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.
Scrib(e, n.1 Also: scryb(e, scryibe, skrybe, schrib. [ME and e.m.E. scribe (Piers Plowman), F. scribe (13th-14th c. in Larousse), L. scrība, f. scrībere to write.] 1. In the legal and administrative system of Scotland: A person who performs a secretarial function, chiefly in the service of a court, council or other body.(1) 1536 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 134.
[They] proponit exceptiones aganis saidis ballies deputtis … aganis scribe for his partial consell Ib. 136.
The quhilk … acquitance … to be deliuerit in the handis of the scribe at cognition mycht be tayne 1538–9 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 241.
To … the … skrybis for letteris of pounding and arrestmentis making 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2389 (Ch.). Ib. 4221 (B).
With all fals ledaris of the constry law With wantone scrybis [Ch. scribs] and clarkis [etc.] 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxiii.
To constitute Maister Nicoll Hay scribe in this besynes 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 122.
The quhilk day [they] … ar chosin scribis & clerkis for ane ȝeir 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. in Edinb. Univ. MS La.iii.388a, fol. 2b.
And that all the names of the presentis be notit be the principall scrybis daylie 1567–8 Treas. Acc. XII 98.
Passand … with certane rollis of the justice clerkis to James Millar, scribe 1568 Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort. 60.
Lawieris and scrybis, quha hes ȝour saulis to sell 1571 Elgin Rec. I 128.
The said day William Hay was creatit scrybe quha maid his ayth of fidelety 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 225.
That the saidis jugeis will maist commounlie be fund togidder at Edinburgh, and … that their the advise and service of advocattis, scrybis and utheris requisite … will maist commodiouslie … be had a1578 Pitsc. I 344/31.
Writtin witht his awin hand that no scrybe nor consall … sould knaw the secreittis betuix thame 1599 Montgomery Mem. II 242.
[To] elect, … ane famous notar, as ordinar clark and scryb(2) 1548–9 Treas. Acc. IX 282.
His grace scrybe Neill Laing 1552 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 57.
In taikin of consent of the president cheptour of Glasgw Rectour of the Vniversite thai haif causit thair scrybis and notaris to subscrive the samyn with the appensioun of the … seil 1555 Acts II 494/2.
The lordis of counsall and thair aduocattis scribis and members 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 78.
Gevyn under the saill … wyth the subscripsion of our scrib 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III 153.
The council continewis Jhonne Young, writer, thair scribe 1571 Grant Chart. 149 Scryibe; Ib.
Vnder the said commissaris subscriptioun manuall in absence of his scrybe Ib.
Scryibe(3) 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 397.
Maister David Nycolson vicar of Mareculter and scribe of owre cowrt 1540 Acts II 360/1.
That all instrumentis notis and actis be maid and tane in the handis of the scribe and notar ordiner of the court 1541 Linlithgow B. Ct. 12 June.
Me notar public and scrib of the towne of Linlithgow 1549 Banff Ann. I 27.
Maister James Curror, comone clerk and scrib of the tovne 1564 Crim. Trials I i 444.
The justice, thesaurer, and advocattis requirit Alexander Guthre, commoun scribe of Edinburghe … to exhibit … befoir thame … the commoun buke quhairin [etc.] 1565 Instit. Court Sess. in Edinb. Univ. MS La.iii.388a, fol. 3a.
That thair be twa lordis of the said counsall … with ane scryb of court to writ thair depositiones c1575 Balfour Pract. 514.
Ony … scribe of our soverane lord's sessioun or college of justice 1580 Crim. Trials I ii 86.
The said George askit instrumentis … in the handis of ane notare publict and scrybe of justiciarie(4) 1533 Treas. Acc. VI 160.
To Thome Cameroune scribe to the futband v s. 1550 Ib. IX 448.
James Bannantyne, scribe to oure soverane ladyis signet 1551 Dundee B. Ct. 11 fol. 89 (24 Sept.).
Schir Neill Lang scrib to my lord gouernouris grace 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 29/181.
Worthy scribes [F. secretaires] … And holy seruants to the King of all 1631 Kirkcaldy Presb. 25.
Mr. J. Miller, scrib to the presbytrie of Kirkcaldie 1641 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II 306.
Johne Herbertsone notar, scryb to the said universitie(5) 1540 Acts II 359/2.
Writtaris notaris and scribis in our souerane lordis courtis of justice 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 324.
Robert Dewar, servand and scribe in the chancellarie 1550 Ib. 447.
Alexander Guthre, scribe in the effaris of the thesaurare Ib. 448.
Neill Laing, scribe in the office of secretareattrib. 1562–3 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 164b.
[He] requirit noitt & act in presenis of the said ballie personali persent thir things done in the scribe hows of me publict notarcomb. 1574 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 434.
William Ogstoune notar scryb sustitut of the commissariat of Abirdeine 1584 Perth B. Ct. 28 July.
Adam Brusone notar scribe depute
b. The office itself.1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 202/1.
[Gift … of] the clerkschip and schrib of the commissarie of Abirdene
c. ? specif. A trusted personal secretary.(19th c. Eng. ‘a political pamphleteer; a party hack’ may be a development of this, cf. esp. 1st quot. OED scribe n.1 7 b.) or ? a further example of 1 above.c1682 Louis de France Music Bk. 36.
Let Tories guard the king let whigs in halters hing … Let cheating [? peo]pl be nick'd, the turncoat scrib be kick'd;
d. Translating L. scriba: A scribe, an amanuensis.1533 Bell. Livy I 150/6.
The kingis scribe or ellis his thesaurare [L. scriba cum rege sedens] was sittand beside the king
e. transf. A writer, more generally. Cf. quot. James VI Poems at 1 (4) above.1581-1623 James VI Poems I 27/169.
Your shameles rymes … ô Scrybes prophane [F. Profanes escrivains ]
2. In Jewish history: An official.Perh. here referring to the members of the Sanhedrin killed by Herod the Great.a1538 Abell 21a.
Herod … slew … the scribis of the docturis of the law
b. A member of the ancient Jewish class of interpreters of the law. Chiefly coupled with Pharisé. c. transf. A hypocrite, a rigid formalist.b. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4814.
Christ Jesus said … Wo be to scribes, and to Pharisience 1560 Conf. Faith in 14.. Acts II 531/1 (see Pharisé n.1 1). 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv Pref. 17.
Veneriall pastouris … Lyk to the scrybes, closing the yeattis of heawinc. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2610.
From tyme we gett ane faithfull prudent king … he … wyll nocht suffer in his realme to ring Corruppit scrybis nor fals Pharisiens Ib. 4055.
Thare bursin wer the boildin breistis Off byschoppis. … Thare takin wes the gret vengeence On fals scrybis and Pharisience 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv Prol. 127 (see Pharisian(e n. (2)).
3. A copyist, a transcriber of books or manuscripts.1581 Burne Disput. 170b.
To vryt the bukis is requirit ane scrib or craftis man learned to vryt vith pen and ink
