A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Schiref-clerk, S(c)heref-clerk, n. Also: schirawe-, -eff(e-, -ife-, shireff-, schirref-, -if-, shirriff-, shyriff-, schyrreff-, shereff-; s(c)href(f-; shyrra- and -clerc, -clerke, -clark. [S(c)hiref n. and Clerk n.] The clerk of the sheriff's court.Usu., though not invariably (see quot. 1520 below), appointed by the king. See further Fife Sheriff Ct. pp. lix-lxi.(a) 1388 Bamff Chart. 22.
This contrac wrytyn wyth the hand of Thome of Balewny schyrreff clerke 1454 7th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 720/1.
This is the copy of the kyngis lettrez, worde and word trevly transsumit be me Dauid Guthery, schirawe clerk … and notar publike 1495 Acta Conc. I 406/1.
Schir Thomas Berclay chapellain pretendit schirref clerk of Fiff 1498 Ib. II 169.
Maister David Caraile, schiref clerc of Forfare, utherwayis being apone the serving of ane breif of inqueist of our soverane lordis chapell 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 432/2.
Ane lettre made with consent of the governour to George Bunche makand hym schiref clerk within the schirefdome of Perth … for all the days of his lyfe … with power … to minister thairin be himself, his deputis, or substitutis, quhilkis our soverane lord committis to him power to mak and substitute under him 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 176.
I … schiref of Fiffe … constitute maid & ordanit Thomas Ferry … schiref clerk … And I maid this act and creacioun to be acckit & mentit in this my court buke … And … I discharge Dauid Gregour baytht of deputrie & office of schiref clerk … & al utheris havand office of clerkschip ore deputtrye except [etc.] 1539–40 Reg. Privy S. II 510/2.
Makand thame … conjunctlie and severalie, schireff-clerkis of the schirefdome of Abirdene, for all the dais of thare lyvis 1579 Acts III 142/2 (see S(c)hiref n. 1 h (1)).
Schirref clerk 1581 Ib. 224/1.
It is … ordanit that all … interdictionis … be … producit first to the schiref clerk of [the] schire quhair the persoun … duellis 1589 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 188.
The schirefclerkis … furthgevaris of the preceptis haue bene in vse to present and deliver thame to the principall mairis of fee 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
Be the auld law of this realm, the schireff clerk [1599 schireffe-clerke] was in-put and out-put be the king, and had na league nor bande with the schireff, but was bound & oblished to the king allanerly c1610 Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. I 150.
That all schirifes or schirife clerkis bring in yeerlie in the chekquer all horningis 1627 Justiciary Cases I 80.
Shireff clerk c1650 Spalding II 365.
The names of all the friehalderis and heritouris of Abirdein and Banf ar callit be the schirref clerk, Mr. Patrik Chalmer in Abirdene af of the rollis 1668 Lamont Diary 206.
Shyriff clerke 1680 Acts Sederunt i 148.
All persones who hereafter shall be nominate to be shirriff-clarks [etc.] … before they … exerce their office of clarkship, to compear before the saids Lords [of Council and Session] that they may be tryed and approven by them … , if they failȝie therein, they shall be deprived of their offices(b) 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 274.
James Makbrok of Campsy, allegit heretabill sherefclerk of the said sherefdome 1564–5 Ib. 315.
Scheref clerk 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 22 June.
Patrik Chalmeris sheref clerk of Banffe is admittit in his obsence to ressaue thair athis 1686 Depred. Clan Campbell 70.
Shereffclerk(c) 1410–11 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 32.
James Lamby our schref clerk 1656 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 62.
Master John Campbell notar publick shreff clerk of the shrefdome of Aberdein(d) 1657 Lamont Diary 103.
Mr. William Ord, shyrra-clerke of Perth
