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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Firmance, n. Also fyr-, firmanse. [Var. of Fermance, after L. firmus.]

1. Confinement, custody; imprisonment.(a) 1497 Acta Conc. II. 88.
That he tak the sade Schir Wilyeam Dowy and put him in firmance and presoun 1512 Crim. Trials I. 81.
He beande in firmance or sure keping 1576 Misc. Spald. C. II. 330.
Thai … tuke him perforse in his awne house … and putt him in firmance in the towr of the samen 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 132.
Gif any person is … suspect of treason, he sall remane in firmance … , vntill he haue tholed ane assyse 1646 Lanark Presb. 52.
To keepe him under firmance till the civill magistrate be advised 1680 Lauder Observes 11.
Some said he should be … keept in perpetuall prison and firmance(b) 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 3.
Letteris … tendand to caus ws to be put & haldin in fyrmans 1549 Soc. Ant. XI. 88.
Dauid Sinclar … violentlie handlit be his lordship, and inordourlie keipt within his firmans

b. With adjs. close, sickar, sure, strait. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 217.
The personis [were] put in sickar firmance and presoun agane 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 66.
That I shuld be in suire firmance, [he] commandit sex of his servandis to wait vpoun me 1587 Reg. Morton I. 155.
We … command ȝow that ȝe retene and kepe the Said plege in clois firmance 1596 Crim. Trials I. ii. 378.
Reveisching of … his dochter furth thairof … and keping hir in strait firmanse 1621 Red Bk. Menteith II. 319.
To … keepe and deteene thame in sure firmance and captiuitie 1698 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 325.
Knowing that the magistrats did order the officers that keeped the prisone … to keep him in sure firmance

c. Secure or safe keeping (of a thing). 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 293.
Ane litill chalice … to remayne … within the said kirk in firmance and keipyng 1559 Ib. 323.
For … preserving of the chalices, siluer werk [etc.] … to put the same in suir firmance and keiping

2. Assurance of aid or adherence. 1481 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 411.
That nane neighbour duelland within the said burgh sal mak na firma[n]s to the said Robert Elect

3. A firm or stable state or condition; a means of stability or security.Frequently used by Bellenden. 1482 Thanes of Cawdor 66.
Sickir fyrmance of the saidis bandis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 30.
The fame of ane nobill prince is ane gret firmance to his realme Ib. 74.
Sa lang as ye Britonis standis in sicker firmance