of thy sempill cunning nakit théb. (1) 1562-3 Winȝet I 9/10 marg.
With idolatrie, with ane simple 1673 W. Dundas A Few Words of Truth from the Spirit of Truth 7.
Such a composition, composed of so many spotted individuals and party-coloured simples(2) 1570 Bann. Memor. 12.
Feid the simpill with fair wordis; boast the faint harted; dispatche the men of spreit 1602 Colville Parænese Ep. 27.
A … treu pastor suld be redy … to giue a reson of his fayth … lest the tender conscience of the simpill suld be brangillit and maid doutfull seing him yeild … vnto any heretique or infidell(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 345/4.
The tradit[ionns] and doctrynne of menn quhilkis begylis the sempyll with sophestry ande learnyng a1651 Calderwood III 555.
For … causing the Word quhilk we profess to be evill spokin of giving occasion of sclander to the enemies and offending the consciences of the sempil and godly 1688 Tryal Philip Standsfield 31.
How then should the least semple remain with you, before whom so full, so clear and so legal a probation has been led, that like a pend every part of it supports anotherc. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 5.
To satisfie my foirsaid symple dyte In recompance of it now will I wryte 1554 Facs. Nat. MSS III xxxvi.
It hath pleased your moste Excellente Maiestie laitlie to accepte a litle plote of my simple penning(b) 1492 Myll Spect. 272/24.
Tuiching the quhilk [sc. matrimony] I will nocht speik in my sempill translatiound. a1578 Pitsc. II 283/7.
So had the lordis ane cownterfett bischope … that the peopill … vald pay thair teindis lyk as the kow seand that calfis skin vald gif hir milk … Quhilk exampill althocht it be sum thing sempill and barbarous ȝit [etc.]e. c1554 Misc. Bann. C. II 30.
And quhair it is allegit … it is vncertane betuix quhilkis of the saidis kirkis and the said burgh of Edinburgh the boundis … lyis; that is ane sempill argument, for … the haill infeftment … is maid expreslie to the kirk of Halyrudhouse … and sua the saidis boundis ar certane

8. Of water: Free from impurities; refined, clear. 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii 319.
The extreame vigour of the sunne, beating continually upon it [sc. the Nile], maketh it become more lighter, purer and simple

9. In heraldry, a name applied to the colour green. 1494 Loutfut MS 11b.
The ferd colour is greyn quhilk is callit in armorie simple And this colour is liknyt til A gentil precious stan callit ameraud

10. In legal or quasi-legal use: Involving no complication or circumstance or further legal process, etc. than that specified; no more than or nothing other than the thing specified. b. Contrasted with alternative: Single.(a) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 138.
Tua forsuth ar kyndis of manis slauchter Ane is that is callit murther the quhilk is done priuily [etc.] … Thar is ane other kynd of manis slauchter the quhilk is callit sympil manis slauchter 1471–2 Acta Aud. 18/1.
Tuiching the warandis to the saide Donald of a certane land … sald to him be the said John … efter the forme of a charter made tharuppon … the lordis auditouris of complaintis decretis … that becaus thar is bot a symple inquest past vppon the said landis [etc.] 1489–90 Acta Aud. 145/2.
The said pretendit decrett is gevin agane the … lawis of the realme that quhare the said George wes lauchfully infeft be charter and sesing in the landis … & haid takin actuale & reale possession in the samyn and for a nakit & simple promitt maid … to the said Issobell to gif hir the said landis [etc.] c1500 Harl. MS 4700 257a.
As to the tailȝeit landis … he is bot a simpill kepar thairof and na power has thairin 1549–50 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 599.
[The royal letters] ar gevin upoun symple monitouris contenand na cursing 1584–5 Grey Friars II 271.
To follow thairupoun upoun ane symple charge of sax dayis in form as efferis 1610 Highland P. III 119.
Ane ample criminall iurisdictioun over the … landis … the lyke whairof hes not bene in vse to be grantit heir bot hes bene refuisit to the Duke of Lennox [etc.] … and thay made to be content with a simple power of iusticiarie within their awne boundis 1617 Acts IV 545/2.
That lyferent takis … sall not fall vnder a simple gift of escheate bot vnder the gift of a lyifrent escheat onlie 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS 6 Jan.
He is ordane to pay onlye inrespect of his simple estate bot ten merkis 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 282.
Na richt of propertie … bot onlie ane simple and nakit possessioun vpoun ane pretendit richt 1684 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 312.
Wee were graciously pleased in consideration of the … good services of the family … to change the holding of such of the lands as formerly held ward from simple ward to taxtward(b) 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 97.
He is contentit to ansuer … be ane summondis or ane sempill bill 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 37.
Quhatsumevir clame, sempill supplicatioun, bill or summondis that Agnes Lawmond … plesit to persew c1580 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. ix 29.
[First they offer full repentance … Secondly … ] to be fathar to hes bairnis … [Thirdly … to become bound in manrent … for ever. Fourthly [etc.] … ] Besekand you for the lwff of Allmychty God to … exsepe this our sempell offar 1583 Perth B. Ct. 28 June.
And the hornyng to pas vpone ane semple charge of thre dayis warnyng 1614 Ayr Chart. 151.
With lettres and executoriallis of horning upoun ane semple charge of sex dayes allenarlieb. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 235.
A lybell conceavit alternativé in the narrative, if in the conclusione the petition be simple [heading alternative averments with single conclusion], it is inept and irrelevant

