A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1478-1486, 1564-1617, 1681
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Subvassal(l, n. Also: -vassale, -vassaill, -vassell, -wassal(l, -wassel(l. [18th c. Eng. subvassal (1750); Vas(s)al(l n.] One who holds his lands from a vassal.1478 Acts Lords of Council I 14/1.
The said vnlaw is raysit and takin of the said Johne … subvassall of the said landis 1480 Acts Lords of Council I 52/1.
His landis of Wyndale quhilk he haldis of the lard of Ȝestre in periudice and skathe of the said Richart his subvassale & tennand 1481 Acts II 141/2.
That na vassall nor subvassall na vther tenand vnder the barone has powere … to hald a court … one the questioune of purprusioune 1485–6 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville).
The saide Robert Logane his subvassallis tenandis & malaris to hym 1564 Reg. Privy S. V i 477/2.
The fretennantis and subwassellis of the saidis landis and baronyis 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 358.
Subwassall 1566 Acts II 608/2.
Subwassalis c1575 Balfour Pract. 272.
Thay that hald courtis of knychtis quha ar callit subvassalis … sould … keip the lawis in thair courtis, as the knychtis dois 1606 Acts IV 287/1.
Act anent setting of fewis be subvassellis of waird landis 1617 Acts IV 583/2.
Subvassaill 1681 Stair Inst. ii xi § 34.
It hath been much and long debated, and is not yet decided, whether recognition can be incurred for any atrocious deeds done by sub-vassals, whereby the superior might claim the right of the sub-vassal's fee to fall to him by recognition
