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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Baillie, Ballie, n.¹ Also: bailli, baille, bailie (-ee), baily, bayli(e, bayllie, baylly; balle, bally, bal(e)y, balie; bely, beillie, bealyie, byillie, byel(l)e. [ME. baili, baily, bayly, baille, baillie, etc. (c 1300), a. OF. bailli, later form of baillis (acc. baillif Bailiff). See also Bailȝe n.¹]‘Willelmus Baly’ occurs as a witness c 1300 in Liber Dryburgh 270, and ‘Willelmus Bailly de Scotia miles’ in 1378 in Rotuli Scotiæ II. 13/1.

1. A town magistrate corresponding to an alderman in England.(a) 1393 Charter Thos. Dunbar MS. (Reg. H.).
Tyl the aldirmen the baylis of our burgh of Elgyne 1412 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 389.
The aldirman and the baillies of the tovn [of Aberdeen] 1455 Edinb. Chart. 79.
The Prouost, Baillieis, Counsale and Communite of the Burgh of Edynburgh 1476 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 33.
The provest, baillies, and counsale of the burgh of Edinburgh 1520 Stirling B. Rec. I. 6.
Johen Blair gave his complant to the provest and baillies 1537 Reg. Privy S. II. 340/1.
Ane of the baillies of Abirdene Ib.
For … deforcing of the provest and baillies tharof 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 273.
Gevin maister Johnne Spens, baille, for ane horshous 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 104.
Superflowis bankatting … as the bailleis and eldaris … declarit 1588 Wemyss Chart. MS.
To charge all provests and baillies of burrowis to mak thair tolbuithis opin 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 128.
The Election of Baillies … At the first head court after Michaelmes, the Baillies sould be chosen of faithfull men, and of gude fame, be the common consent of the honest men of the burgh 1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 127.
The saids proveist, baillees and counsell 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 170.
Such money as the said baillie hes in his hands(b) 1473 Peebles B. Rec. 21.
The ballies, burges, and haile communite of the burgh of Peblis 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 30.
The prouest, ballies, counsall, dene of gild [etc.] a1500 Bk. Chess 1085.
The pepill suld haue werraye power plane Ballies to cheis and to depryue agane c1500 Crying of Play 21.
Prowest, ballies, officeris, And honorable induellaris 1519 Dunferm. B. Rec. 206.
The ballie Villiem Spittaill Ib.
Dene James … askit at the said ballie to seil the samyn 1527 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 377.
To all and sindry … aldermen, provestis, and ballies of burrowis … greting 1542 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 184.
Ane taxt to be set be the provest and the four ballies 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 56.
The balleis accuset David Blakie for mispersoning of Thome Gray, ballie 1583 Ib. 89.
Gef sik can be provin of me, I am nocht wirdie … to be ballie 1624 Elgin Rec. II. 183.
It is appoynted that James Layng be payit weiklie of viij s. be the balleis c1650 Spalding II. 401.
Ane of oure Oldtoun balleis Ib.
This govkit gys wes begvn be oure bally 1653 Irvine Mun. II. 254.
Johne Ride baley 1681 Ib. 298.
Balie Fwlartownes order Ib. 299.
Lait ballie in Irving(c) 1653 Irvine Mun. II. 253.
To Johne Guttre bely Ib. 255.
When Iohne Ride and I was tuo byeles cherged for the ecksyes Ib.
For tuo years fiell being byelle 1655 Peebles B. Rec. II. 197.
Quhen the bealyies and ... counsell met with Iohn Scots ... and set the merches 1668 Bk. Old Edinb. C. V. 143.
Your very humbill servants the byillies of Leith

2. An administrative officer of a barony or regality; a bailiff.(a) 1456 Hay II. 21/23.
Forthy dois a king … grete wrang … quhen he makis othir schereffis, baillies, or provostis of othir lawlyar men na knychtis 1541 Reg. Privy S. II. 658/2.
Makand the said Gawyne baillie of all and sindry our soverane lordis landis and lordschip of Avendale 1576–7 Orkney Oppress. 58.
The Underfowde (quhilk is the baillie of the parochin or yle) 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 59.
Without ony knawledge or askyng at the baillie of scout [= Du. schout] 1581 Acts III. 222/1.
The schiref, stewart, or baillie of regalite, baille of barony; … or vthir temporall judges 1682 Corshill Baron Ct. 158.
Sir Alexander Cunninghame of Corshil, … and David Stewart of Kirkwood, his Baily(b) 1474 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 442.
The lordis of counsale … deliueris that the said ballies has procedit ordourly in the seruing of the said brevis 1488 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. 704/2.
His landis … the quhilkis the said Duncane is ballie of vnder me 1494 Reg. Episc. Morav. 219.
That the Bischopis men be nocht distrenyt for wappinschawyn nor hostyng bot to pas with his balie 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 251/2.
Makand the sade Robert and his ayris ballies of all and sindry the landis and lordschip of Apnadull 1536–7 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 47.
Johnne Campble … allegeand him to be ballie of the said hale lordschip 1540 Edinb. Chart. 211.
The abbot and convent of the said abbay … and thair ballies c1650 Spalding I. 59.
The Marques … sendis word to his balleis to deliuer … the keyis of Strathbogie 1682 New Mills Manuf. 37.
That the hous … be devided with a ston wall … and by the baly erected a prison

3. With adjs., as baillie deput, principall. 1544 Grant Chart. 90.
Halding … ferme and stable all … thingis my said baillie depute ledis to be done in the premissis 1557 Reg. Cupar A. II. 129.
James, Lord Ogiluy, baillie principall of the said abbay