c. In various technical senses: As in grammatical or musical theory.Dyapason symple, the interval of an octave. Cf. Denton Fox (ed.) The Poems of Robert Henryson (OUP) 401-2. a1500 Henr. Orph. 234.
First dyatesseron full suete I wis; And dyapason symple and duplate, And dyapente componyt with a dys c1505-8 Donatus 1b.
How mony figure of participilis … Quhareby knaw ye the simpil figur it moy not hafe the hail significatione as legens redant the decompund figure it is as fra perlego cuius perlegend fra negligo cuius negligens 1531 Vaus (1522) Dd. iiij b (Jam., s.v. Decomponit).
How mony figures is thare in ane pronowne? Thre, … ane sympil, & ane componit, and ane decomponit 1531 Vaus (1531) 2.
The simpil figure [of a verb] … may nocht be departit in twa undirstandibil partis of orisone participant of the first significatione as taceo curro. The componit figure it may be departit in twa understandibil partis of orisone participant of the first significatione as conticeo concurro c1550-c1580 Art of Music 46b.
Collorat quhat is it. It is ane fractur or parting of symple noittis in dywers figuris mensurall, the quhilk to name is callit discant c1550-c1580 Art of Music 123b.
In the lewnt chaiptour of the first bwk of sympill music

d. In more general use: Uncomplicated, straightforward 1588 Edinb. Surgeons 8.
Admittit and ressauit in maister and freman of the barbours craft and to vse the cureing of simpill woundis allanerlie, and not to vse ony componit cureing without the concurrance of ane vther qualifiyt cuning maister chyrurgiane

11. Probably erron., due to editorial misreading, for sinful. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 159.
I pray to thé Thu fande nocht my humylite, Fore I ame bot a sympil man [L. quia homo peccator sum] c1490 Porteous Noblenes 177/29 (A).
Scho [sc. Worthiness] is fers … to … cruell men and to semple men scho makis na let truble nor stopping I say that thai persewe this lady Worthines richt swerlye … and takis armys in ane symple [? erron. for sinful] wassalege that takis & revis the gudis and substance of pure commonis … and sa sic men suld ches … erare honest deid than to lif in schame

12. adv. Simply; merely. 1535 Stewart 26334.
As he war king … and [I] to him war sympill bund and thrall

13. noun. Plant material used as an ingredient in a medicine; a medicine composed of a single ingredient of this sort; a herb or plant. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest. 19.
The scrufe of citroun, … the tre and granis of iuniper, … the rute of valeriane, … tyme, calamint, mariolaine [etc.] … And as ony of the simplis befoir written seruis, siclyk compositionis may be maide of the sam 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest. 31.
Coriander preparit eitin befoir & efter meit is preseruatiue also: as mony vtheris simplis & composit medicines may be prescryuit 1587-99 Hume 28/77.
All trees and simples great and small That balmie leife do beir 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 9/18.
Astrologia … is deuided in two partes: The first by knowing thereby the powers of simples, and sickenesses, [etc.] 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 168.
That the great compositions … be not maid up … till … the phisicians sie that all the simples be fresh and weell proportionit and preparit

b. A single, uncompounded substance; a thing or substance free from admixture with other ingredients. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 166/12.
Lett all youre foode be of simples uithout composition or saulces, quhilke are lyker medecines then meate