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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mercat-cors, -cros(e, n. Also: mercatt-, mercate-, mercait-, merket(t)-, merkat(t)-, merkate- and -corce, -corse, -cross(e, -crois, -croce. [Cf. Market-cors and Mercat n.In many, if not all, of the earlier instances doubtless merely editorial for the abbreviated forms in mar-, mer-.]The market-cross of a burgh. Also attrib.Regarded as marking the central or focal point of the principal market-place and a principal land-mark of the burgh and hence the place where public proclamations were made, punishments meted out, acts of humiliation performed, and other public acts carried out.(a) 1425 Acts II. 12/2.
He salbe doungin opynly at the mercate cors 1433 Liber Coll. Glasg. 166.
Lyand in the gat at strekis fra the merkat cors tyll the hekyrk 1448 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 17.
The merkate cors c1475 Wall. ii. 22.
Syne on his feit [Wallace] ȝeid to the merkat cors 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I. 167.
Gyf ony sic gudis cummes vnder nycht to be sald it sal be present on the morn to the merkat cors 1485 Lag Chart. 53.
At mercait corse of Drumfrece 1535 Stewart 57804.
Mercat corce 1536 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 17.(b) 1490 Paisley B. Rec. 39.
Forsamekle as we … creat the toun of Paslay a fre burgh in barony and grantit the samyn … to hafe a merket croce and merket day [etc.] 1494 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I.67.
Wyld fowle … to be commonly sawld … at the merkat croce, and nocht vnder covert 1498 Acta Conc. II. 181. 1509–10 Peebles B. Rec. I. 43.
I Johnne Bennet, kingis sergeand of the scherefdome of Peblis, passit to the mercatt crois of the samyn [etc.] 1514 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 151.
To cum to the merkatt croce … in his lynning clais [etc.] 1527 Bk. Dunvegan I. 69.
At the mercat croce of oure burgh of Inverness 1533 Boece ii. xi. 81.
At the merket croce be proclamacion thai defendit [etc.] 1535 Stewart 34818. 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 212.
Forsamekill as the mercat croce and rowme thairof beand rowpit 1555–6 Ib. 363.
For hadder to burne Inglische buiks on the mercat croce 1569 Ib. III. 261. 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E. 17.
To be hangit on ane gibbott at the mercat croce of Edinburgh 1576 Inverness Rec. I. 249.
Johne McKym to be leischit at the mercat croce 1570 Leslie 159.
His imiage … wes brunt at the merkett croce 1587 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 492.
The bankett … at the mercat croce 1587 Acts III. 456/1. 1593 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 90.
Tua bunnis of Inglis beir to be placed and run at the said mercat croce 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 264.
At the mercait croce 1605 Faithfull Report … anent the Assembly … at Aberdeen.
There was continually about the mercat crosse walking sundrie honest men 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (1609) ii. 8 b. 1633 Acts V. 14/1. 1635 Stirling B. Rec. II. 174. 1658 Boyd Fam. P. No. 239 (24 May).
Quhilk salbe als effectuall as at the heid mercat cros of the shyre 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 187. 1660 Conv. Burghs III. 516.
The supplicatione … for transporting the mercat croce frome ane obscuir … place [at Elgin] … to a moir publict and eminent place 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 268.
Red at the mercat croce of Melros 1662 Decis. Lords G. 36. 1664 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 208.
To cause make wp the mercat croce of the said burgh in the west end of the Castlegait with hewin and cut stones according to the stanse and forme of the mercat croce … of Edinburgh 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 15 Apr.
With tuik of drum at the mercat croce 1693 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 79. 1697 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI. 45.attrib. 1539 Grey Friars II. 37.
At the est end of the mercat croce gait