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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Franche, Franch, adj. and n. Also: Fraunche, Fransche, Fransh(e, Frain(s)che, Fraynche. [ME. frensch(e, frensc, OE. frencisc. The vowel of the Sc. forms agrees with Du. Fransch, Dan. and Sw. Fransk, mod. Icel. Franskur.]

1. adj. French, in various contexts.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6649.
Set that the Inglis ma ware then Than ware the Franche 1456 Hay I. 135/27.
The Franche knycht takis in grete curage to pas to the bataill Ib. 235/7.
Be the way thare metis thame a Franche capitane 1495 Treas Acc. I. 227.
Bocht to the King fra the Franche cutler, ij baslaris 1504 Ib. II. 423.
Maister Johne, the Franch medicinar, new maid Abbot of Tungland 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 269.
Vndir cullour of sum strange Franch wycht 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 73.
Deliverit to the franche armourar … vj quarteris crammasy satyng a1570-86 Maitl. F. xvi. 71.
Scottis or Franche quhat man that ever he be(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 2044 (C).
Bathe Duche and Fransche naciounys 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 179.
To bring the arres claythis … to Lythgow again the cuming of the Fransche harrold 1565–6 Melville Corr. 5.
We haue writtin … to the Fransche ambassatour 1623 Melrose P. 503.
The Franshe king(c) 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 7.
Ane Fraynche cordiner, quha wes tayne … amangst the Spayngyerts 1599 Ib. 255.
His Mai[es]teis bankett to be maid to the Fraynche imbassodour(2) 1456 Hay I. 45/26.
The quhilk is alsmekle to say in Franche tong [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii. 1626 (W).
Thus he said in Franche leid 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 241.
The sowme of ten merkis payit … to the maister of the Franche scule(3) 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 13.
iiij elne of Franche blak for a syde govne to the king Ib. 41.
ij½ elne of Franche broune to couir my Lordis creddill 1506 Ib. III. 275.
v … elne Frauch lynnyn 1512 Ib. iv. 205.
Thrie dussone of Franche crapis 1536 Edinb. B. Rec. ii. 71.
Als weill Frainche clayth, Flanders clayth, as Scottis clayth 1561 Ib. III. 121.
Als mekle Franche blak as wilbe euery ane of thame aue coit 1566 Treas. Acc. MS. 53.
Thre elnis of Franche freis 1580 Edinb. Test. IX. 52 a.
iij elnis of … Fransche gray cloiking claith(4) 1537 Treas. Acc. VI. 336.
Ane franche sadill furnyst with girthis [etc.] 1546 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XXII. 126 b.
Twa franche hwdis of welwott 1603 Montgomery Mem. 351.
For ane Franch vyr to myhed(5) 1467 Acts II. 88/2.
The Franche crowne … and the ridar 1468 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 143.
The franche crowne of gold [to pass] for allewing schillingis 1483 Acta Aud. 112/1.
xlv franch crovnis & demyis, the price of the pece xiiij s. 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 77.
To the Kingis offerand, thre Franch crounes 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 327/20.
The gift of xx franch crounis of gold ȝerelie

b. Gaulish. 1513 Doug. viii. xi. 36.
Thar mycht thou se the Franch army alhaill Haist … to the capitoll

2. n. a. The French language. 1400 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 44.
Englis … ys mare clere to myne vnderstandyng than Latyne or Fraunche ?1438 Alex. Col. 7.
My will was gude, To follow that in franche I fand writtin c1420 Wynt. viii. 1661 (C).
In Franche qwhein he this had said thar, In Franche he said ȝhit forthirmare 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 116.
So me behufyt … Sum bastard Latyn, Franch or Inglys oys, Quhar scant was Scottis 1522 Rep. Mar & Kellie MSS. 11.
The Lord Erskin … sall be his scoule master … and instruct him … to speke Latin and Fransh 1622-6 Bisset II. 201/16.
These lawes war … translated out of Franche into Duche

b. pl. The Gauls. 1533 Boece ix. viii. 304 b.
Rome … was takin … be the Franchis of Sans in begynnyng of thare nacion