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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bale, Baill, n.² Also: baile, bayl(e, bail, beale, beill, bele. [Northern ME. bale (rare), ON. bál (OE. bǽl).]

1. A large fire; a bonfire or beacon-fire.(a) 1455 Acts II. 44/1.
That it be waukyt at certane furdis the quhilkis gif myster be sal mak takynnis be balys birnyng & fyre 1456 Ib. 45/2.
That all maner of man … be redy horsit and geryt … for the defence of the Realme at the commandment of the kingis lettres be balys or out hornys 1513 Acta Conc. MS. XXVI. 12.
That balis be maid apon all partis of the bordouris … for warnyng … of thar innimyis 1523 Treas. Acc. V. 211.
That all maner of men prepare thaim … and follow haistelie quhairevir thai first see ony balis of fyre, for resisting of Inglismen 1535 Stewart 24645.
Fra end to end that nycht Richt mony fyre and balis [he] gart burne brycht 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 139.
Chargeing all men … to be reddy … be skry, bale, or uther sing to pas forwart for resisting of the Inglismen 1547 Reg. Privy C. I. 73.
[Thai] ordanit that bales be set and kepit apoun the nycht apoun the places following for advertisment … to our Soverane Ladyis liegis 1548 Treas. Acc. IX. 203.
To Joke Hart, direct with writinges to Linlythqw and all partis thairabout … to caus mak balis upoun all hychtis(b) 1375 Barb. xvii. 619.
Thai flaggatis byrnand in a baill With thair cren thoucht thai till availl 1448 Acts I. 352/1.
Anentis bailis birning … for cuming of ane Inglis oist in Scotland 1455 Ib. II. 44/1.
A baill to be maide be the waukaris of the furdis quhar it may be sene at Hvme 1513 Doug. ii. v. 13.
Quhen the takynnyng, or the bail of fyre, Rays from the kyngis schip, vp byrnand schyre 1535 Stewart 22416.
He … ordand men … To wait and watche … , Baillis to birne, and bekynis that war brycht Ib. 22441.
Baillis tha brint, and greit hornis syne blew 1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 109.
Letteris … chargeing all the inhabitanttis of tha countreis to be in radynes and ryse at the sicht of baylis 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 551.
Lyke as we wald do … being warnit be the schowte, baillis in the cuntre, or utherwayis 1627 Ib. Ser. 2 , II. 54.
That bailes and beakens be sett up in all convenient and eminent places(c) 1533 Treas. Acc. VI. 122.
To charge all within the constabularie of Hadingtoune to pas with the lord Setoune … as thai be warnit be belis or uthir wayis, for defence 1532 Acta Conc. MS. I. 132.
That thai … pas forwart … quhen ony frayis rysis or belis beis maid 1545–7 A Common Good Acc. MS.
For four laid of colis to mak ane beill for the Englismen … Item for peittis to the beill 1546 Wemyss Corr. 7.
Desiring yow to cum fordwart to ws heir … as belis war brynt in placis assignit thairto 1603 Moysie 126.
Great triumphe wes maid, and bealis set vp for joy

2. In fig. use, prob. associated with Bale n.¹ a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1047.
Thy bale so bald now in my brest haboundis 15.. Christis K. 212.
Quhen thai had … brane wode brynt in balis c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 82.
My breist in baill it dois combure 1572 Sat. P. xxx. 31.
The breist … in baill wald burne 1596 Dalr. II. 20/34.
In bale sa balde thay burnt, all war in a furie