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

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

Quotation dates: 1375-1500, 1567-1585

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Fay, n. Also: fa, fey. [ME. fay, fai (c 1300), fey, fei, OF. fei, earlier feit, feid Faith n.]

1. Faithfulnes; fidelity to a superior; fealty, allegiance.1375 Barb. xiii. 545.
With him tretit swa the king, That he … held him lelely his fay
1375 Ib. xix. 790.
By thair cry persauit thai That thai war frendis, and at a [= one] fay
1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 86/1.
That nane of outher syde … sal change fay or be recettit in others bondys
1407 Bk. Carlaverock II. 418.
To all thir thingys … we haue geuyn our gude fay
c1420 Wynt. i. 635.
We sulde have dowt and awe To … yhelde ws fekyll fals in fay
c1420 Ib. viii. 6340.
Schyr Dawy the Lyndyssay, That wes trewe, off stedfast fay
?1438 Alex. ii. 2212.
For the fay that thow aw Dyany, Hes thow lemman or droury?
a1500 Henr. Fab. 1611.
To pray That … lordis keip thair fay Vnto thair souerane king
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 93.
Me think thow fedis thé vnfair, … be my fay
a1568 Scott ii. 210.
He … tuk him to ane mill To hyd him, As coward fals of fey

b. Inglis, or Scottis, fay, allegiance to England or Scotland.1375 Barb. xiii. 404.
He … straucht to Bothwell tuk the vay, That than at Ynglis mennys fay Wes
c1420 Wynt. viii. 4443.
Othir worthy wycht men … Held thame as to the Scottis fay
c1420 Ib. 6427, etc. c1450-2 Howlat 567.
Dowglas … Maid it [sc. Galloway] ferme, As we fynd, to the Scottis fay
1456 Hay I. 230/20.
Ȝe ar all at the Inglis faye, and I am a Francheman
c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iv. 295.
Quham euir thai mett, was at the Inglis fay, Thai slew all doun

c. Bon fay, good faith. (OF. bone fei.) Wickit fay, faithlessness.a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 552.
Thow salbe fundin als febil of thy bone fay
a1500 Henr. Fab. 971.
Be thow atteichit … For thy misdeid, wrangous and wickit fay, Thy cheir changis

2. Religious faith.a1400 Legends of the Saints l. 616.
For to be in myrknes ay, Quhill that scho suld renay hir fay
c1420 Wynt. v. 635.
He … mad gret persecutyowne Off Chrystyn men, for thare fay
c1420 Ib. v. 2975.
Syne yhe … has tayne Crystyndome, And has lefft oure eldrys fay
1456 Hay II. 159/35.
Till all that haldis my fay and my lay I wald be mercifull
a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 889.
Fy on that foull feind, for fals is thy fay
a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xvi. 4.
Jewis that wer hard of fay

b. Cristine (also Cristis) fay, the Christian faith.a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 39.
Petir broucht to Cristis fay Thre thowsand men on witsonday
a1400 Ib. xxvii. 903; etc.
Sanct Machor … tacht hym weill in cristine fay
c1420 Wynt. v. 1531.
Mony tholyde the passyown Off martyry for Crystyne fay
c1420 Ib. 3411; etc.
He made renuncyatyowne Off baptysme and off Crystyne fay

c. The fay, the Christian faith.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii. 867.
Sanct George … on a day Fourty thousand wane to the fay
1456 Hay I. 20/26.
Thai ar out of the fay, and may with na werkis wyn meryt

3. Belief, credence.c1420 Wynt. vi. 2208.
Thai herd, that Makbeth aye In fantown fretys had gret fay

4. In (gud) fay, assuredly.a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 88.
In gud fay, schir, it is suith that ȝe say
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 17.
Wes neuer fundun … Ane fayrar floure … of fresch men, in fay

12888

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