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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Erlis, n. pl. Also: erlys, -les, erllis, -ys, errlis, earles. [ME. erles (c 1220), app. OF. *erles, var. of erres, arres (mod. arrhes). Cf. the later Arlis.]

1. Money given in confirmation of a bargain; earnest-money. 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 277.
To Walter Merlȝoune, masoune, in erlis of his condicioun of bigging of the Kingis hous 1503 Ib. II. 274.
For … Estland burdis … for ilk pece xxj d., and x s. mair wes giffin in erlis of the hale hepe 1504 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 431.
That na woman sal by meile in the mercat, bot gif … scho gif hir erllys 1536–7 Treas. Acc. VI. 463.
Gevin in errlis of ane schip quhilk suld have bene coft to the Kingis grace 1650 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 518.
To Robert Bartoun in erlis quhen he vndertook the leiding of the staines, xij s.

2. fig. An earnest, a foretaste. c1420 Wynt. viii. 3811.
This was bot erlys [C. erllis] for to tell Off infortwne, that efftyr fell 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 160.
The eternal Lord … Restoris the meryt with grace in erlis of glore c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. i. 22.
It is God that … gave erlis [Wycl. ernes] of the spirit in our hartis 1640 Baillie I. 270.
I take this for a presage and ane erles of God's goodness towards me all this voyage 1677 Inverness Presb. 86.
It is ane earles of everlasting suffering and vengeance