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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wele, Weill, n. Also: vel(e, weil(e, weille, veil(l, ueill, viel, weyll, weyle, weiyll, wel(l, welle, vell, uell, weaille, weal(l, weale, weel(l, weele, waile, wayll, wile, woill. [ME and e.m.E. wele (c1200), wale (c1250), well (Cursor M.), wel (c1300), weel (14th c.), weale (1531).]

1. a. Well-being, happiness. ?1438 Alex. ii 6077.
Ane vantage thay haue … And ane treasure … Of amouris and of ladyes dere … And ȝit ar thay, with all this weill, Luffaris new and lemmens leill c1450-2 Howlat 252 (A).
I am … Be natur netherit … Wreche of all wretches, fra worschipe and wele c1475 Wall. vi 98.
Fy on fortoun … Thow transfigowryt Wallace out off his weill … Throw thi fers cours … Him thow our threw out off his likand rest Fra gret plesance in wer, trawaill and wo. What is fortoune, quha dryffis the dett so fast? We wait thar is bathe weill and wykit chance a1500 Lufaris Compl. 49.
Thai ar begilit, sen hir [sc. Fortune's] quhele mon turn, That traistis alway in wele for to soiurn 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 148.
Heir is na paramouris fund, bot all haitrent, Quhar nowthir to weill nor resson tak thai tent a1568 Scott xiii 24.
Rathir nor smart, I mon my harme reweill To ȝow, my hairt, quha ma my baillis beit; For, & ȝe start, adew all warldly weill

b. What is in a person's best interests, the good, well-being, welfare, advantage or prosperity of an individual. Also with non-personal, material or non-material object of the preposition.(1) 1529 St. P. Henry VIII IV 572.
The … lufe and favour ȝe beire towart ws, willing always oure honoure and wele 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 147.
Service in that mater and all uder thingis concerni[n]g hir gracis vele 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. 190a.
[He] havand na frend nor kynisman to do for his vele for the tyme 1574 Edinb. Test. III 93.
His haill gudis & geir [to] be put to proffeitt to the wele of the saidis bairnis(b) c1475 Wall. vi 91 (see a above). a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 469 (Asl.).
Syn is mast contrar To mannis weile 1515 Adam Williamson in Doug. (Sm.) I p. lviii.
His grace with his wys counsale labouris for the weile of the quene and of hir childryne 1536–7 Hamilton P. I 41.
The samin is safer contrar the weill of ws 1549 Compl. 112/31.
For ȝour particular veil is bot ane accessor of ȝour comont veil 1558 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 259a.
The said Walter for the weill help and supple of his said broder dochteris … bindis … him to [etc.] 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 190.
Speciallie quhair the pleasor, veill, and contentment of the quenis majestie consisted 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 108.
His fader wes astrictit be souerties in parliament for sure keiping thairof [sc. Edinburgh Castle] for our soueranis vtilitie and weill 1570 Leslie 62.
Sir James Ogillvy … wes send to the king of Denmark … speciallie for the weile of the merchaundis 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 40/10.
That quhilke ȝe aske is not for ȝour ueill 1587-99 Hume 43/64.
And for his weill with awfull boast layes on the byting wand 1630 Linlithgow B. Rec. 23 April.
The great necessitie thay haue of ane second minister … for the weill of thair saulis 1633 Aberd. B. Rec. in Sc. N. & Q. II 118.
To big up chamberis and beddis within the samen for the weill and ease of the studentis within the said colledge(c) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Pref. 7.
That thereby they micht … obey the King, to their awin particular well, and to the universall commoditie of the common well of this realme c1609 Crim. Trials III 22.
I pray yow faill not, as yee respect his lordship's well, to send his letter to him 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix 414.
Hungary aboundeth … in all things the earth can produce for the well of man 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 7.
Protesting that they did indead tel her for her owne wel(d) 1613 Conv. Burghs II 419.
To forsie anye thing … that they think meitt for thair awin weyll and for the weill of the haill burrowes(e) 1546 Shetland Doc. 57.
The sayd Margret sall suple the sayd Thorrald … quhen scho is requiryt be the sayd Thorrall tyll weiyll and honor(f) 1624 Melrose P. 561.
For the weall of my hous and cheyld(g) 1655 Soc. Ant. XXX 18.
To delivere for the weel and use of the said Dowgald thrie girt kye and stirke(2) 1561 Reg. Privy S. V i 212/1.
To … do all thingis necessar concerning the wele … of the same [sc. munitioun house] that na thing want nor be misorderit thairin(3) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 329.
[For the] weill of all besines as ye sall ken at the meeting 1589 Crim. Trials I ii 333.
That it were presently requisite for the weill of our cause to deliver him(b) ?1544–5 Bk. Carlaverock II 25.
To the woill of the setting forwart the Kinges Majesteis efferis … in this realme, and to the common woill of bayth the realmis

