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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.

Blancheferme, Blanchferm(e, n. , a., and adv. Also: blansche-, blansch-, blaynch-, blancferme, blanchfarm. [OF. blanche ferme white rent, rent paid in silver. See also Blenchferme.]

1. A small or nominal quit-rent paid in money or otherwise. c 1380 MS. Charter (Reg. H.).
I sall gif hym my chartyr vndir my seyll wyth al clavse & al fredome pertenand to blancheferme of a peny gif it be askyt 1400 Red bk. Grandtully I. 148.
Wit ȝe me till haf ressavit … the blanch fermes that the saide Jon was auand till oure lorde the Kyng of the landis of Logy 1478 Prestwick B. Rec. 28.
[To] distrenye … the said medew and mwre yerli apon Sanct Nicholas day in winter in name of blanchferme 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 315.
I resauit fra the Lard of Teling … of the releif of few and blanchferme of the entre of Johne Lord Glammys, thretj thre lib. 1500 Buccleuch Mun. II. 102.
Geifand a penny … at the Fest of Nativete of Sant Iohne the Baptist, callit Mydsomer, … in name of blanch ferm 1501 Ib. II. 123.
To summond divers assises for servying of blanch fermes 1504 Ib. 441.
To Ormund pursewant, to pas in Angus to summond ane assise of erour for certane breves [of] blanshferme 1514 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 47.
Twa siluer pennies for the dowbillyng of the blanche ferme of the sammyn aucht til our souerane Lord 1550 Peebles B. Rec. 203.
Tua d. in the ȝeir of blanchferm for the Commoun Strudir

2. In blancheferme, by the payment, on the tenure, of blanchferme. 1444 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 194.
The forsaid Robert the Lyil hes geffyn … the landys of Stradee … , to be haldyn of the said Robert in blanche ferme 1456 Wemyss Chart. 77.
All the forsaid landis … ar haldyn in to fre blanchferme of the king 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 329.
Fourty merkis wortht of lande … to be haldin of himself in blanc ferme 1567 Acts II. 558/2.
Ane parte of his heretage … to be haldin … in ffre blanche ferme 1677 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 50.
Held in chief of the Lairds of Towie … in free blanch farm for yearly payment of one penny

b. With ellipse of in, passing into adv. use. 1482–3 Acta Conc. II. p. cxx.
Sic evidentis … as thai wil use and schaw that the saide landis are haldin blaynchferme 1488 Acta Aud. 123/2.
Quhill it be … prefit that the said landis are haldin blanchferme of our souerane lord 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 346/1.
The lousing of the recognitioun of the landis … becaus thai war haldin blanchferme 1541 Misc. Spald. C. II. 269.
All and syndry the landis of Rosse … to be haldyne of the said lord and his aris blanche ferme

3. Attrib. or as adj . a. Of lands: held in blanchferme. 1491 Acts II. 225/1.
Gif the said are haue na blanchferme nor fewferme landis to sustene thaim on 1505 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 108.
The mailis and proffits of the saide lords blanchferme landis 1529 Reg. Privy S. II. 10/2.
Togidder with the nonentres of all blancheferme landis 1539 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. x.
The said vmquhile Walter … vptuke the malis and dewiteis of his blancheferme landis

b. Paid as blanchferme. 1622-6 Bisset I. 277/35.
The dowbling of the few farme or of the blansche ferme dewitie