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.
Finance, Fynance, n. Also: fin-, fynaunce, fynans. [ME. fyn-, finaunce, fenaunce (c 1400), OF. finaunce.]
1. Money paid for release from captivity, ransom money.1424 Acts II. 4/1.
The payment of the fynance to be maide in Inglande for our Lorde the Kingis costage 1425 Ib. I. Pref. xix.
Alsua the commissaris of the burovys … has tane in hand … to mak the first payment of our lorde the kingis finance 1448 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 17.
Because of xv lib. … aucht of alde be the saide Roger of the reste of the king Jamys finanse 1456 Hay I. 158/17.
Sen it is unlefull to be askit finaunce, how may it be that, be the law of armes, men suld tak fynaunce of thair prisonaris? Ib. 158/35; etc.
All Cristyn folk … has this custume to tak ransoun and finaunce
2. Money owned, advanced or lent to a person, or paid for some special purpose.1447 Edinb. Chart. 68.
As the Prouost … has fullely paiit and assithit ws for the hale rest of the twa yheris finance of our progenitouris 1456 Hay II. 83/28.
Quhen a king absteynis him to tak the fynaunce and the riches of his peple fra thame Ib. 153/17.
Ger him wene that thou has grete nede of silver and of grete fynaunce 1496 Halyb. 9.
Ressauit ffra Geo. Clerk for fynans that he was awand, £15 a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 377.
Small fynance amang thy frendis thow beggit 1510 Rentale Dunkeld. 4.
Comptit and raknit … all the fynans and merchandryce … underwrittin 15.. Clar. iv. 478.
I will ȝe geive unto thir thrie Pairt of the fynance is sent to me (1558) Bisset I. 40/1.
That they sall nocht be haldin … , to pay to ws or to oure successouris, any fynance, or indempnitie
b. To mak (in) finance, to collect, lend, or spend money.c1475 Wall. viii. 926.
Thar finance maid, [thai] delyuerit gold full sone, v thousand pound 1489 Acta Conc. 111/2.
The sowme … for the quhilkis Dauid Blare … become plege … for finance maid for the said Johne Eklis 1498 Treas. Acc. I. 317.
For finance maid in the last Justice air 1508 Rentale Dunkeld. 60.
Fyftye ducatis maid in fynance at my Lordis commaund 1515 Acta Conc. MS. XXVII. 31.
Tharfor mak sum deligence and finance in the hast your lordschip may
3. Metallic content (of gold or silver) in respect of fineness.1473 Acts II. 105/1.
[That] the new pennys … haue the course … unto the tyme that the fynance of them be knawin 1485 Ib. 172/1.
For the eschewing of grete dammage & scaith … be the goldsmythis in the mynysyng in the finance of siluer werk 1488 Ib. 209/1.
That a fyne penny of gold be strikyne to be of wecht and finance to the ros nobyll 1555 Ib. 499/1.
That na goldsmyth mak … siluer under the iust fynance of elleuin penny fyne