c. In collocation with wa (Wa n. 3): The good (aspects, outcome, etc. (of a situation)), good fortune, well-being, happiness. Also proverb. 1375 Barb. iii 354.
The king wmbethocht him … That he fra thine on fute wald ga And tak on fute bath weill & wa a1400 Leg. S. xvi 753.
The prince … tald hyre al, wele & vay a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 700.
Wit we in-to Cryst trew, Na it sal we nocht fal fra For wa[r]ldly thing, na wele na va ?1438 Alex. ii 4127.
He had, outhir for weill or wa, At sic myscheif greuit his fa c1420 Wynt. iii 402.
Swylk [is the werde] … That changyd, … welle for wa, Off hart and body, kyn and kyth c1420 Ratis R. 485.
The quhilk … Is stedfast treuth in weill and way a1500 Henr. Praise of Age 12.
Wrechitnes has wroht all welthis wele to wo c1475 Wall. ii 122.
Weyle a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 130 (Asl.).
The weile and wa of euery regioun Dependis apon the king 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 180.
Now wo, now weill, now firme, now friuolous … Inconstant warld a1568 Scott xxiv 22.
To leif in le, At libbertie, is weill but wo c1600 Poem (verso T. Pont) 5.
For weil, for welth, for want, for wo. I force no friend, I feir no foe 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 397.
Neither summer nor winter, nor well nor woe, may cause you change your Masterproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 353.
He is worth na weill that may not byde na wae a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1617.
They are not worth the weill that wil not byde the wo

d. Applied to a person. a1400 Leg. S. xxx 363.
My far Theodera … Thu art my welth & wele; Thu art my confort & my heile

2. The well-being or communal good of a group or community, the common weal. Also with non-material object of the preposition.(1) a1500 Bk. Chess 1045.
Knychtis suld kepe the pepill & defend And for thaim fecht and to thair weile attend 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 406.
For the ese, quiet and wele of his legis in thai partis 1509 Reg. Privy S. I 286/2.
To … have protectioun of Inglismen for wele and savite of thair place, landis and gudis on the bordouris 1512–13 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 140.
The … statutis … maid be ws and our counsall for the weill of our realme 1521 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 62.
That all men, … quhenever ony fraye cumis, … pas togydder at thair power for weill of the town 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 43.
To intercommoun afoir the batall concernyng the wele of Scottis and Pichtis 1532 Reg. Cupar A. I 314.
For the weille eys tranquillite and commoun profeit of the haill Kirk of Scotland 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I 223.
With power … to set the burro rudis belangand to the said burgh for the weill thairof 1566 St. A. Baxter Bks. 12.
To be pait be the furnessir to the weill of the said craft 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 55/6.
A goode king … subiecting his awin priuate affections & appetites to the ueill & standing of his subiectis 1603 Inverness Rec. II 16.
Viel 1605 Glasgow Trades House 4.
Weale 1613 Conv. Burghs II 419 (see 1 b (1) (d) above). 1622 Aberd. Council Lett. I 198 (see Wach(e n. 3 d).
Weele 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 48.
Weel c1650 Spalding II 93.
The parliament is curious and circumspect for ther owne weill and standing 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 11.
Weell 16… Rankin St. A. Ch. 65.
I … shall be leal … to the honour of God and Holy Kirk and to the weal and good of the altar of St. Eloy: and never to … see the skaith of any brother or sister of the same without [etc.](b) 1528–9 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 97.
For the vell and common profet to be leill and trew to our soverane lord, the kyng 1588 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 744.
To have a care of the well of the whole kirk 1631 Glasgow Weavers 70.
To pay tuentie pund to the well of the craft 1641 Arguments by the Commissioners of Scotland unto the Lords of the Treaty 4.
That which doth highly concerne his majesties honour, and the well of all his dominions 1644 Misc. Spald. C. I 33.
Uell 1670 Glasgow B. Rec. III 133.
All … maters tending to wel, liberties and priviledges of this burgh 1703 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 141.
To prevent the lyke mistakes in tyme coming for the well and benefite of the Colledge(c) 1519 Aberd. B. Rec. I 96.
For wile and honour of the gud toune(2) 1533 Boece 157b.
Marius … was awatit dalie and hatit to the dede fering mekill the weill of his regne, his awne persoun [etc.] 1533 Treas. Acc. VI 134.
To … desist fra all making furth of weir schippis in contrar the Inglismen for weill of peace 1680 Edinb. B. Rec. X 414.
[The council will act] as they shall find … reasonable for the weell of the merchant interest and advancement of trade

