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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Processioun, -ion, n. Also: processione, -ioune, -yown(e, prosession. [ME and e.m.E. procession (1103–23), -ioun (c 1290), early ME also -iun (1154), ME also -yon (14..), prosessyoun, prosesioun (13..), e.m.E. also prosession (1594), F. procession (11th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), med. L. procession- (11th c. in Latham) a procession.]

1. The action of processing ceremonially; a body of persons in procession in this way; (a) procession. Also fig.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 4391.
The byschope … The thre dayis gert be fastyd then, And haldyne the processyowne [C. prosession] Before the Ascensiowne 1424 Acts II 8/1.
That ilk bischop gif bidding … till his clergy to mak processionys & spirituale prayeris for the welefare … of our lorde the king 1456 Ib. 46/1.
And at the prelatis mak generale processionis throu out ther dyoceis twys in the wolk for stanching of the pestilence 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I 32.
The saidis twa craftismen sall … haue thair placis and rowmes in all generale processiouns lyk as thai haf in the towne of Bruges 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 3.
For the costis of the procession of Corpus Christi, iij s. iij d. 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 256. 1491 Treas. Acc. I 172. 1494 Edinb. Hammermen 5.
On Sownday quhen the processioun was playd for the king 1501 Ib. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 228. 1505 Aberd. B. Rec. I 432.
The craftsmen … in thar best aray kepit and decorit the procession one Candilmes day yerlie c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii 17 (M).
Ane fair processioun mett hir at the port 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 186.
The lordis ordanis generall processioun to be maid … that all kirk men pas daly and the commone pepill that remanis at hame fra the host to pas and follow the saidis processiouns prayand for [etc.] 1523 Treas. Acc. V 216.
Lettres … to all the prelatis … for generale processionis to be maid for the weillfare of the realme 1523–4 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 122.
Becas he rafusit to pas in the candilmes processioun with his … sing of his craft 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 33, etc. 1531 Aberd. B. Rec. I 450. 1531 Bell. Boece II 73. 1532 Murray Early B. Organ. I 383. 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 127. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 143.
The tyme of the saule mes, process[ione] and derige 1553 Aberd. B. Rec. I 456. 1559 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I xc. 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. v 53. 1580–1 Second Conf. Faith in Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 516.
That Romane Antichrist … with his processiounis and blasphemous letanie 1642 A Second Discovery of the Northern Scout 6.
But ye ken there is an old saying, There can be no holy procession where the devill carries the crosse 1685 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 305.
Ane solemne processione frome the church to the mercat cross(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 913.
He [the emperor] … Went to met Sir Placydas … With honorabil processione Ib. xl 735. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 652 (C).
With gret processioune Of thare prestes c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii 40 (B).
Sum gois to gallous with processioun 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 123.
For the strublance of the bailȝeis on Corpus xpi day in tyme of processioun 1558 Treas. Acc. X 365.
To mak fyris and processioun generall for the completing and solemnizing of the mariage a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii 42.(3) a1400 Leg. S. ii 363.
The bischop sad than … This is the hed of Sanct Paule! And went one in processione And browcht it with hym to the towne Ib. xl 744.
The maste vorthi … Beris it in processione c1420 Wynt. vi 1020.
As in till oys the pape had ay, Wyth the collage throwch the towne To gang intill processyowne Ib. 491.
Processyown Ib. v 2994. a1500 Rauf C. 345.
Bischop Turpine cummand thay se … Preichand of prophecie in processioun 1525–6 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 123.
Gif the massonis & sclataris ȝeid with thaim in processioun on Candilmes day 1543 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 113.
In passing of thame in processioun c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2507.
Thay beir ane auld stock image throuch the toun … With preistis and freris in to processioun Ib. 2524, 2535. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi 29.
Preistis and clerkis … With devote mynd gang in processioun And in ȝour queiris sing [etc.](4) fig. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendeous Ressonyng (ed.) 152/14.
Last of all, I will hwmyllie desyr my lorde of Athenis … to go hindmest in this famous processioun … to mak confutatioun (etc.) [supra in speciall to Knox, Willock [etc.] … Spottiswod, Athenis]

2. Proceeding or issuing forth from a source; emanation: see Proced(e v. 13, 16. 1490 Irland Mir. II 24/15.
The sone procedis fra the fader be way of generacioun, and the haly spreit be the way of processioun