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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.

Bedel, Beddel, n.¹ Also: bedell, bedal (badal), beedall; beddell, -ale, -all; beddle, bedle; biddel; bethel, bathell, batthel. [ME. bedel(l, -yll, beddell, bidel, etc., OE. bydel.]

1. A herald or official messenger; an officer of justice. a1400 Leg. S. xxiii. 36.
He bad his badalis ga … And ger the puple of the towne … be redy Ib. 623.
He gert bedalis ga Owre the cité to & fra 14.. Acts I. 32/2.
Nane aldirman, bailȝe, na beddel sall bake brede [etc.] Ib. I. 330/2.
Syn efter salbe callyt the balȝeis and the bedal of that place Ib. 362/2.
Somondis aw to be maid in the burgh be the bedal 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 39.
To the bedell of Sanctandrois in part of payment of ane portwis writing to the King 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Pedellvs.
The serjand or beddle of the burgh, quha suld execute summondes [etc.]

2. An officer or apparitor in the service of an ecclesiastical dignitary or foundation, a university, etc. 1561 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 455.
To the lauendar of the abbay … .To the beddell 1560 Bk. Disc. 216.
That everie Universitie have ane Beddale subject to serve at all tymes throuchont the whole Universitie Ib. 219.
The Beddellis stipend shalbe [etc.] 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
The gagis of the rectour, censouris, thesaurair, and beddel 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 257.
It was reported what ansuer I gaive to the bischope be the beddell 1577 St. A. Kirk S. 427.
James Steill, biddel and officiar of the session 1593 Acts IV. 16/2.
The said assemblies … sall direct thair beddell to the … personis dissobedient 1651 Baillie III. 158.
Being called be the beddell to a meeting

3. A church-officer.(a) 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 510.
The eldaris … and vtheris officiaris of the kirk, sic as … beddales, and keiparis of the kirkis 1610–1 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
For keiping of the kirk & ringing of the bellis to the beddall 1630 Elgin Rec. II. 214.
Paull Dunbar ordeant to present his sone for boasting of the beddell of the kirk 1638 S. Leith Rec. 29.
The sessione voyted orderlie quho should be beedall Ib.
The bedell to go and receave the Keas of the heigh seat 1645 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 78.
That Patrick Wilsone … be admitit bedle in the Hie Kirk 1685 Brodie Diary 507.
The Bishop was requird to call in al the ministers in his diocie, with elders and beddells 1690 Stirling A nt. IV. 21.
Our beddall Thomas Hendersone would not undertake the making of graves(b) 1663 Lamont Diary 164.
Bethel in the parish of Ciris 1696 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 5.
To the bathell of the church

4. Attrib. with fie (= fee). silver, wand. c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 203.
Ane beddell wand siluer & ourgilt 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. 362.
For the cheptouris syll [= seal] … and beddall sylver 1571–2 Haddington Treas. Acc.
To Sir Wm. Wilsoun for his beddell fie