b. Commoun wele in the senses of Commoun wele n.(1) 1561 Dumfries B. Ct. 15b.
Dauid Cunygham present … is chosin bailie … and suorn thairto to vs as the comond vele vald vse 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 56/4.
Ane usurping tiran … inuerting all good lauis to serue onlie for his priuate unreulie affections, frame the comonueill euer to aduance his particulaire 1599 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 13.
To be payit to the box for the commoun weill(b) 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 142.
Wayll(2) 1515 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 35.
For the common well of the burgh 1542 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 211.
All … acis maid of beffor … for the cowmownd weyll of his tenandis 1543 Arran in Keith Hist. I 347.
Sic thingis as ryndis hichtlie to the commone weale of baith thir realmes ?1544–5 Bk. Carlaverock II 25 (see 1 b (3) (b) above).
Common woill 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Pref. 7 (see 1 b (1) (c) above).
Common well 1570 Leslie 61.
Weaille 1583 Cal. Sc. P. X 634.
Waile(3) 1600 Crim. Trials II 255.
Quhen your Hienes, the father of the commoun veill vas preservit, that the haill estait … vas preservit frome ane feirfull desolatioun … quhilk had ensewit vpon the haill inhabitanes of your Hienes realm

c. Wele publik, = Public wele n. q.v. 1513 Doug. xi vii 155.
For the weill publik of this land, Desyre that he na wys tharto ganestand 1549 Sutherland Bk. III 107.
The saidis nobill lordis havand ee to the wele publik of the realme 1567 Inverness Rec. I 148.
Adwysing for the commoun effaris and veill publict of this burcht

d. A commonwealth. 1513 Doug. xi vii 92.
Avys heiron amangis ȝou for the best, And help to bryng our febill weill [L. medium] to rest 1570 Sat. P. xvii 100.
Tressonable tratour! be tresson that thocht gude Murdreis the prince, preseruer of this weill

3. An instance of 1 or 2 above, a benefit, favour, advantage. Also pl. 1513 Doug. ii iii 34.
I sal schaw thé verite … And for my lyfe sal rendir ȝou a gret weill 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 112.
It war ane greit weill to yow to haif tham 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 286.
Any such mater … quhilk salbe thought a weill to the estate of burrowespl. c1568 Maxwell Mem. II 131.
Commonis is hard to caus vnderstand thair avin weillis 1575 Edinb. Test. III 346b.
That lufe & aggrement suld remane betuix his twa sonnes becaus it wes to baith thair weillis 1584 Perth B. Ct. 4 May.
With baith ther consentis ordanis thir presentis to be insert in the burrow courte buikis of Perth for baith ther velis 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI 183a.
That … the sowmes of geir that he leuis thaim be … put to thair weillis & proffeit 1596 Bk. Islay 99.
Me, Angus M^cDoneill … hes concludit for our appeirand weillis that my said sone sould pas to his Majesties presence 1602 Misc. Spald. C. II 287.
Respecting alwayis thair weillis and concord as our cheif contentment 1678 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 31 Dec.
Shoe … leaves … hir husband to educat hir forsaids two childrein and … to heave the wholl gydeing … and intromission with thaire provitiones for thaire weills good utilitie and profit

4. Material prosperity, wealth, splendour. c1420 Wynt. iv 1941.
Hym to supprys wyth thaire powere Fra thai be growyn in welth and welle [C. weil; rh. seile] 1460 Perth Guildry 42.
That the wele of west be giffin to hald vp mesis and evinsang daily a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 73.
The saill … That wondir wisly wes wroght with wourschip and wele

5. What is good, virtue. c1420 Ratis R. App. iv 3.
Sen trew vertew encres dignytee, And wertew floure and rut is of noblay, Of ony weill, of quhat esstat thow bee, His steppis sew, … Exill all wyce and folow treuthe 15.. Clar. iii 1384.
This nobill knicht … The verie flour of chevelrie and well a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1681.
Weill is them that weill dois, few folks monis them