Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Wattil(l, -el(l, Wat(t)le, n. Also: wattall. [ON veizla, Norw. veitsla entertainment.] In Orkney and Shetland. a. A feudal perquisite deriving from an original obligation of a subject to provide hospitality for the ruler, also, the goods, etc. going to provide what was due. b. By commutation of a above: A duty payable on land, also, the goods, etc. making this up. Also attrib.Cf. Conveth n.and Weyting n.The distinction between a and b is purely a matter of how the food-rent was regarded, not a question of two separate dues.See esp. Marwick The Orkney Norn, s.v. Wattle.a. (1) 1478 Reg. Great S. 281/1.
Rex assedavit Andree Episcopo Orchadensi—terras dominiorum de Orknay et Zetland [etc.] … cum universis libertatibus, &c. ad dictas terras, &c. spectantibus, unacum le wrak, wattell, waithe et hafewaith [pr. hasewaith] 1489 Reg. Great S. 390/1.
De terris et dominiis Orcadie et Schetland cum pertinentiis et proficuis quibuscunque—Tenend … cum le wattil, wrak et haif-wrak [etc.](2) 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 82.
Saba is sa fre gyffin … be the last Eryll of Orkna be his chartturis … that nether persone nor p[er]sonis sall not intromeytt nor tayk awa nodyr erd nor stane, gers [no]r waitter, nodyr wrack, wattill, wai[r], nother wring nor ne wder manyr of thing of the grownd of Saba … In wytnes of the quhilk I, the said lawman, … heis affyxit my seyll to this presentt domeb. (1) 1502 Orkney Rentals i 5.
The milne of Scalpay … summa de wattill xx [s.] xviij merk 1502 Orkney Rentals i 25.
Summa de wattill of the ile j last in thre thridis viz. cost flesche & fat guid. And the commonis ar all accordit to pay the tua in wattill & the thrid in flesche 1576 Orkney Oppress. 63.
The comownis payit thair dewities, callit wattill, upone thair lawrichtmanis bismeyre 1576 Orkney Oppress. 63.
Of everie sewin merkis of wattill that thai pay in dewitie [etc.] 1587 Reg. Great S. 467/2, 468/1.
Cum tolloneis, custumis, lie wattall, forcop, landsettertun, scattis, land-mellis, wrak, weth, wair et aliis juribus et devoriis … Reddend. … 105 doleras argenteas pro lie wattill 1595 Orkney Rentals ii 83.
Thomas Sinclair pays yearly furth of his wattle of the bailyerie of Sanday 12 meils bear 1595 Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. I 142.
Item ane dewtie callit wattill payit be strangeris yeirlie ane hundreth four dolaris 1610 Rec. Earld. Orkney 185.
Quhilkis landis … the said umquhile Oliver … possest … as his awin proper land and heretage haldin frielie of the king for payment of scat and wattell and of the teynd therof to the kirk 1612 Acts IV 481/2.
Thairfore oure said souerane lord … incorporattis to his hienes crowne … the landis … of Birsay, Sandwick, Hoy [etc.] … togidder with … the … landis callit vthale landis roich, Anying, … toillis, … custumes, wattil, foir coipland [etc.] 1618 Orkney Test. and Inv. 144.
The bailie, in watle, 1½ settingis malt, 15 s. 1628 Rental in Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 181.
Easter Quarff, 1 nyghtis wattill. Summa [for Burray], 4 nyghtis wattill and 6 merkis 1688 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LV 267.
The watle is payaball out of the pennyland at the rait of halff setting of malt [etc.] together with a watle foule out of every reik of the parochineattrib. 1612 Orkney Test. and Inv. 73.
1 setting wattill malt, 10 s. 1673 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LV 266.
Anent the deficiencie in payment of the wattel dewtie 1688 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LV 267 (see above).
Watle foule(2) 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 17.
That the saidis Orne … sall bring ane … schipe … furnesit with … waris for furnesing of the haile parochin in sic sort … that my lordis haile fatt guidis and wattill [MS wattel] may be coft and tane away be him yeirlie in dew tyme with all uther guidis and waris pertening to the said gentillmen and commonis